Pac-12: Five Conference Games to Watch
By Daniel Tran
Mar 13, 2014; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Nick Johnson (13) shoots against Utah Utes forward Jordan Loveridge (21) and guard/forward Princeton Onwas (3) during the first half in the quarterfinals of the Pac-12 Conference college basketball tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona Wildcats at Utah Utes, February 28, 2015
If February comes and these two teams keep playing at the same level they are both playing at now, this could be a key game that determines the regular season Pac-12 Champion. Arizona has been a national championship contender since the season began and their frontcourt has merited that standing.
The imposing frontcourt of Stanley Johnson, Brandon Ashley, Kaleb Tarczewski, and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson accounts for 65.9 percent of the Wildcats’ total rebounds and represent four of Arizona’s top five scorers. They are also the backbone of Arizona’s ferocious defense that has an 84.9 adjusted defensive rating, which is second in the Pac-12 only to Utah.
Though they are lesser known, Utah actually has a better defense than the more recognized Wildcat defense. The Utes sport an adjusted defensive rating of 83.6 and have given up only 56.9 points per game, 3.4 points less than Arizona. Delon Wright and Brandon Taylor turn up the pressure up top and Jakob Poeltl cleans up any mistakes they make with his shot blocking ability. They will need his presence to affect the Arizona forwards, who make a living fighting for shots close to the rim.
Think of this game as an anti-shootout where both teams are going to dig in and grind out possessions defensively. It may not be the prettiest game ever, but real basketball fans will appreciate the defensive strategies and efforts put forth by both teams.