No. 11 Arizona Basketball kicks off Pac-12 play against OSU

With their game against Washington canceled, No. 11 Arizona Basketball (6-0, 0-0) returns to action against Oregon State (1-7, 0-1) in Corvallis.

Arizona Basketball has been rolling as they are off to an impressive 6-0 start. And after a dominant win over Sacramento State last weekend, the Wildcats have had a little extra time off as their Thursday night game against Washington was postponed due to Covid.

Coming into this one, the Wildcats enter as the clear favorites over Oregon State and they should have the clear and definite advantage as the Beavers have stumbled out of the gate, falling to 1-7 (0-1) after their loss to Cal just days ago.

Arizona has the talent, skill, and size to overpower Oregon State, and despite being considered the clear favorite, Arizona needs to remain focused if they are going to come away with the win.

Either way, hopefully, we will see if head coach Tommy Lloyd and the Cats can continue their strong play as they look to go 7-0 and pick up their first win in conference play.

Getting to Know the details of Arizona Basketball’s opponent, the Oregon State Beavers.

Team: Oregon State Beavers

Conference: Pac-12 Conference

2020-21 Record: The Beavers ended last year with a 20-13 (10-10) record, finishing sixth in the conference behind Arizona before running the table in the Pac-12 Tournament to earn the automatic bid. OSU even continued some of their postseason magic, advancing to the Elite Eight before being knocked out by Houston.

Head Coach: Wayne Tinkle enters his 8th year with the Beavers, after previously serving as head coach of Montana from 2010-14. Compiling a 272-205 overall record, Tinkle is 114-116 (52-77) at Oregon State.

Keys to the Game:

Play Fast – An area where the Wildcats excel, Arizona needs to come out and play at the pace they are accustomed to and force Oregon State to keep up.

The Beavers play a bit slower, so they are going to want to control the tempo and slow this thing down. Arizona can’t let them get comfortable and keep it close.

Use our length to create turnovers and get guys out in transition, and if they do that, they will win easily.

Take Care of the Basketball – Problematic of playing in faster style offenses, there are going to be times where the Wildcats turn the ball over more. Against Oregon State, this is an area that the Wildcats need to put extra emphasis on.

And overall, the Beavers do a great job of forcing other teams to turn the ball over, forcing 13.0 turnovers and 6.6 steals. So, if the Wildcats are to win, they will need to take care of the basketball. No need to give the Beavers more opportunities.

Stay Focused – All eyes continue to be on the Wildcats as there are fewer and fewer unbeaten teams remaining in college basketball, and the target on the Wildcats’ back is seemingly bigger now than it was in week one of the season.

And as Arizona travels to Corvallis to take on an Oregon State team that has not lived up to the hype, the pressure will be on for the Wildcats to continue their strong play.

The Wildcats should have a clear advantage, so the Cats need to stay focused and hungry if they are going to come away with the win against the Beavers and start 1-0 in Pac-12 Conference play.

Arizona Basketball versus Oregon State Beavers game information and details:

Date: Sunday, Dec. 05, 2021

Time: 2:00 P.M. MST / 1:00 P.M. PST

Location: Gill Coliseum, Corvallis, Oreg. (9,301)

Spread: -11.0 Arizona (Also, don’t forget to use WynnBet to enhance your overall betting experience)

Television: ESPNU

Radio: 107.5 FM (Tucson) / 1290AM (Tucson) | Arizona IMG Sports Network

Team Records:

Arizona Wildcats (6-0, 0-0): Still rolling, Arizona looks to remain perfect as they return to action against Oregon State to open Pac-12 play after their Thursday night’s game against Washington was postponed.

Oregon State Beavers (1-7, 0-1): After a nice run in 2020-21, the Beavers have come crashing back down to reality as they have started the year off 1-7. Things don’t get easier either with a fresh and talented Arizona team coming to town.

Head-to-Head Record (since 1949-50): Since 1949-50, Arizona has dominated this series winning 10 of the last 11 matchups. In the last 60+ years, the Wildcats hold a 68-22 advantage over Oregon State.

Last Meeting vs. Arizona: Playing in a more competitive game in Tucson in February, the Wildcats still came away with the victory, defeating the Beavers 70-61.

My Prediction: Arizona 87 Oregon State 65 – After dominating Sacramento State, Arizona should be well-rested and hungry to take on the Beavers. Last year, Oregon State could not match the Wildcats’ size, and given Arizona’s length and athleticism, the Beavers are going to have a tough time defending the Cats.