WILDCAT BASKETBALL: Media Day

With a month left until the Sean Miller era at UA officially tips off, hardly anyone has any idea what we’ll see from these Wildcats on the court this season -- and that includes the coach. However, he doesn’t necessarily see that as a bad thing.

“It’s like we’re a brand new fresh canvas,” Miller said during Wednesday’s Media Day at McKale Center. “Can I tell you who’s going to start? No. I don’t even know who our top-nine guys are yet. But this is an incredibly exciting time for me and my staff.”

Since Miller took over the Wildcats six months ago, he has been hard at work to provide some stability to a once-rock-solid program. Consistency was the hallmark of Lute Olson’s tenure in Tucson, but it’s been quite a while since the team has seen it.

Take someone like Nic Wise. As the only senior on this roster, Wise has seen four different coaches -- Olson, Kevin O’Neill, Russ Pennell and now Miller.

Now with Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill suiting up for the Houston Rockets and New York Knicks, respectively, the Wildcats have to find out what they have, and soon -- something Miller is conscious of.

“We’re looking forward to creating a new identity -- our own identity,” Miller said.

The streak of 25 straight NCAA Tournament appearances is a number that looms large over this program, but it’s not something Miller wants this team worrying about. With 13 underclassmen (seven freshmen, six sophomores) on the roster this season (only Wise and Jamelle Horne are upperclassmen), Miller is fully aware that this team faces an uphill battle in extending that streak.

After spending the last five season turning Xavier into one of the strongest programs in the Atlantic 10, he knows how invaluable experience is toward making an Elite 8 or Sweet 16 run.

“Just because things happened in the past doesn’t mean they’re going to continue into the future,” Miller said. “We have a lot to learn to get to that level.”

While it’s clear that Wise will be the focal point of this year’s offense and will be asked to assume a greater leadership role, he’s going to need someone to step up and help him assume some of the scoring burden.

If early reports are any indication, it appears as if Horne is ready to make that leap everyone in Tucson has been waiting for.

The explosive wing player out of San Diego has shown flashes of excellence (his 19-point, 13-rebound showing against Kansas last season), but hasn’t always had the mental side of the game figured out. Miller said Horne has been this summer’s stand-out in the strength and conditioning drills and has made the greatest improvements out of anyone on the roster.

“With coach Miller and everyone telling me they were surprised I hadn’t had a better year, that was a real wake-up call for me,” Horne said. “It’s time for me to step up.”

Horne spent part of the summer working out with former Memphis standout and the No. 4 pick in the 2009 draft, Tyreke Evans, getting a feel for the kind of intensity it takes to make that leap.

“Tyreke is as tough as it gets,” Horne said. “I need to take what I learned from him and apply that toward being the lock-down defender this team needs me to be.”

The Wildcats will have strong depth in the backcourt, with returning All-Pac-10 freshman honorable mention nominee Kyle Fogg and high-profile freshman Lamont “Momo” Jones teaming up with Wise.

Fogg was among Arizona’s steadiest players last season and should have the inside track at the starting shooting-guard spot. Jones, meanwhile, can play both guard spots and will likely contribute immediately.

The New York native certainly doesn’t lack confidence.

“I want to go down as one of the great point guards at this school,” Jones said. “The reason you come to Arizona is because of guys like Mike Bibby, Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire. I want my name to be mentioned with them someday.”

Practicing against Wise -- an All-Pac-10 level point guard -- will certainly help his cause. Wise will likely be one of the conference’s premier talents, and Jones has kept a mental notebook of some of Wise’s tricks and techniques.

“Nobody has a deeper bag of tricks than that guy -- those pump-fakes, hesitation moves, stop-and-go,” Jones said. “I hope to incorporate some of that into my game.”

Joining Horne on the front line will likely be freshmen Solomon Hill, Kyryl Natyazhko, Derrick Williams and Kevin Parrom. Miller praised each incoming recruit for his versatility and all-around ball skills.

Hill’s whirlwind recruitment included an original letter of intent to Arizona, before the Olson fallout caused him to commit at USC. Then, the Tim Floyd mess resulted in a brand new fallout, leading Hill back to Arizona. The top-ranked UA recruit of this class (No. 27 overall by Rivals.com) put on a significant amount of weight last spring, but has trimmed down roughly 20-30 pounds and has been one of Miller’s bright spots in the strength-and-conditioning phase of the season.

Natyazhko, a 6-10 center originally from the Ukraine, is the type of prospect who can give other big men match-up problems with his shooting and passing skills. Miller added that he is one of the team’s more skilled passers -- an invaluable asset in the type of offense he runs.

Not to mention, Natyazhko looks exactly like Chase Budinger -- something his teammates constantly remind him of.

“Yeah, we call Kyryl things like the Ukraine Train or Budski,” Horne said. “We all get a kick out of it.”

Natyazhko doesn’t seem to mind that much.

“Hey, Chase is in the NBA, so I hope I can look like him there, too,” Natyazhko said.

With official practices beginning tomorrow, Miller hopes to see this group come together as quickly as possible, but he concedes that the process might take some time.

“Sometimes, I’ll call out a drill and the guys will look at me blank-faced, then I remember that they haven’t even heard the name of that drill yet, let alone run the thing,” Miller said. “Every time we do something, it’s the first time. But it wouldn’t surprise me if we turn out to be a pretty dangerous team come December and January.”

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747