South Dakota State @ Arizona preview

Zeke Nnaji may have been a bit overlooked in high school but could wind up being a one-and-done at Arizona. Nnaji, a 6-11 freshman forward from Minnesota, averages 21 points and hasn't missed a field goal in his last two games as the No. 14 Wildcats host South Dakota State on Thursday.

“Sometimes though not getting all of those accolades, or getting invited to some of the all star games, can be a motivating force,” Arizona coach Sean Miller told reporters. “It's not always a negative and all Zeke has done is work really hard.'' Nnaji, who averages six rebounds, went 15-for-15 from the field in victories over New Mexico State and San Jose State, and has made 17 straight going back to the Wildcats' 90-69 victory over Illinois on Nov. 10. The Jackrabbits are coming off a 78-73 win over North Alabama on Tuesday with junior forward Douglas Wilson - the team's leading scorer and rebounder - contributing 13 points and nine rebounds. South Dakota State plays its third contest against a major conference opponent in its last four games after losing at USC 84-66 and at Nebraska 90-73.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network

ABOUT SOUTH DAKOTA STATE (4-2): Wilson averages 17.7 points and 8.7 rebounds while shooting 57.9 percent from the field and 54.5 from the free-throw line. Sophomore Matt Dentlinger (10.8 points) has also contributed to the club's plus-6 rebounding margin with 6.8 boards per game after recording 17 points and 11 rebounds versus North Alabama for his second career double-double. Senior guard Brandon Key (12.8 points) averages a team-best 3.8 assists while freshman guard Baylor Scheierman (8.0 points, 5.8 rebounds) is 6-for-25 from 3-point range and 11-for-19 inside the arc.

ABOUT ARIZONA (4-0): Freshman guard Nico Mannion averages 13.3 points and a team-high 4.5 assists, and shoots 54.5 percent from the field - 7-for-14 from 3-point range - while 10-for-12 from the free-throw line. Sophomore guard Jemarl Baker Jr. scored a career-best 16 points in an 83-53 victory over New Mexico State on Sunday and is 8-for-15 from 3-point range this season. Freshman guard Josh Green (11.3 points, five rebounds) scored a total of 15 points and shot 6-for-17 from the field in the last two games since erupting for 20 against Illinois.

TIP-INS

1. Nnaji, who has won both Pac-12 Freshman of the Week awards this season, is 33-for-39 from the field and 18-for-21 on free throws, and has made his last 13 from the line.

2. The Jackrabbits are shooting 27.8 percent from 3-point range after going 7-for-17 on Tuesday.

3. The Wildcats have yielded 30 assists this season while their opponents committed 79 turnovers.

PREDICTION: Arizona 87, South Dakota State 63