Arizona, which is priced +1,100 to win the national title, is the antithesis of the usual fast-paced basketball of today. The Wildcats prefer slowing the game down and seeing their opponents’ offense get stuck in the mud, which is a key reason why they rank 28th overall in scoring defense, giving up just 64.3 points per game. The Wildcats are 303rd in KenPom’s adjusted tempo, having possession of the ball just 65.3 times per 40 minutes of action. The Wildcats’ unpredictability on offense should also serve them well in the tournament with opposing coaches having trouble deciding which Arizona dude they’ll put a target on the back; the Wildcats have seven different guys who have recorded at least 18 points in a game during the regular season.
Team Weaknesses:
Arizona is loaded with freshmen and sophomores, which means there’s a lack in experience on the squad. Even the sophomores couldn’t fully brag about the time they went dancing last season, when the Wildcats lost in the very first round against Wichita State. While there’s definitely talent and upsides for guys like Lauri Markkanen and Kobi Simmons, they’ll be under an immense pressure to perform for the storied and proud Arizona program.
