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Arizona Basketball: 2019-20 keys to victory for Wildcats hosting Utah Utes

By J.D. Caldwell

EUGENE, OREGON - JANUARY 09: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats argues with an official during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on January 09, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 74-73. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)
EUGENE, OREGON - JANUARY 09: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats argues with an official during the second half against the Oregon Ducks at Matthew Knight Arena on January 09, 2020 in Eugene, Oregon. Oregon won 74-73. (Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images) /
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Arizona Basketball
TUCSON, ARIZONA – JANUARY 04: The Arizona Wildcats (Photo by Jennifer Stewart/Getty Images) /

Arizona Basketball will host the Utah Utes Thursday, Jan. 16.  What are the keys for the Wildcats to get back in the win column?

Arizona Basketball needs to regroup after being swept at the Oregon schools last weekend.  Tip off will be at 5:30 p.m. PT in McKale Center and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks.

The Wildcats (11-5, 1-2) fell out of the AP Top 25 this week and still hold a #18 NET Ranking.  Utah (10-5, 1-2) is ranked #60 NET.  The loser of this game will fall to 1-3 in the competitive Pac-12 and will have to dig themselves out of a hole.

Last Thursday, Arizona went into Eugene and gave the #8 Oregon Ducks (14-3, 3-1) all they could handle in a 74-73 overtime loss.  The young Wildcats then found out what Pac-12 road trips were all about when they ran out of gas in their 82-65 loss at #45 NET Oregon State (12-4, 2-2) on Sunday, Jan. 12.

Meanwhile, Utah was blown out at #20 Colorado (13-3, 2-1, #21 NET) by the score of 91-52 last Sunday.  The Utes have been wildly inconsistent this season, highlighted by a 69-66 victory over #10 Kentucky on Dec. 18 in Las Vegas.

Both are relatively inexperienced long teams, are good shooters, and run efficient offenses with Arizona ranked #13 and Utah #61 in KenPom’s adjusted efficiency.  However, the expectations have been much higher for coach Sean Miller’s Wildcats than Larry Krystkowiak’s Utes.

The matchup should be a good one between league rivals, but the Wildcats should be able to wrest away the victory.  Check out how Arizona is doing in the following key areas…

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