Arizona Wildcats basketball: Most anticipated season in recent memory starts Friday

Someone asked me the other day, "When was the last time national experts were picking Arizona to make the Final Four in the preseason?"

I sat there for a couple minutes and finally came to this conclusion: it has been way too long.

As basketball practice officially begins on Friday evening in Tucson, the Arizona Wildcats will take the floor with a ton of hype and lofty expectations. Talk of a national championship has surfaced and we're still a couple of weeks away from the regular season opener. And while no UA player expects anything to be given to them this season, even they can't help but get excited.

The University of Arizona is a basketball school. Yes, the football team has the full support of the athletic department and the fans, but hoops will forever be king in town. Our season is right around the corner, and it could be one of the best in school history.

It's time to get excited. Basketball is officially back.