By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports activities
Arizona’s path to the Closing 4 was by no means going to be straightforward.
Utah State is underseeded and presents a tricky problem.
The Aggies gained the Mountain West Common Season and Match Championships. They’re well-coached and have succesful gamers.
To advance to the Candy 16, the Wildcats should deliver their “A” sport from the opening tip.
Right here’s my preview of the Spherical of 32 matchup.
No. 9 Utah State v. No. 1 Arizona
Sunday, March 22
4:50 pm PT, truTv
San Diego, CA
Rebounding and free-throw taking pictures.
These are the keys for Arizona to advance to the Candy 16.
The Wildcats have a number of gamers who could be difference-makers. Tommy Lloyd’s group just isn’t reliant on any single man and might overcome poor performances by key contributors.
If Brayden Burries doesn’t have it, Anthony Dell’Orso steps up. If Koa Peat can’t get it going, Tobe Awaka picks up the slack.
And so forth and so forth.
There are simply too many weapons for Utah State to decelerate. Too many variables to account for.
The one means that Arizona loses is that if it beats itself. And the way does it try this?
Lacking free throws and giving up offensive rebounds.
At instances, the Wildcats have been slacking on the defensive glass and gone chilly from the road. There aren’t many flaws to the group, however these two classes are noteworthy points.
So, how do the Aggies match up? Effectively, frankly, not very effectively.
Jerrod Calhoun’s group is 222nd nationally in rebounds per sport. That might put USU eleventh within the Huge 12.
In different phrases, within the backside half of the league, across the different groups that missed the Match.
Utah State’s offensive rebounding is marginally higher, slotting in at No. 179 nationally. However that will additionally put them at simply eleventh within the Huge 12.
As a comparability, Arizona is No. 2 nationally in rebounds per sport and No. 33 total in offensive rebounds per sport.
That’s not an excellent analytical matchup for the Aggies and is arguably the rationale why the unfold is so vast.
This isn’t Villanova.
The standard in competitors USU is about to face is exponentially higher than what Nova trotted out onto the ground. You aren’t lining up towards Duke Brennan and Devin Askew.
That is an Arizona group that gained the hardest convention within the nation by a number of video games and gained the Huge 12 Match by beating two Closing 4 contenders.
The Cats are coming off their largest margin of victory within the NCAA Match since 1998, they usually didn’t even play that nice.
Combine in a powerful contingent of Arizona followers at Viejas Area, and you’ve got the recipe for a convincing win.
However the three-point shot is the final word equalizer. And permitting second-chance alternatives, whereas lacking free throws, is the trail to an upset.
If Utah State hits its threes whereas getting second-chance factors, the possibility of an upset rises considerably.
On the identical time, if Arizona controls the defensive glass and takes care of enterprise on the free-throw line, it ought to depart with a win.
Miller covers School Basketball and School Soccer in addition to System 1 racing as a Senior Author and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports activities.
