Arizona Wildcats Game Preview & How to Watch

The Essentials

Date: Saturday, 3/7/20

Tip-Off Time: 7:00 pm PT

TV: ESPN

Radio: KOMO 1000

Streaming: Espn.com/watch

Location: Tucson, Arizona

Betting line: Washington +10.5

Arizona 2019-20 Statistics:

Record: 20-10 (10-7)

Points For per Game: 76.8 ppg (28th)

Points Against per Game: 65.0 ppg (53rd)

Adjusted Offensive Efficiency: 111.4 (34th)

Adjusted Defensive Efficiency: 91.1 (15th)

Strength of Schedule: 50th overall

Arizona Key Players:

C- Zeke Nnaji, Fr. 6’11, 240: 16.4 ppg, 8.5 rpg, 0.9 bpg, 57.9% FG, 76.1% FT

Nnaji has been nearly the equal of UW’s Isaiah Stewart this season and went from a 4 star to potential 1st round draft pick. He has had some struggles against teams with elite defensive centers such as Oregon and Colorado so there’s a chance he has a relative down night against UW. But a down night for Nnaji means something along the order of 12 points and 8 rebounds so he’ll be a major factor all night.

F- Stone Gettings, Sr. 6’9, 240: 6.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 0.9 apg, 50.0% FG, 38.5% 3pt, 68.8% FT

Gettings is getting the start with center Chase Jeter suspended for the final game of the season. He’s a player that often gives the Husky zone trouble as a tall power forward that can shoot the ball and knock down an open free throw line jumper.

F- Josh Green, Fr. 6’6, 210: 11.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg, 42.4% FG, 33.8% 3pt, 76.8% FT

Green was a 5-star recruit coming into the year and he’s been good but not quite the scorer he was advertised to be. But he’s been adept at forcing turnovers on the defensive end of the floor and leads Arizona’s in steals as their primary wing defender. While Green hasn’t been all-conference at any one thing he’s at least average at essentially everything which has a lot of value.

G- Dylan Smith Sr. 6’5, 185: 8.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.3 apg, 36.2% FG, 35.5% 3pt, 70.6% FT

Smith has been in a massive slump since these two teams played 5 weeks ago shooting just 28% from 3 on over 5 attempts per game. He also still struggles mightily to convert shots driving to the hoop and against the Husky zone will almost certainly be called upon solely to knock down open jumpers and play good defense. He didn’t do the former in that first matchup as that 1/9 from the field effort started his poor play.

G- Nico Mannion, Fr. 6’3, 190: 14.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 5.4 apg, 39.1% FG, 32.9% 3pt, 85.7% FT

Mannion has been just about as advertised as one of the best PG recruits in the country and is capable of shifting his game to match the situation. Expect Mannion to have the ball in his hands a ton as he probes the Husky zone for opportunities to get the ball down low to while the UW defense is out of position.

2019-20 Arizona Shot Chart

Not exactly a lot of weaknesses for this Arizona offense. The only place you could suggest they struggle is on those midrange shots from the wings and baseline and that’s what the Husky zone will give them until they prove they can make it.

Prediction

Washington Huskies- 62, Arizona Wildcats- 68

*****

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