Arizona Wildcats Basketball: The Huskies are coming to Tuc Town

Will the No. 18 Arizona Wildcats basketball team (13-3) win their 48th straight home game on Thursday night against the Washington Huskies (11-4)?

The Wildcats season has been a roller coaster so far, with the most recent dip being the loss of freshman star Allonzo Trier for four to six weeks. The streak is on the line, but the Cats are back at home where they belong, Time to climb the hill again and reinvent themselves.

Head coach Sean Miller hinted in press conferences that he would be utilizing Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Gabe York, and Mark Tollefsen for more minutes. He also reminded us that ‘You only have so many horses in the stable, so to speak.’

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Millers stable includes stallion freshman guard Justin Simon. Simon has been eager to come into any game and do his part to help the team. Wildcats fans are excited to see what he can do with more minutes on the court. Some fans, or one in particular who won’t be named, doesn’t think Simon is ready.

Until Justin gets the chance, none of us will know. We do know two things though, Miller respects hard work, and he likes to stay with his tried and true seasoned players. He may be forced to try to use more of his bench in the next month or so and the players have to step it up in practice and show their coach they have great work ethic.

Miller likes to stay with his tried and true seasoned players, and he will have to play them more minutes. He may be forced to seek to use more of his bench in the next month or so.

Miller also has said that he wasn’t going to redshirt Chance Comanche because he needed him for depth in case of injuries. Well, Sean, now is the time, let Chance out of the stable, he can help on defense by double teaming shooters. You can give him a new position or a role to play.

Another possibility for the team is to shake up the defense, use more zone defense and traps to force turnovers. Creativity will reign in any offensive or defensive strategy implemented this week; it’s almost like starting all over once again. Figuring out the starting lineup took 12 games the first time around.

The Washington Huskies started their season in China; they haven’t gotten to the big dance since 2011. In 2012, they were eliminated in the first round of the NIT tourney. In 2011, Isaiah Thomas nailed a 3-pointer at the buzzer in overtime. I will never forget that shot, that feeling, and I have still not let it go.

Starting this season, most folks equated the Huskies with ‘last place’ standing in the Pac-12, but head coach Lorenzo Romar will not have any of that. The Huskies have won their last three games against UCLA (96-93), USC (87-85) and their rivals Washington State (99-95) all at home and all in very close games. Two out of three team eluded the Wildcats, but that was in away games that were won at the buzzer.

Fifth-year redshirt senior Andrew Andrews is the star of the young Washington Huskies team. Andrews is averaging a career-high 21.6 points, 6.5 rebounds, 4.3 assists, and making 79.7 percent of his free-throws playing an average of 32.8 minutes. Romar has been playing a seven-man rotation but hints he could go 10-deep.

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Freshman Husky guard Dejounte Murray is not far behind Andrews in stats totals, but then it seems to drop off from there in the roster. On Saturday against Washington State, the Murray and Andrews combo scored 54 of UW’s 99 points and had 14 of the team’s 15 assists, they were involved 87 of the 99 points.

Stop those two players, or just slow them down, and the Cats can win. It may not be that easy, but on paper, that’s what it seems like would work. We can’t forget that this team sits atop the Pac-12 with an undefeated 3-0 record in conference play.

Prediction: Cats play tougher at home, they will struggle in the first half defending Andrews and Murray, but at halftime they will figure out what to do. Pitts will be back in the lineup (pure speculation) giving the extra confidence the team needs. PJC will drive at the point, but will be able to score more against the Huskies; it will be his time to shine.

Arizona 79 Washington 73

Arizona will win and preserve their home game winning streak.

When: Thursday, Jan. 14 at 6 p.m. PT. 7 p.m. MST

Where: Tucson, Arizona – McKale Center

TV: The game will be televised nationally on Fox Sports One with Aaron Goldsmith and Casey Jacobsen on the call

Radio: TuneIn Radio, IMG Sports Network Arizona Brian Jeffries calls the action. KCUB 1290 AM, KHYT 107.5 FM.

Series: The Huskies are 13-14 against the Wildcats under Lorenzo Romar. The Huskies currently lead the Pac-12 with a 3-0 record.

Arizona is favored by 12.5 over Washington
— stunna (@stunnaIo) January 14, 2016

Next: Arizona Wildcats Basketball: How will Miller move forward without Trier?

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