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Early reviews for Mark Lyons in Arizona are positive

NCAA Basketball Tournament - Xavier v Baylor

ATLANTA, GA - MARCH 23: Mark Lyons #10 of the Xavier Musketeers reacts in the second half of their 70 to 75 loss to the Baylor Bears during the 2012 NCAA Men’s Basketball South Regional Semifinal game at the Georgia Dome on March 23, 2012 in Atlanta, Georgia. (Photo by Streeter Lecka/Getty Images)

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I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Mark Lyons will be one of the most important players in the country this season.

The Xavier transfer will be spending his final year of eligibility at Arizona, playing the point for the first time in his collegiate career while leading a team desperately in need of a distributor. The Wildcats are talented, but incredibly young, and they are looking to Lyons to become the glue that holds it all together.

And it looks like things are heading in the right direction.

“He fits in great,” senior Solomon Hill told Bruce Pascoe of the Arizona Daily Star. “He’s as verbal was MoMo (Jones, former UA guard) was, very verbal and making sure everybody is on point. And he’s a guy who’s been there. He can control egos. He can keep guys in line.

“I think some of the guys will understand the type of guy he is - he’s not yelling at you to get you mad or trying to get on your bad side. He’s yelling at you because he sees a good player in you.”

It will be interesting to see what happens with Lyons. Part of the reason that he left Xavier was the result of some disciplinary stuff off the floor. On the court, he was always more of a chucker than a point guard. Does he benefit from a new locale? Will playing for the coach that recruited him to Xavier get him rededicated? Will a final opportunity to become an NBA Draft pick play a role?

Regardless, the early reviews are promising.

Rob Dauster is the editor of the college basketball website Ballin’ is a Habit. You can find him on twitter @robdauster.