Houston Basketball: Keys to upsetting Arizona in Sweet 16 matchup

PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA - MARCH 20: Taze Moore #4 of the Houston Cougars is lifted up by Kyler Edwards #11 after defeating the Illinois Fighting Illini 68-53 during the second round of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at PPG PAINTS Arena on March 20, 2022 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images) /

4 of 4

Houston Basketball guard Taze Moore Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Force Arizona into turnovers

Arizona loves to play fast and up-tempo on offense. That is great when it works and is successful, but at the same time speeding up and trying to play too fast can also result in turning the ball over. One of the Wildcats’ weaknesses is being careless with the ball at times.

Houston is one of the better teams in the country taking care of the ball as they come in as the 49th best team when it comes to turnovers per game. Arizona wishes it came in as the 49th best team in turnovers per game as they currently sit way down on the list at 251. In the first round Houston forced UAB into twelve turnovers, and then turned around last Sunday and forced the Illini into seventeen turnovers. Kelvin Sampson-led teams have really bought into the gritty, tough, never backing down mentality on the defensive end and it shows on the court.

Arizona has been very sloppy with the ball in the first two rounds of March Madness. Against Wright State, they had nineteen turnovers. Then on Sunday had less overall with only committing sixteen against TCU, but still way too high. Committing that many turnovers were still able to get Arizona to the Sweet 16, but as you get deeper in the tournament turnovers is usually what decides if you stay in the big dance, or are sent home to watch the rest on television.

I cannot see the future, but if you told me that on Thursday night that Arizona has around the same amount of turnovers as they have had in the first two rounds then Houston is in a great position to win the game.

If Houston follows the game plan going into this game and really makes Arizona play more of their style of play they have a very good chance of winning this matchup and advancing deeper into the tournament. Not everybody is a gambler out there, but if you are then you may want to sprinkle a little bit on the Houston money line.