Arizona Basketball Preview: No. 5 Wildcats take No. 13 Ducks

A match-up that has been heavily anticipated since before the season started, the drama is amping up as Arizona Basketball (21-2, 10-0) will take on the Oregon Ducks (20-3, 9-1).

The top two teams in the Pac-12 are set to face each other in this Saturday showdown, as Arizona Basketball travels to Eugene to take on the upset-minded Oregon Ducks. Oregon comes into this one slightly favored.

Arizona remains the only unbeaten team in the conference, despite the myriad of injuries and the absence of Allonzo Trier for the earlier part of the season. However, the Wildcats will be at full strength on Saturday.

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This is a game that has been on the minds of Wildcats fans, as well as head coach Sean Miller, and the players for some time. The Ducks are the defending conference champion and were the early favorite to win the conference again this year.

Seeing as how Arizona will face Oregon just once this regular season, this game is indeed vital to the Wildcats regular season conference championship hopes.

The Ducks are coming into this one after squeaking out a one-point victory over our Pac-12 foe Arizona State, and after losing their only conference game to Colorado the game prior. Adversely, the Wildcats are now winners of fifteen straight, are off to their best start in the conference since 1997-98, and have to be careful playing in a hostile environment against a very talented team.

Feb 2, 2017; Eugene, OR, USA; Oregon Ducks forward Dillon Brooks (24) shoots the ball over Arizona State Sun Devils guard Tra Holder (0) during the first half of the game at Matthew Knight Arena. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /

Oregon is led by their junior forward, Dillon Brooks, and also get nice contributions from Tyler Dorsey, Chris Boucher and Jordan Bell as well. Brooks leads a potent offense, averaging over 14 points per game, helping the Ducks to the 69th best scoring offense in the NCAA, averaging nearly 79 points per game.

Adversely, they will meet a stingy Arizona defense that ranks 16th in scoring defense, holding opponents to just over 62 points per game.

However, we imagine the tempo of this game will be a bit more fast-paced, as Oregon likes to push the basketball. Arizona can certainly hang with the best of them putting up over 90 points against the then No. 3 ranked UCLA Bruins.

Keys to the Game:

Slow Down Everyone Else- Dillon Brooks is a guy that is nearly impossible to stop. Arizona’s success doesn’t necessarily hinge on stopping him, but limiting the others from getting too involved. The Ducks do have a number of talented players, and it will be the Wildcats’ responsibility and challenge to step-up and try to slow Oregon down as much as possible.

The only times the Ducks have struggled offensively was when Brooks was either absent, or still ailing from injury. Brooks should be 100 percent in this one, which doesn’t help Arizona, but if the Cats can slow down just about everyone else, they give themselves a good chance in this one.

Avoid the Cheap Fouls- It is no secret by now that the Ducks (Brooks specifically) are a fan of the theatrics. Brooks has been getting a bit of attention with his recent flopping, and the refs are buying it.

Sean Miller’s squad emphasizes defense, so that means the Cats are going to have to curb some of the aggressiveness on D in some ways. We imagine Brooks may try to bait the Wildcats a bit, and Arizona will have to watch for his antics. No need to get any ticky-tack fouls, especially ones like this:

Intensity- The games against the Washington schools, including the first half of the Oregon State game, the Wildcats have seemingly lacked in intensity. Whatever the reason may be, Arizona needs to find their focus and intensity, and find it fast.

The Ducks are a game back in the Conference, and are looking to upset the visiting Cats in Matthew Knight Arena. Arizona seems to play a bit better in big games, narrowly losing to Gonzaga with the absence of Allonzo Trier and Parker Jackson-Cartwright, and also to Butler without Trier.

Miller and the Wildcats understand the magnitude of this game, and are looking to avenge the two losses to the Ducks last year. If Arizona comes out focused like they were against UCLA, I think the Wildcats have a good chance of winning this one.

Game Information:

Date: Saturday, February 4th

Time: 2:00pm MST, 1:00pm PST

Location: Eugene, OR- Matthew Knight Arena (12,364)

Line: Arizona +1.5

Television: ESPN

Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network Arizona Wildcats (Try TuneIn Radio)

Team Records:

Arizona Wildcats (21-2, 10-0): lost to No. 16 Butler and No. 1 Gonzaga on neutral courts. The Wildcats currently possess a fifteen-game winning streak, and are the last team to beat Oregon on their home court.
Oregon Ducks (20-3, 9-1): The Ducks own just a one game winning streak after losing their lone conference game to the Buffs in Boulder. Oregon struggled against ASU, but pulled out a one-point victory over the Sun Devils.

All-Time Record: Arizona leads 49-28, with Oregon winning the last two match-ups last season.

Next: Arizona Wildcats use Dominating Second Half to Over Power Oregon State 71-54

At Zona Zealots we are anxious for this match-up. It should be a good game, and we of course are hoping the Wildcats can come away victorious in this one. Bear Down, Arizona!

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