Arizona vs. UNLV: Who wins the position battles?

In the last couple of years, this wouldn’t have even been a question. But with the infusion of talent for the UNLV Rebels, how do they match up with the Arizona Wildcats?

Point guard: Parker Jackson-Cartwright vs. Jordan Johnson

Parker Jackson-Cartwright has sometimes been pegged as the weak-link of the Wildcats’ previous lineups. That can’t be said for this season. The 5’8 guard averages just 7.7 ppg but really has never been a volume scorer. He does average just under six assists a night and considering his size, is a good defender.

The criticism for Jackson-Cartwright might be that he doesn’t find his offense enough for himself. He only takes five shots a game, and all seven made field goals have been from the three-point line. If he can shoot the ball a few more times a game, he can spread out the offense and make things easier for the stars, especially since there’s another position for Arizona that is literally giving nothing on offense.

Jordan Johnson had to sit out a season after transferring from Milwaukee. There’s going to be a lot of talk about the “star” acquisitions for the Rebels, but Johnson coming in and playing as a true point has been just as responsible for the undefeated start as anyone else.

He’s second in scoring at 15.8 ppg thanks to an absurd 60% from the field. The offense has really picked up his last three games, scoring over 20 ppg. It’s been the passing (8.0 apg) that makes him so vital for this team. His scoring offense is likely to dip, but the passing could very well stay up there.

Edge: Johnson