Arizona Remains No. 1 faces rival Arizona State
One of the biggest rivalries in NCAA sports is Arizona and Arizona State. Calling it, just a rivalry is giving less do than it deserves. This Thursday the two schools meet on the hardwood to settle matters in 40 minutes of basketball.
Arizona is currently ranked No. 1 in the nation and since 1979 has dominated the head-to-head series with the Sun Devils 49-22.
The Wildcats after winning Sunday night against USC are now 17-0, the programs best start ever.
Some basketball insiders have already given the Wildcats the victory for Thursday night. The team is talented and more balanced than in any season for the past decade.
Arizona State has a chance, as does anyone when two teams meet and they match up well defensively against Arizona, but they will have to play to near perfection to defeat the Wildcats.
If Arizona State wants even a slight chance of beating the Arizona, they will have to attempt to shut down the inside game of Brandon Ashley, Kaleb Tarczewski and Aaron Gordon. The three makes loads baskets inside. The Wildcats take over 35% of their shots near the rim and are shooting an incredible 78%. Take the inside game away and the Wildcats are shooting just 30% from the floor.
On the other end of the floor, the Arizona defense is as equally as tough near the rim. Opponents are just shooting 16% of their overall shots at the rim.
Jahii Carson the Sun Devils point guard will have to penetrate and attempt to create points to break up the defensive wall of Arizona. If Carson can do that and Jordan Bachynski can play tough near the rim on both ends of the court, Arizona State could stay close.
The game must be slowed down, Arizona State’s defense much dictate on Arizona’s offensive end, and clear the boards on every Wildcats miss.
Of course, all of this is easier said than done. Some consider the Wildcats team the best ever to play in the school’s program.
The Wildcats remained atop the Associated Press poll for the sixth consecutive week. However, the poll has a number of changes including six new teams in the Top 25.
Behind Arizona at No. 2 is Syracuse, which has also been in that spot for six straight weeks. Sixty-one of the 65 members who vote from the national media panel took Arizona, while the other four took Syracuse as No. 1.
On Monday, Syracuse defeated Boston College 69-59 to improve its record to 17-0 for the third time in the past 4 seasons.
The changes in the top 25 started at No. 3 where Ohio State lost twice, dropped to No. 11, and was replaced at No. 3 by Wisconsin.
After Wisconsin was Michigan State, Wichita State, Villanova, Florida, Iowa State, Oklahoma State and rounding out the top 10 San Diego State.
Arizona has a key game on Thursday against its in-state rival at Arizona State and the top 25 could get a big shake up if the Sun Devils can pull off the upset of the season thus far.
