Game Day Preview: Arizona Wildcats

University of Arizona (Public – Research Institution)
Mascot: Wildcats
Location: Tucson, AZ
Enrollment: 38,000

Current Record: 19-8 (10-4 in Pac-12 Conference)
RPI: 69        SOS: 74

Coach: Sean Miller (3rd year)

First Thought: Arizona is riding the best hot streak in the Pac-12 with a five game winning streak. Three of those games have been on the road to California, Stanford, and Washington State. This team is finding ways to win and finding them consistently. There are still lots of kinks they have to work out, as evidence against Washington State, but this team has found ways to win in spite of their issues.

Best Win: 83-76 at New Mexico State (RPI 76)
Worst Loss: 58-65 at UCLA (RPI 114)

Last Game: 76-72 at Washington State (RPI 170)

Synopsis: The recent hot streak that Arizona has been on has put them right in the hunt for the Pac-12 title at only one game back from both California and Washington.

This game is considered by both Washington and Arizona as a must-win game, not only help find an at-large birth into the NCAA tournament but also to find a way to grab or keep that top spot in the Pac-12.

Arizona has been able to really gel as a team. They have seen impressive minutes from some of their young stars but the main contributors to their success is senior Kyle Fogg and junior Solomon Hill. However, Nick Johnson is doing much more than even advertised as a freshman.

Let’s breakdown their numbers below, in “my analysis”.

My analysis: The Wildcats have one of the most talented teams in the Pac-12. The team is loaded with athletes and former top recruits around the country.

Kyle Fogg- has been on an absolute tear since the last time the Huskies and Wildcats faced each other. In Zona’s five game winning streak, Fogg has put up 23, 14, 15, 17, and 16 points in those games. He shot 15/31 from three which is 48% in those 5 games and was 20/24 from the free-throw stripe (83%). He is now averaging on the season 12.8 points, 3.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists per game.

Solomon Hill- has also had a decent last five games during their win streak. His points in those games were; 6, 10, 16, 14, and 11. And his rebounding in those games were 2, 8, 14, 8, and 5. Last time he played UW, he had 28 points. He was a big mis-match for the Huskies and he is the main player that the Huskies need to contain better than they did last meeting. He averages 12.3 points, 8.1 rebounds, and 2.7 assists a game.

Jesse Perry- is averaging 11.9 points a game and his field goal percentage is just under 50% on the season. He also brings down 7.2 rebounds a game. He is a guy to watch for in this matchup. He had 13 points and 11 rebounds against the Huskies in their last meeting.

Nick Johnson- has turned out to be the best of the true-freshman. He plays smart and finds ways to score. He averages 9.2 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 2.4 assists a game.

Josiah Turner and Angelo Chol are also very talented players and could be a factor in this game. Look for one of those two players to find their stroke and get going in this game.

My Prediction: UW 73 Arizona 69

This prediction comes down to the fact that there will be a lot of emotion and momentum from senior night at Alaska Airlines Arena. The crowd will be into the game from the start and the Huskies found a way to start strong in their last game and they are looking to put together a complete game against Arizona. However, whenever these two teams meet, they both find ways to either play up to the other’s tempo/level or down to it. It seems to always come down to the wire.