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

1. ‘Cats need to recover defensively

After a solid performance defensively in their game at Oregon, Arizona struggled on the defensive end against Oregon State.  After their two days between games to prepare, the Wildcats did not have an answer for the Beavers’ slow-down offense.

Last Thursday, the Wildcats held the Ducks below their season average of 78.2 ppg by allowing only 74 points in an overtime game.  This was highlighted by freshman point guard Nico Mannion holding the Ducks’ senior Payton Pritchard to 18 points on 6 for 21 shooting (3 for 11 on three-pointers, 27.3%) and causing him to commit four turnovers.  Pritchard averages for the season 19.2 ppg, on 40.0% three-point shooting, with only 2.6 turnovers.

At Corvallis, Arizona allowed 82 Beaver points in a game that saw only 63 possessions, the lowest number of possessions in a Wildcat game all season.  The previous low was 69 in wins against New Mexico State and South Dakota State back in November.

The Beavers were not known really as a slow-down team.  However, Oregon State worked the ball to players like juniors Alfred Hollins and Zac Reichle who scored 5.6 and 1.5 points over their average, respectively.  Meanwhile, Tres Tinkle (20 points), Ethan Thompson (18), and Kylor Kelley (13) all got their points to give the Beavers five players scoring in double figures.

Utah tends to play a similar deliberate style like Oregon State.  The Wildcats will need to play a patient defense and stay with their men.  If the number of possessions is closer to 70 in this game, that will help Arizona as well.