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Arizona Basketball Preview: Undefeated Wildcats take on the Oregon Ducks at McKale

By Shereen Rayan

PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Dana Altman yells at Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Oklahoma won the game 90-80. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - NOVEMBER 26: Head coach Dana Altman yells at Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks during the second half of the game against the Oklahoma Sooners during the PK80-Phil Knight Invitational presented by State Farm at the Moda Center on November 26, 2017 in Portland, Oregon. Oklahoma won the game 90-80. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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The Arizona Basketball team will likely earn a slot in the NCAA Tournament if they keep up the energy and determination.

Some have said the only way Arizona Basketball, who no one predicted would be in first place in the Pac-12 ever, will make it into the NCAA Tournament is to win the Pac-12 Tournament. Oregon, on the other hand, was slated to be more dominant than any other team in the conference, and now need to win the Pac-12 tournament to earn their spot. Beating Arizona at this point would help their team, especially with a win on the road.

Last Thursday, Dana Altman’s Oregon Ducks received what Altman called a “gut punch” when the team lost to the UCLA Bruins (10-7) at home. The Duck lost in overtime to UCLA 87-84 after being down by almost 20 points at one time. Although the Ducks 23 forced turnovers and resulting 32 scored points also did not secure the win, Jaylen Hands free-throws did.

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Matthew Knight Arena is a state of the art venue with ducks and “O’s” everywhere. The team runs out through the students lined up in the hallway to start the game. But the Ducks are without star Bol Bol who suffered an injury that sidelined him for the remainder of the season. The Ducks have been without forward Kenny Wooten as well but there are sightings of him warming up pre-game.

The Ducks, after losing in a close one to the Bruins, then embarrassed the USC Trojans by beating them 81-60, also at home. It was their first Pac-12 conference win. This game against the Wildcats will be the first game on the road for the Ducks.

Game info:

Record: Arizona Wildcats (13-4 overall, 4-0 Pac12) Oregon Ducks (10-6 overall, 1-2 Pac12)

Location: McKale Center, Tucson

When: 7 p.m. MST/ 6 p.m. PST on Thursday 1/17/19

TV: ESPN

Radio: Tune In – IMG AZ, 1290-AM, 107.5-FM

Analysis:  Both Oregon and Arizona are lacking big men, so this game will come down to which team forces the most turnovers, if the players can make their free throws and if Arizona can break the Ducks zone defense. The Ducks Louis King (19.3 PPG) and senior forward Paul White (16.7 PPG) are heating up while Ira Lee is heating up for the Wildcats. Guards Brandon Williams, Brandon Randolph and Justin Coleman have a chance tonight to prove the Cats are for real.

Really, if both teams perform well, it may come down to coaching, Altman vs. Miller, two great basketball minds.

Lee got his turn at receiving Sean Miller’s wisdom in the film room after winning the gold jersey for the past two weeks (that laugh is priceless):

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Sports Illustrated’s Max Meyer thinks Arizona is overrated and chose Oregon with 5.5 points. Well, we will see.

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