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Arizona Basketball: Five bold predictions for Pac-12 conference play

By David Rosen

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: A Pac-12 basketball logo is displayed on the court before a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - MARCH 15: A Pac-12 basketball logo is displayed on the court before a semifinal game of the Pac-12 basketball tournament between the Colorado Buffaloes and the Washington Huskies at T-Mobile Arena on March 15, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 14: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks plays against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on December 14, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Oregon won the game 71-70 in overtime. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MICHIGAN – DECEMBER 14: Payton Pritchard #3 of the Oregon Ducks plays against the Michigan Wolverines at Crisler Arena on December 14, 2019 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Oregon won the game 71-70 in overtime. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

No.4 – Big road win

The Wildcats will get a chance to play the top-ranked Pac-12 schools on the road season, Oregon and Washington.  They haven’t beaten a ranked team yet but will find a way to win big a road game against either school. The second game of the season the Wildcats face the Ducks on the road and at the end of the month, they travel to face Washinton.

Both schools are stacked with talent and have each won against a Top 25 opponent. Winning one of these two games will be huge for the Wildcats for many reasons, especially for seeding purposes come March. Being the second game of the season, the matchup against the Ducks will be tough, but if they can shut down one of the premier guards in the country, Payton Pritchard, they have a chance to pull off the upset. Not saying it’s impossible, but in the Pac-12 play, anything can happen.

Against the Huskies, the Wildcats will be challenged as well. Both teams have young talent and the scoring power to go on some crazy runs. The key in this one will be for the Wildcats to execute and remain as focused as possible in a hostile environment. Like the matchup against the Ducks, the Wildcats have a chance if they play 40 minutes of consistent basketball and not get off to a slow start.

They won the Wooden Legacy Tournament over three quality teams, none were ranked, but they showed they could win three games in a row on the road:

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