Utah’s season is right back on track after recording a mammoth 42-point win over Arizona State on Thursday night. The Utes now have a grand opportunity to move into a tie for first place in the Pac-12 when they host conference-leaders Arizona in what is surely a mouth-watering clash this coming Saturday.
Who will emerge victorious in this pivotal showdown? Read on below for a preview of this all-important matchup and while you’re at it, you can check out our preview of the game between Duke and Syracuse here.
[sc:MarchMadness ]Arizona Wildcats vs. Utah Utes Betting Preview
Where: Jon M. Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City
When: Saturday, February 28, 9:00 PM ET
Line: Arizona Wildcats vs Utah Utes – view all NCAA Basketball lines
Betting on the Arizona Wildcats
The Arizona Wildcats extended their winning streak to five games with a resounding 82-54 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes on Thursday night. The win helped Arizona preserve its one-game lead atop the Pac-12 standings with a 13-2 slate.
[sc:NCAAB240banner ]Key to the Wildcats’ victory over Colorado was their balanced offensive attack. A total of five players scored in double-figures for Arizona, led by Stanley Johnson who scored 11 of his 15 points in the second half. Kaleb Tarczewski and Gabe York joined in the scoring parade as well, chipping in 14 points apiece.
Johnson has been a vital cog in Arizona’s success this season, leading the team not only in points (14.2 PPG) but also in rebounds (6.8 RPG) as well. The Wildcats will need Johnson to bring that same kind of offensive firepower when they square off with the Utes this coming Saturday.
Johnson will fancy his chances of doing just that as he ripped Utah’s defense into shreds in their last meeting on January 17. Johnson scored all of his 18 points in the second half to power the Wildcats to a convincing 69-51 win over the Utes.
It’s crucial for Arizona to control the rebounding battle if they are to beat Utah once again. The Wildcats outworked the Pac-12’s best rebounding team in their last meeting, grabbing 21 more boards against the Utes. 17 of those rebounds were on the offensive glass which Arizona converted into 18 second-chance points.
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Betting on the Utah Utes
Bring on Arizona!
The Utah Utes will head into their crunch clash with the Arizona Wildcats with momentum on their side following their 83-41 demolition of Arizona State on Thursday night. The victory helped Utah climb to within a game of Arizona in the Pac-12 standings with the Utes improving their mark to 12-3.
The Utes bounced back strongly from their upset loss to Oregon on Sunday, jumping on the Sun Devils right from the get-go. The Utes outscored the Sun Devils, 41-9, in the first half with Utah playing some exemplary defense.
The Utes held the Sun Devils to just 15.4 percent shooting from the field in the first half, with Arizona State missing its first nine shots. Utah held Arizona State to just four field goals and 10 turnovers at halftime and rejected a mind-boggling 10 shots.
That defensive intensity spilled over on the offensive end as the Utes shot the lights out in the first half. The Utes shot an incredible 62.5 percent from the field during this period as they laid to waste Arizona State’s feeble defense.
It was a fantastic offensive performance for the Utes which saw eight Utah players record at least eight points. In fact, 11 Utah players were able to get on the scoreboard. More than their offensive explosion, it was their play on the defensive end that definitely delighted head coach Larry Krystkowiak.
After surrendering 69 points in a losing effort against Oregon, Krystkowiak made sure his wards refocus all their energy on the defensive end. It definitely paid off against Arizona State as they held the Sun Devils to just 41 points, their lowest output of the season.
They will need to replicate that same defensive performance if they are to beat the surging Wildcats. What led to their downfall in their first clash with the Wildcats was their inability to make some stops against Arizona. The Wildcats shot 49.1 percent from the field against the Utes in that game.
They will need to do a better job of stopping the Arizona shooters if they are to keep the Pac-12 title race alive. The Wildcats are 8th in scoring defense this season, allowing 55.6 points per game.
Writer’s Prediction
Arizona wins, 67-62.
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