Exhibition games key as Adia Barnes works to lock down Arizona basketball starting lineup, rotation

When asked who her starting lineup will be just a few weeks before the Arizona women's basketball home opener — just one week before the Wildcat's first exhibition, to boot — Barnes doesn't "have that figured out yet at all."

It doesn’t matter if she has five experienced players returning — that's what she had on the court in the Aari McDonald/Sam Thomas years — or two upperclassmen, like last season with Esmery Martinez and Helena Pueyo.

And definitely not ahead of this 2024-25 season, with the bulk of her squad sophomores and freshmen.

With all the competition for spots leading up to Friday night’s first exhibition game against West Texas A&M at McKale at 6 p.m. Mountain Standard Time, Barnes is still a little fuzzy on who has earned it. Both matchups will be broadcast on ESPN+ — the first time exhibition games have been televised in any way during Barnes' tenure, as typically she doesn't want anyone to see anything she has up her sleeve. 

Don’t be surprised if the sophomore class of Jada Williams, Breya Cunningham and Skylar Jones aren't already penciled in. There's also Montaya Dew — she's part of that class, but is considered a freshman after sitting out last year recovering from ACL surgery — along with six-year senior post Isis Beh.

Williams was the starting guard for her entire rookie season and showed her grit and court vision while knocking down numerous meaningful shots.

Cunningham started in the post and showed moments of dominance; as she learns how to stay out of foul trouble, that presence can do even more this season.

Jones became a starter in the back end of her rookie season and as her confidence grew, her play showed it. The slasher had big time performances down the stretch when it mattered the most. Her long arms and athleticism help her on the defensive end with steals and traps.

Beh has a knack for knowing how to direct her teammates on the court. In the offseason, she has gotten into better shape and is stronger.

Whether this remains the starting five for long is to be determined. As Barnes noted, everyone is pushing in practice.

Barnes just might have Dew come off the bench in the sixth spot, easing her back into playing real games. While Dew was cleared for contact in late February and has practiced with the team since then, she has not played in a game against true opponents in two years. This would ease the pressure on the 6-2 forward, who is Arizona’s highest all-time recruit (No. 8 in her class).

In addition, it's possible Dew ends up feeling more comfortable coming off the bench for a while. This is what Pueyo did for most of her UA career, before being slotted in as a starter in her fifth year.

If this the case, then most likely junior transfer Paulina Paris could move to one of the guard spots with Jones sliding into the small forward position. Paris brings experience from playing at North Carolina; she cut 30 seconds from her mile — meaning she is running faster up and down the court. That would undoubtedly help help on the plays where the Wildcats get a steal and aim to score fast on the other end.

Paris also provides perimeter shooting.

When Barnes was asked about who is pushing for minutes, Paris was one of the first names that popped up.

With depth at forward this season — something the Wildcats had been lacking for a few years — Barnes has the ability to show different looks, be it going bigger or looking for more finesse. This will be necessary moving from the Pac-12 to the Big-12, which Barnes said, “has more girth inside.”

This is one of the biggest differences between the two leagues. The Big 12 has many true centers in the league more in the mold of former Oregon State player Reagan Beers. Two examples are Kansas State senior, Ayoka Lee, who stands at 6-foot-6 inches and Iowa State’s Audi Crooks, at 6-foot-3-inches.

Besides, Cunningham and Beh, one post who might be a breakout star for the Wildcats is Jorynn Ross, a sophomore transfer for Pepperdine. She was the first Wildcat to win the weekly gold jersey award for earning points in practice for hustling and going after 50/50 balls, battling for rebounds, communicating and just doing things the right way.

This extra effort flowed into the following week as Ross was skying above everyone for rebounds, getting put backs and just dominating in practice.

Two other young posts who are battling are freshman Katarina Kneževic from Serbia and Sahnya Jah, the sophomore transfer from South Carolina. Jah is extremely athletic. Barnes said next to Jones, Jah is the most athletic Wildcat this season. While Kneževic seems to be learning the Arizona system at a fast pace.

Don’t count out former walk-on, Erin Tack. Tack, who is coming off an ACL injury. She never gives up and stays in plays on both ends of the court til the bitter end.

Last season’s other walk-on, Brooklyn Rhodes, will also earn minutes in the post. Barnes said that Rhodes has a high basketball IQ and picked up the Arizona system quickly. In addition, she has a good shot and is strong.

That leaves two freshman guards in Lauryn Swann and Mailien Rolf. Both will be coming off the bench. Barnes liked what she saw in Swann as of late, which could pay dividends shortly.

Barnes has a lot of decisions ahead of her over the next 10 days. Expect to see a lot of different looks in the two exhibition games and even more competition for not only the few remaining spots in the starting lineup but also who are the first three players off the bench.

Rim Shots

• McDonald, the UA all-timer, is playing in the WBCA in Beijing, China, during her WNBA offseason. McDonald, who played for the Los Angeles Sparks, was out for most of the back half of the season after the Olympic break with a foot injury. Last offseason, McDonald played in the WNBL in Perth Australia. 

• Pueyo is playing for Zaragoza in Spain. In her last two games in the Euroleague portion of the schedule, she has scored 23 points, going 7 for 12 from the field, dishing five assists and picking six steals, including five in one game.