#4 Arizona Wildcats at Oregon Ducks
Thursday, January 10, 2013, 9:00 pm Eastern, TV: ESPN2
Matthew Knight Arena – Eugene, Oregon
Opening Line: Arizona -1
Current Line: Arizona -1 1/2
Opening Total: 140
Current Total: 143
Opening Money Line: Arizona -115 / Oregon -105
Current Money Line: Arizona -125 / Oregon +105
The 14-0 Arizona Wildcats are among 3 undefeated teams left in college basketball along with Duke and Michigan. The Wildcats put that streak on the line as they travel to the 12-2 Oregon Ducks Thursday night. Both teams are undefeated early in the Pac 12 season. Arizona escaped with 2 narrow home victories over Colorado 92-83 in overtime and 60-57 over Utah last week. Oregon beat in-state rival Oregon St 79-66 in Corvallis last Sunday in their Pac 12 opener.
Arizona leads the series 45-24, including 19-14 in Eugene. The Wildcats have won 6 of the last 10 in the series, but the Ducks won the last meeting last season in Tucson 59-57. This is the only scheduled meeting between the teams unless they meet in the Pac 12 or NCAA tournaments.
Arizona is coached by Sean Miller. The Wildcats have key home wins over UTEP, Long Beach St, Southern Miss, and Florida, along with road wins over Texas Tech and Clemson. The Wildcats also won a tournament in Hawaii with wins over Miami-(FL) and San Diego St. Arizona is 7-5 this season, and the total is 1-7-1 this season.
Oregon is coached by Dana Altman. The Ducks have losses Cincinnati in a tournament in Las Vegas an at UTEP in triple overtime. Oregon has key wins over Vanderbilt, at UNLV, Nebraska, and Nevada. Oregon has won 3 straight games. The Ducks are 10-0 at home this season, and have won 16 straight at home dating back to last year. Oregon is 7-5 ATS and the total is 2-4 this season.
Arizona is outscoring teams 77-61 this season. The Wildcats are shooting 46.3% from the field and 38.2% from 3 point range. The Wildcats are in the top 50 nationally in scoring, field goal percentage and 3 point shooting. Arizona is 13th in free throw shooting at 76.6% from the line. The Wildcats average 37.9 rebounds per game, and are second in rebounds allowed with 24.3 per game. Arizona opponents are shooting 39.8% from the field and 36.6% from 3 point range. The Wildcats average 15 assists, 8 steals, 4 blocks, and 14 turnovers a game.
Guard Mark Lyons averages 14.1 points, 3.1 assists, and 1.6 rebounds per game. Forward Solomon Hill averages 13.3 points, 5.3 rebounds, 2.7 assists, and 1.4 steals per game. Guard Nick Johnson averages 12.2 rebounds, 3.5 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. Guard-forward Kevin Parrom averages 9.3 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.1 assists per game. Brandon Ashley averages 8.3 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 0.9 blocks per game to tie for the team lead. Kaleb Tarczewski averages 6.1 points, 5.9 rebounds and 0.9 blocks per game. Grant Jarrett and Jordin mayes make up the rest of the rotation.
Oregon is outscoring teams 78-61 this season. Oregon is #33 in scoring nationally. The Ducks are shooting 46.7% from the field and 31.5% from 3 point range. Oregon makes 73.6% of their free throws. The Ducks are #20 in rebounding with 41.1 per game. Oregon is 27th in rebounds allowed, with 27 per game. Duck opponents are shooting 38.4% from the field and 29.8% from 3 point range. Oregon is in the top 50 in both categories. Oregon averages 14 assists, 10 steals, 4 blocks and 16 turnovers.
Oregon guard Damyean Dotson averages 11.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.1 assists. Center Tony Woods averages 10.8 points, 3.7 rebounds, and 1.4 blocks per game. Forward Carlos Emory averages 10.3 points and 4.5 rebounds. Guard Dominic Artis averages 10.1 points, 2.4 rebounds, 3.6 assists, and 2 steals per game. Forward E.J. Singler averages 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.6 assists a game. Forward Arsalan Kazemi averages 8.5 points, 9.8 rebounds, 1.7 assists, and 2.8 steals per game. Waverly Austin, Ben Carter and and Johnathan Loyd make up the rest of the rotation.
Arizona is 9-1 ATS in Thursday games, 11-4 after a cover, 21-8-1 in road games against teams with winning home records, 18-7-1 in road games, 2-5 in Pac 12 games, 1-4 after a straight up win and overall. The Wildcats are 5-2 ATS in the last 7 against the Ducks and 7-3 in Eugene. The road team is 5-1 ATS in the series recently.
Oregon is 5-1 ATS at home against teams with winning road records, 14-3 after a cover, 16-5 after a straight up win, 20-7 against teams with winning records, and overall, 19-7 in Pac 12 games, 5-2 at home, and 7-3 in Thursday games. Five of the last six in the series have gone under the total.
Arizona is undefeated but with every win, the target on their back grows bigger and bigger. Going back to the San Diego St game on Christmas day in Hawaii, Arizona has been pushed to the limit in their last 3 games. Now they must go on the road to a good opponent who has one of the best home court advantages in the country. Not only is Matthew Knight Arena loud, but they have an intricate tree design that covers the whole court, that can be a little distracting if you have never seen it before. I think Oregon has the talent to pull off the upset at home.
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