Nebraska Omaha @ Arizona preview
McKale Center
No. 14 Arizona was knocked from the ranks of the unbeaten in its last outing, falling 63-58 on the road to No. 11 Baylor. Now the Wildcats will look to rebound as they return to the court four days later Wednesday night to host Omaha.
Visiting Arizona actually wound up with an odd advantage last Saturday in Waco, Texas, as the sparse Baylor crowd that was there – not even free admission helped much – was more focused on the football Bears playing simultaneously in the Big 12 Championship Game in Arlington, Texas. Cheers from visiting Arizona fans dominated the arena at times, but the Wildcats couldn’t take advantage, shooting 26.9 percent, including 2-of-18 from 3-point range, and committing 16 turnovers while scoring a season-low 58 points. “We hung in there,” Arizona coach Sean Miller said about his team rallying from a 35-24 halftime deficit to pull within 57-56 with 1:50 remaining. “To have an opportunity late in the game … that’s what you really hope can happen on the road. It was bizarre how we got to that point because it certainly wasn’t because of our offense.” Omaha, of the Summit League, brings a three-game losing streak to Tucson and is coming off a 73-65 neutral-site loss to Northern Arizona on Sunday in Prescott Valley, Ariz.
TV: 8 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network
ABOUT OMAHA (5-6): The Mavericks are 4-0 at home but are 1-6 outside of Omaha, including 0-3 on this current four-game road span which started with losses at Saint Mary’s (75-66 on Dec. 1) and Arkansas State (78-73). Senior guard J.T. Gibson is pacing the team with an average of 13.9 points per game and is joined in double figures by guard K.J. Robinson (11.6), forward Matt Pile (11.5) and guard Ayo Akinwole (10.9). Akinwole averages a team-best 4.0 assists while the 6-8 Pile is the Mavericks’ top rebounder with 10.5 per outing.
ABOUT ARIZONA (9-1): The Wildcats headed to Baylor averaging 87.1 points and ranking second nationally with 52.8 team field-goal percentage, including 42.9 percent from the 3-point arc, but struggled through one of their worst offensive outings in recent seasons. Freshmen Zeke Nnaji (16.6 points, team-best 6.7 rebounds), Nico Mannion (15.3 points, team-leading 5.7 assists) and Josh Green (12.5 points, 4.9 rebounds) lead the way while guard Dylan Smith (8.6 points) and center Chase Jeter (8.5 points, 6.0 rebounds) provide experience and senior leadership in addition to their statistical contributions. Defensively, Arizona is holding opponents to 37.8-percent shooting and 64.6 points per outing while forcing an average of 17.2 turnovers.
TIP-INS
1. This will be the first meeting between the programs.
2. Jemarl Baker Jr. (50.0), Smith (42.9) and Mannion (40.5) are all shooting 40 percent or better from 3-point range and have made at least 15 treys apiece.
3. It’s an interesting sandwich spot in the schedule for Arizona which hosts No. 6 Gonzaga on Saturday night.
PREDICTION: Arizona 88, Omaha 68