Arizona Basketball: Preview of the Wildcats and Roadrunners, Pac-12 vs WAC
By David Rosen
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team look to continue the non-conference winning streak against the Cal State Bakersfield Roadrunners. It’s the Pac-12 vs the WAC.
Keep on winning! That is what the Wildcats will look to do against the regular season winners of the Western Athletic Conference (WAC), Cal State Bakersfield. The current non-conference win streak is at 42-0 and if they are to make it 43-0, they will need to remain focused against a tough opponent. Whenever teams come to visit McKale Center and take on the Wildcats they have nothing to lose and a lot to gain – reason why Wildcat basketball is so darn exciting to watch!
In the Wildcats last outing against UMBC, they faced a team that had no fear. They also had to figure out a way to slow down Jarius Lyles, who finished the game with 30 points. The Wildcats’ lock down defense eventually wore down UMBC. Against the Roadrunners, they will need to continue that same mentality on defense, right from the get go!
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Their opponent lost four seniors from last year, including three out of their four top scorers. They do though return a lot of players who were part of last year’s squad run to the NIT Final Four. For the Roadrunners to have any sort of hope down low, they will need to count on 6 foot 11 Fallou Ndoye or 6 foot 10 Moataz Aly to contain DeAndre Ayton from having another double double (that would make it three in a row!).
The Wildcats will look to continue to use their depth and size (not the first time that’s been said) to control the pace and outcome of the game. Part of the depth off the bench includes Dylan Smith and Ira Lee, who each had a fantastic games against UMBC!
Coach Sean Miller’s thoughts on the matchup against Cal State Bakersfield:
“We don’t have to give them a pep talk. Cal State Bakersfield pushed us to the brink a year ago. Could of beat us in McKale.”
“The things that really stands out about Bakersfield is that they play hard. Really anxious to see. We have to be able to match their intensity and will.”
See the full press conference:
Get to know the opponent a little more.
Cal State Bakersfield:
Record: 2016-17 overall record of 25-10, 12-2 in the WAC, regular season conference champions
Head to head matchup: The last time these two teams met was in the 2016-17 season. Wildcats won in a close fought bought 78-66. Lauri Markkanen led the way with 26 points and eight rebounds – The Finnisher!
Key player to watch: Junior guard Damiyne Durham, who was second leading scorer last season
Other notable facts: The Roadrunners not only made it to the NIT Final Four last season, they also earned their first NCAA Division I Tournament bid in the 2015-16 season.
Must Read: Arizona Basketball: Allonzo Trier, Pac-12 Player of the Week
The matchup against the Roadrunners will be a battle! Everyone will need to bring the their A game, including the fans, for the Wildcats to remain unbeaten. Bear Down!
Game Details:
Opponent: Cal State Bakersfield
When: Thursday, November 16 at 8pm MST on the Pac-12 Networks – Another late one!
Where: Tucson, AZ McKale Center