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Arizona Basketball: Top 5 toughest opponents for the 2019-20 season

By David Rosen

ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during the first half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
ANAHEIM, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 30: Head coach Mark Few of the Gonzaga Bulldogs looks on during the first half of the 2019 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament West Regional game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders at Honda Center on March 30, 2019 in Anaheim, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 10: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero introduces Mick Cronin as the new UCLA Mens Head Basketball Coach at Pauley Pavilion on April 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – APRIL 10: UCLA Director of Athletics Dan Guerrero introduces Mick Cronin as the new UCLA Mens Head Basketball Coach at Pauley Pavilion on April 10, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jayne Kamin-Oncea/Getty Images) /

No.4 – UCLA

2018-19 record: 17-16 (Overall), 9-9 (7th in the Pac-12)

Leading  scorer:  Kris Wilkes, 17.4 points, 4.8 rebounds and 1.7 assists per game

Head-to-head matchup: 42-55

Last meeting: UCLA won 90-69 in Pauley Pavilion

The UCLA Bruins had a slightly better season then Arizona Basketball had, but were still unable to make it to the NCAA Tournament. They also lost three underclassmen, who happened to be there top three scorers,  who declared and will be playing in the NBA next season: Kris Wilkes, Jaylen Hands, and Moses Brown.

Last season when these two teams met the absence of Chase Jeter was greatly felt as the Wildcats got crushed by 21 points. The Wildcats were outrebounded 45-26 and outscored in both halves. Similar to the Baylor game, the Wildcats took good care of the basketball with just nine turnovers to the Bruins 18, but were unable to create any points off of turnovers.

The Bruins will have a whole new look this season with the addition of Shareef O’Neal and former Cincinnati head coach Mick Cronin, while the Wildcats will one of the best incoming classes, returners with more experience and a transfer in Stone Gettings that should give the Wildcats the slight edge in this one.

Both of these teams will be looking to get to the NCAA Tournament and back to the top of Pac-12 basketball.

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