#7 Arizona Wildcats at Arizona State Sun Devils
Saturday, January 19, 2013, 2:30 pm Eastern, TV: FSN
Wells Fargo Arena – Tempe, Arizona
Opening Line: Arizona -6
Current Line: Arizona -6 1/2
Opening Total: 133
Current Total: 134
Opening Money Line: Arizona -280 / Arizona St +240
Current Money Line: Arizona -280 / Arizona St +240
The 15-1 Arizona Wildcats travel to their arch rival the 14-3 Arizona St Sun Devils Saturday. Both teams are 3-1 in the Pac 12. Both teams are a game and a half behind 5-0 UCLA in the conference standings. Oregon and Washington are both 4-0 in the Pac 12.
This is the 223rd meeting between Arizona and Arizona St. The Wildcats lead the series 142-80 overall, and are 62-51 in Tempe. Arizona has won 28 of the last 36 meetings, but ASU won the last meeting 87-80 in Tempe last March.
Arizona is coached by Sean Miller. The only loss for Arizona came at Oregon last week. The Wildcats have key home wins over UTEP, Long Beach St, Southern Miss, Florida, Utah and Colorado, along with road wins over Texas Tech, Clemson and Oregon St 80-70 last Saturday. The Wildcats also won a tournament in Hawaii with wins over Miami-(FL) and San Diego St. Arizona is 7-7 this season, and the total is 2-8-1 this season.
Arizona is outscoring teams 76-62 this season. The Wildcats are shooting 46.3% from the field and 38.6% from 3 point range. The Wildcats are in the top 50 nationally in scoring, field goal percentage and 3 point shooting. Arizona is 14th in free throw shooting at 75.9% from the line. The Wildcats average 37.8 rebounds per game, and are fifth in rebounds allowed with 25.1 per game. Arizona opponents are shooting 40.3% from the field and 37.4% from 3 point range. The Wildcats average 14 assists, 7 steals, 4 blocks, and 14 turnovers a game.
Guard Mark Lyons averages 14.6 points, 3.3 assists, and 1.8 rebounds per game. Forward Solomon Hill averages 13.6 points, 5.4 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.3 steals per game. Guard Nick Johnson averages 12.3 points, 3.8 rebounds, 2.9 assists, and 2.3 steals per game. Guard-forward Kevin Parrom averages 8.9 points, 5.1 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. Brandon Ashley averages 8.2 points and 5.8 rebounds per game. Kaleb Tarczewski averages 5.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Grant Jarrett and Jordin Mayes make up the rest of the rotation.
Arizona St is coached by Herb Sendek. The Sun Devils have losses to Creighton in a tournament in Las Vegas, home to DePaul and at Oregon last Sunday 68-65 . The Sun Devils had won 6 straight games before the Oregon loss. ASU has key wins over Arkansas in Las Vegas, Cornell, Texas Tech, utah, Colorado, and Oregon St. Arizona St is 8-4 ATS and the total is 0-4 this season.
Arizona St is outscoring teams 73-64 this season. The Sun Devils are shooting 46.1% from the field and 34% from 3 point range. Arizona St is #68 in scoring and #54 in field goal percentage. ASU makes 61.5% of their free throws. ASU is #329 in the country in free throw percentage out of 347 teams. The Sun Devils average 38.3 rebounds per games and gives up 33.1. ASU opponents are shooting 38.4% from the field and 32.2% from 3 point range. Arziona St is #29 in opponents’ field goal percentage. The Sun Devils average 15 assists, 7 steals, 8 blocks, and 13 turnovers a game.
Forward Jahii Carson averages 17.1 points, 3.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists and 1.1 steals per game. Guard-forward Carrick Felix averages 15.1 points, 8.1 rebounds, 2 assists, 1.7 steals, and 1.4 blocks per game. Center Jordan Bachynski averages 10.2 points, 7.4 rebounds, and 4.5 blocks a game. Guard Evan Gordon averages 9.9 points, 3.1 rebounds, 2.2 assists, and 1.5 steals per game. Forward Jonathan Gilling averages 9.6 points, 7 rebounds, 2.6 assists, and 1.2 steals per game. Chris Colvin and Eric Jacobsen will also see significant minutes in the rotation. Guard Calaen Robinson is out for the season for undisclosed reasons. Forward Kenny Martin is probable with an illness.
Arizona is 13-5 ATS in road games against teams with winning home records, 15-7 in road games, 3-7 in Saturday games, 0-4 after failing to cover, and after a straight up win, 0-5 against teams with winning records, overall, and in Pac 12 games. The road team is 7-3 ATS in the last 10 in this series.
Arizona St is 4-0 ATS in Saturday games, 5-1 overall, 4-1 against teams with winning records, 3-1-1 after a straight up loss, 5-2 at home, 5-2-1 against Pac 12 teams, and 5-11 after a cover.
Both of these like to play in the 70’s so this could be a relatively high scoring game. Arziona has dominated the series recently. The Wildcats are a very deep and talented team and could make a Final Four run. I like Arizona to win on the road, but if wouldn’t be a complete shock for the Sun Devils to pull off the upset at home.
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