The Arizona Wildcats and Oregon Ducks opened their conference play with big wins over their respective rivals, Arizona State and Oregon State. Can the Ducks’ high-octane offense get past Arizona stingy defense? Read on as we give you everything you need to know heading into this pivotal Pac-12 game.
Want to dip your toes into professional basketball? Check out our complete preview for the Heat vs. Blazers game also on Thursday night.
11 days after their first loss of the season, the Arizona Wildcats rebounded in a big way with a blowout of their rivals, the Arizona State Sun Devils on Sunday night. They had an excellent night from the free-throw line, making 16-of-19 attempts and shot 51 percent from the field in a 73-49 rout. Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and Stanley Johnson led the Wildcats in scoring with 13 points each.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Ashley was lethal from downtown going 3-for-4. Stanley Johnson and Hollis-Jefferson had some success on the boards with seven and eight rebounds respectively. The two also shot over .600 from the field.
The three should give the Wildcats the ability to score all across the floor to spread out Oregon’s defense. The trio are also the team’s leading rebounders, and will be crucial in keeping the Ducks (5th in the nation with 42.4 rebounds per game) off the boards.
Still, Arizona’s Sean Miller is a defensive-minded coach. This was evident when the Wildcats forced Arizona State to more turnovers (22) than field goals (14). This Arizona defense should help in limiting Oregon’s high-octane offense, which ranks 25th in the nation with 78.8 points per game.
The total has gone under in the Arizona’s last four games at Oregon.
Betting on the Oregon Ducks
There’s no hotter hand in Oregon than Joseph Young’s. The senior guard has averaged 20.1 points per game shooting with a 45.1 percent clip this season.
Young was especially dominant in the Ducks’ 71-59 win over rivals, Oregon State, on Saturday. He went 10-for-15 from the field, including 5-for-6 from downtown. He finished with a game-high 27 points.
An on-point Young may be able to beat Arizona’s tight defense, which allows just 59.5 points per game. However, he won’t be forced to shoulder all of Oregon’s offense with support from Elgin Cook and Dillon Brooks. Cook had 18 points and nine rebounds against Oregon State, while Brooks added 10 points.
The Ducks also have a quality player off the bench in Jordan Bell. He had eight points, nine rebounds and five blocks on Saturday. Bell has been a stout defender all season long. He has 48 blocks in just 14 games, just three shy of the school’s single-season record for blocks.
Bell is also solid on the boards. He has a team-high seven rebounds per game. Meanwhile, Cook also helps in cleaning up the boards with 6.5 rebounds per game. The two help solidify a dominant inside presence for the Ducks. Their 42.4 rebounds per game should help limit Arizona from having second chance points and even aid them in their own attempts after missed shots.
The Ducks are 5-0 ATS in their last five games against Arizona.
