MBB Preview: #7/#6 Arizona Wildcats @ Oregon State Beavers
By Vince Senick
Game Information: #7/#6 Arizona Wildcats (14-1, 2-0 in Pac-12) @ Oregon State Beavers (10-4, 1-1 in Pac-12)
Date/Time: Sunday January 11, 2015 @ 8:00 p.m (MST)
Arizona: 14-1, 2-0 in Pac-12 (2-1 away)
Opponent: Oregon State (9-0 at home)
All-Time Series: Arizona leads 58-20
TV: Fox Sports 1 (Aaron Goldsmith and Sean Elliot)
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Jefferies and Hansen)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 91, XM 91
Live Stats: arizonalivestats.com
Twitter: @APlayersProgram
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Arizona Probable Starters
Oregon State Probable Starters
F: Daniel Gomis
* Lineups based on last game and could change (especially with Sean Miller)
In their final game of this quick two game Oregon road trip the Arizona Wildcats travel to Corvallis to face the Oregon State Beavers. Both teams are coming off wins in their last game.
Last Time Out:
The Wildcats started off their conference road play with an 80-62 win over the Oregon Ducks, in Eugene. Arizona used a total team effort to easily handle the Ducks in this one, with all five starters scoring in double figures. T.J. McConnell scored an Arizona career high 21 points and added five rebounds. Stanley Johnson chipped in with 14 points and seven rebounds and Kaleb Tarczewski recorded a double-double, with 11 points and 10 rebounds.
The Beavers got their first win in conference play with a 55-47 win over the Arizona State Sun Devils. Malcolm Duvivier led the Beavers with 15 points and five rebounds and Gary Payton II was right behind him with 12 points and five rebounds of his own.
Scouting the Wildcats:
The Wildcats are 2-1 on the road this year and are coming off their first road win in conference play last game. Freshman Stanley Johnson leads the Wildcats with 14.4 ppg and 6.9 rpg and is third on the team in assists, averaging 2.8. Brandon Ashley is second on the team with 11.7 ppg and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson is third with 11.5 ppg. Hollis-Jefferson is also second on the team in rebounds, averaging 6.6 per game. The Wildcats play a seven-man rotation with all seven players averaging at least 14 minutes per game. Head coach Sean Miller switched up the starting line up once again last game, replacing Elliot Pitts and putting Stanley Johnson back in the starting line up.
The Wildcats average 76.3 ppg (second in the conference) and give up only 59.7 ppg (third in the conference) for a +16.7 scoring margin (second in the conference). The Wildcats are shooting 50% from the field (second in the conference) and hold opponents to 38.8% (fifth in the conference).
Jan 8, 2015; Corvallis, OR, USA; Oregon State Beavers guard Gary Payton II (1) dunks in the first half against the Arizona State Sun Devils at Gill Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Susan Ragan-USA TODAY Sports
Scouting the Beavers:
The Beavers are led by the son of “The Glove” , Gary Payton II, who averages 12.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg, and 2.93 spg. His 2.93 spg lead the Pac-12 and are good for fourth in the country and his 8.1 rpg are good for fifth in the Pac-12. Victor Robbins (10.5), Langston Morris-Walker (10.5), and Olaf Schaftenaar (10.3) also score in double figures for the Beavers. Oregon State plays a seven-player rotation who all average over 16 minutes per game, with GPII averaging a whopping 34.9.
OSU averages 66.5 ppg (last in the conference) and give up only 56.9 ppg (second in the conference) for a +9.6 scoring margin (tied for third in the conference). The Beavers shoot 43.9% (eighth in the conference) and hold opponents to just 36.7% from the field (third in the conference). They also lead the league in turnover margin with a +3.07.
Prediction
Arizona: 69
Oregon State: 51
A Look Ahead
Arizona returns home for a big home stand next Thursday and Saturday nights. Up first will be the Colorado Buffaloes, on Thursday, and then the big showdown with #9/#11 Utah Utes, on Saturday.