Arizona Basketball is going to have another long season ahead with tough matchups during non-conference and conference play. Time to rank the Top 5 toughest.
Last season Arizona Basketball finished with an overall record of 17-15 and 8-10 in conference play. They faced some tough opponents early on in non-conference play as well as during the Pac-12 season. Even with expectations low, the Wildcats had their chances to prove everyone wrong. Unfortunately, they were unable to do that and had a disappointing season.
One of the key turning points in the season game against Gonzaga in the Maui Invitational. After beating a tough opponent in Iowa St, the Wildcats faced the No.3 ranked Bulldogs. They were battling back and forth, even commanded a decent size lead in the second half, but after a Chase Jeter technical foul (and him fouling out), they were unable to maintain the lead and ended up losing 91-74.
They would go onto lose against Auburn in the consolation game. If the Wildcats were able to win that game against Gonzaga, that could have given them the momentum and confidence needed into the rest of the season. That didn’t happen though and they were battling uphill the rest of the season.
Ironically in the 2019-20 season, the Wildcats get their revenge game against Gonzaga on Dec 14 at home. There are other opponents this season that will be a test for the Wildcats this upcoming season. Time to rank the Top 5 toughest opponents, starting with No.5.
No.5 – Baylor
2018-19 record: 20-14 (Overall), 10-8 (Big-12)
Leading scorer: Makai Mason, 14.9 points, 2.5 rebounds and 3.4 assists per game
Head-to-head matchup: 3-2
Last meeting: Baylor won 58-49 in McKale Center
The Baylor Bears had a decent season, finishing over .500 and making it all to the second round of the NCAA Tournament, before losing to at the time No.1 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs 83-71. They’ll be losing their top scorer in Makai Mason, but have several other top scorers returning including Tristan Clark, who averaged 14.6 points per game.
The last time these two teams played, the Bears dominated the Wildcats at home. They outrebounded them 46-15 and shot better from the field. The Bears did have 20 turnovers to the Wildcats ten but limited the Wildcats to easy points off of turnovers.
This time around, Arizona Basketball should have a better chance of staying even with the Bears on the glass and from the field. They have the size, strength, and depth that they didn’t have last season.
When these two teams match up this upcoming season in early December, both teams will be looking to finish the last month of non-conference play on a high note.
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.
No.3 – Washington
2018-19 record: 27-9 (Overall), 15-3 (1st in the Pac-12)
Leading scorer: Jaylen Nowell, 16.2 points, 5.3 rebounds and 3. assists per game
Head-to-head matchup: 52-30,
Last meeting: Washington won 67-60 in McKale Center
The 2018-19 Pac-12 regular-season champions, Washington Huskies, were the one bright spot in the conference last season. They dominated the conference home and away. For their efforts, they made it to the second round of the NCAA Tournament before losing to North Carolina 81-59.
Pac-12 Player of the Year and leading scorer for the Huskies, Jaylen Nowell declared for the NBA and was drafted in the second round of the NBA by the Minnesota Timberwolves. The Huskies will be without top scorers Matisse Thybulle, Noah Dickerson and David Crisp (who all graduated) but they will be bringing back some returning players such Nahziah Carter and few transfers that the Huskies will rely upon for experience and shooting.
Overall, the Huskies that don’t have the depth of experience players they had last season, but they do have the No.3 class in the Pac-12 and No.10 ranked overall in the nation joining them, including two five-star players in Isaiah Stewart and Jaden McDaniels.
The last meeting between these two was a hard fought battle, but in the end, the athleticism was too much for the Wildcats to handle falling 67-60. This time around, both teams will almost be a mirror of one another with the overall talent level each team will have. The Wildcats will want to avenge last season’s only meeting with the Huskies with a W instead of L.
No.2 – Oregon
2018-19 record: 25-13 Overall), 10-8 (4th in the Pac-12)
Leading scorer: Louis King 13.5 points, 5.5 rebounds and 1.3 assists per game. Technically it was Bol Bol with 21.0 points, 9.6 rebound and 1.0 assist per game, but he only played in 9 games due to injury.
Head-to-head matchup: 51-32
Last meeting: Oregon won 73-47 in Matthew Knight Arena
The 2018-19 Pac-12 Tournament Champion Oregon Ducks went the furthest in the NCAA Tournament, making it all the way to the Sweet 16 before losing to eventual National Champions, Virginia Cavaliers. Even though they finished fourth in the Pac-12, that didn’t stop the Ducks from having a successful season.
They did lose three players to the NBA, Louis King, Kenny Woten, and Bol Bol. King was there true leading scorer and rebounder. Paul White, who was one of their top three scorers graduated. The Ducks though will have their starting point guard Payton Pritchard back for another year, who was one of the key contributors all season long including in the postseason.
The Ducks have loss top talent but will be bringing in some talent, including five-star power forward CJ Walker, four-star Isaac Johnson, and four-star Chandler Lawson. They may not be the same type of team from last season, but they will have the athleticism and experience to be a dangerous team in the Pac-12. Plus they have two transfers with experience and size in Lok Wur and Eric Williams.
Last time these two teams met, the Ducks put a pounding on the Wildcats 73-47. Believe it or not, this game was tied at the half, but the Ducks outscored the Wildcats 42-16 in the second to come away with the victory. Dylan Smith led the team with 14 points and Brandon Williams had 12, no one else scored more than 10 points.
Both teams were about even on the glass, but when it came to scoring buckets in the second half the Wildcats couldn’t make it happen. This season, Sean Miller has plenty of options to choose from when it comes to shooters on the team. Scoring shouldn’t be a problem this time around. Wildcats have the edge in this one as long as they shoot well and take care of the glass.
No.1 – Gonzaga
2018-19 record: 33-4 (Overall),16-0 (1st in the WCC)
Leading scorer: Rui Hachimura, 19.7 points, 6.5 rebounds and 1.5 assists per game
Head-to-head matchup: 6-3
Last meeting: Gonzaga won 91-74 in the Maui Invitational
No surprise here. The reigning WCC Champs and one the top powerhouses in NCAA college basketball, Gonzaga Bulldogs will be the toughest opponent the Wildcats will face in the regular season. They made it all the way to the Elite 8 before losing to Texas Tech 75-69.
They were led by leading scorer Rui Hachimura, who was the 9th overall pick in the NBA Draft. The Bulldogs will also be without their second and third leading scorer Brandon Clarke and Zach Norvell to the NBA. That being said, Josh Perkins (4th leading scorer will be returning) plus lot of players of size and strength will be available for head coach Mark Few.
In addition, they have the No.1 class in the WCC and No.12 nationally ranked class joining the Bulldogs this upcoming season. One of those being highly versatile 6 foot 10, 235lb center Drew Timme, whom the Wildcats were trying to recruit.
When these two teams met this past season in Maui, the Wildcats had a legit chance to pull off the upset. One technical foul by Chase Jeter changed all of that and they couldn’t get the job done, but something tells me this time around things will be different. This is one of those games that is a must win because it will help their chances of being a higher seed come March.
At Zona Zealots, let us know what you think of our Top 5 toughest opponents that Arizona Basketball will face in the 2019-20 season. As always, Bear Down, Arizona!