Arizona @ Arizona State preview

Last Meeting ( Feb 15, 2018 ) Arizona 77, Arizona State 70

Following last week's dismal road trip, Arizona looks to regroup Thursday against rival Arizona State in Tempe. The Wildcats suffered two blowout losses at USC and UCLA and face another strong test against the Sun Devils, who have won five of their last seven games.

The Wildcats are clearly a different team without Duke transfer Chase Jeter, who has missed the last two games with a sore back and will be a game-time decision Thursday. The 6-10 junior averages 12.6 points and 7.2 rebounds for an Arizona team that was outrebounded 98-69 in last week's two losses. “We’re a much better team with Chase,” coach Sean Miller told reporters. “I don’t know the outcome of those games if he had played, but he gives us the size up front. He also allows everybody to be in the role that they want to be in. Everybody’s in a different role right now, and we’re playing shorthanded.” If Jeter is forced to miss his third straight game, the Wildcats could struggle to keep pace with an Arizona State team that is 9-2 at home and leads the Pac-12 in scoring at 78.8 points per game.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPN2

ABOUT ARIZONA (14-7, 5-3 Pac-12): These are unusual times for Arizona, a traditional power that lost to the Los Angeles teams by a combined 44 points and ranks last in the league in shooting percentage (43.3). Freshman guard Brandon Williams was one of the few bright spots in last Saturday’s 90-69 loss to UCLA, scoring 19 points while shooting 4-of-8 from 3-point range. Sophomore guard Brandon Randolph averages a team-high 14.9 points but needs to regain his stroke after shooting a combined 15-for-51 from the field over the past four games.

ABOUT ARIZONA STATE (14-6, 5-3): Senior forward Zylan Cheatham is averaging 11.8 points, 10.4 rebounds and 3.7 assists for the Sun Devils, who saw their three-game win streak come to an end with last Saturday’s 69-67 loss to USC. The San Diego State transfer grabbed a total of 34 rebounds in two games last week, but the Sun Devils struggled on the offensive end in the loss to USC, shooting 30.6 percent from the field. Freshman guard Luguentz Dort averages a team-high 12.9 points in league play but was held to nine points on 2-of-13 shooting against the Trojans.

TIP-INS

1. Arizona has won the last six meetings against Arizona State and holds a 152-82 lead in the series.

2. Arizona State forward Taeshon Cherry (head injury) missed last Saturday’s contest and is listed as day-to-day.

3. Arizona is 210-27 under Miller when leading at halftime – including 12-2 this season.

PREDICTION: Arizona State 74, Arizona 69