Alabama @ Arizona preview

After falling out of the national rankings with three straight losses in the Bahamas, Arizona appears to be back on track. The Wildcats will likely return to the Top 25 with a win Saturday over visiting Alabama, which bounced back from a surprising loss to Central Florida with a 68-64 victory over Rhode Island on Wednesday.

Freshman center Deandre Ayton averages 19.6 points and a team-high 11.2 rebounds for Arizona, which followed a 25-point loss to Purdue with a 35-point home win over Long Beach State and resume-building road victories over UNLV and No. 9 Texas A&M. “I think these last two games our guys have a much better understanding of what it takes to win, especially on the road against good teams,” coach Sean Miller told reporters. “Our effort is good, our practices have been good.” The Wildcats will be tested by Alabama and star point guard Collin Sexton, who averages a team-high 20.8 points but was limited to 17 minutes in Wednesday’s victory over Rhode Island due to an eye injury. The 6-3 freshman expects to be available Saturday as Alabama heads into its first true road contest of the season.

TV: 10 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT ALABAMA (7-2): Forward Donta Hall had 13 points and a career-high 14 rebounds in the win over Rhode Island while guard Dazon Ingram added 10 points and 14 boards. Sophomore wing Daniel Giddens, a transfer from Ohio State, also provided a spark with 12 points, six rebounds and two blocks in 17 minutes off the bench. Forward Braxton Key, an SEC All-Freshman Team selection last year, has yet to play due to preseason knee surgery but could make his season debut as soon as Saturday.

ABOUT ARIZONA (6-3): Ayton recorded his seventh double-double in nine games with 13 points and 10 rebounds in Tuesday’s 67-64 win over Texas A&M in Phoenix. The Wildcats’ offense has been carried by the duo of Ayton and junior wing Allonzo Trier, who was held to seven points on 2-of-7 shooting against the Aggies but is averaging a team-high 22 points while shooting 55.5 percent from the field. Sophomore guard Rawle Alkins remains out with a broken foot but could return as soon as Saturday after going through normal early pregame warmups on Tuesday.

TIP-INS

1. Arizona has won 44 consecutive nonconference games at the McKale Center.

2. Hall tops the SEC in field goal percentage at 75 percent and ranks second in blocks per game (2.8).

3. Arizona is 26-26 all-time against SEC opponents, including five consecutive victories.

PREDICTION: Arizona 84, Alabama 75