Arizona basketball roundtable: Previewing the Red-Blue Game

Who will win the dunk contest? Who will win the game? Burning basketball questions!

It's time to start getting ready for Arizona Wildcats basketball, so we're busting out the ol' basketball roundtable!

Let's preview the Red-Blue Game, because it is the most important thing in the universe on Saturday afternoon.

1. What new player are you most looking forward to watch and why?

Gabe Encinas: There are about seven guys on this roster that we have never seen play in a game, which is crazy to think about. But it has to be Ray Smith. He's just so long and athletic that you can hardly imagine what kind of impact he can have on both sides of the ball. Amazing to think that this guy has come back even stronger after tearing his ACL last summer. To me, he's the best incoming recruit in this class and it's not even close. He has the most upside of the group, and has an outside chance of being a potential one and done if the NBA scouts like what they see in this lad.

Ryan Kelapire: I think this has to be Ray Smith by default. Not only will it be interesting to see how he has recovered from his ACL injury, but he's also the only true small forward on the team. He's the natural replacement for Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, and it will help Arizona immensely if he plays well out of the gate. Otherwise they're going to have to go with a three-guard lineup or put Tollefsen at the three.

Jason Bartel: I'm kind of curious to see what Ryan Anderson brings to the table. Yeah, Ray Smith is intriguing, but Anderson's a guy that's been talked about by a lot of guys with regards to his new strength and what he can bring to the power forward position.

2. Who are you picking to win the dunk contest?

Gabe Encinas: I'm going to go with Mark Tollefsen. I remember when he was in the process of choosing a graduate program, and watching his highlights from high school and USF, I was amazed. This video is of 18 year old Mark Tollefsen. If the Arizona strength and conditioning program has done him any good, I'd say his vertical has definitely increased even since his days at San Fran.

Ryan Kelapire: As Gabe noted above, Tollefsen was known to thrown down a vicious dunk or two while at USF, so he's definitely a prime candidate to win it. That said, I think Ray Smith will want to prove to Arizona fans that his knee is fully healed, so I expect him to come out with a special dunk -- one that will ultimately win him the contest.

Jason Bartel: I'm going Tollefsen based purely on the fact that he told me his goal is to win the dunk contest. And he's already dunked on a couple guys in practice, so his ability to play above the rim is real.

3. Who wins, Red or Blue?

Gabe Encinas: I'm going to go with Red. A lot of upside here on this squad, with some key youngsters that can put the ball in the rim. Hoping to see some of them alley-oops and sweet jams all day long. Red obviously always comes first. No one ever says blue and red, proving the superiority of the color red. Red stays winning on so many levels, and red will be winning on Saturday.

Ryan Kelapire: Well, if you mix red and blue, you get purple. In my opinion -- which is factually correct -- purple is closer to blue than it is to red, which proves that blue is superior. So obviously the Blue team will have the upper hand in this one.

Jason Bartel: Blue is going to win. Why? Because blue eyes are beautiful. Red eyes? Awful. Disgusting. Disturbing. Painful. Blue eyes...All. Day. Long.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts http://ift.tt/1MIi8b8
via IFTTT