Arizona @ Utah preview

Arizona at Utah

Last Meeting ( Jan 5, 2019 ) Utah 81, Arizona 84

Stuck in a five-game losing skid - the program’s longest winless streak in 35 years - Arizona heads out on the road for a pair of contests in the next four days. First up is a Thursday night date with Utah, which has been headed in the opposite direction coming off consecutive road wins.

Dealing with injuries and the lingering effects of the FBI recruiting investigation, the reeling Wildcats haven’t won since Jan. 19 against Oregon State, marking the program’s longest drought since former coach Lute Olson’s debut season in 1983-84. Included in the skid are 23- and 21-point road losses to USC and UCLA, respectively, and a 69-55 home setback Saturday to Washington State, which resides in 11th place in the 12-team conference. “We’re in a tough streak of games,” Arizona senior forward Ryan Luther told the Arizona Daily Star following the loss to the Cougars. “Everyone’s just trying to go to the gym every day with the right mentality. I don’t think this group is one that lets outside noise break us apart. We struggled, but that’s basketball and we have to get better.” The Runnin’ Utes, meanwhile, have won six of their last eight games overall, including a road sweep of USC (77-70) and UCLA (93-92) last weekend which gave Utah a share of the three-way tie for second place in the Pac-12.

TV: 9 p.m. ET, ESPNU

ABOUT ARIZONA (14-10, 5-6 Pac-12): The Wildcats have played the last three games without freshman guard Brandon Williams, the team’s second-leading scorer (13.7 points per contest) and assists leader (3.7) who is out indefinitely with knee soreness. His absence was especially glaring against Washington State as Arizona shot only 31.1 percent from the field and had only eight assists while surrendering 31 points, including seven 3-pointers, to Cougars forward Robert Franks. Guard Brandon Randolph (14.1 points) and center Chase Jeter (11.8, team-leading 7.0 rebounds) are the other Wildcats averaging double figures, and Jeter just returned to action after missing the L.A. road swing with a back injury.

ABOUT UTAH (13-10, 7-4): The Utes may still be on a high from Saturday after overcoming a 22-point deficit in the final 12:10 to stun UCLA at the buzzer on Parker Van Dyke’s deep 3-pointer. Freshman forward Timmy Allen had 22 points to lead four Utah players in double figures as the Utes connected on 14-of-36 3-point attempts and matched their season high with 23 assists on 33 made baskets. Guard Sedrick Barefield (16.3 points), Allen (11.6) and fellow forward Donnie Tillman (10.6) are averaging double digits for the Utah, which continues to pace the Pac-12 in overall field-goal (47.0) and 3-point shooting (37.7) percentage.

TIP-INS

1. Arizona has dominated Utah, winning four straight and 13 of 14 games since the Utes joined the Pac-12 in 2011.

2. The Wildcats’ latest win in the border series came Jan. 5 when they prevailed 84-81 in overtime as Randolph and Jeter scored 21 points apiece to overcome the Utes’ 56.6-percent shooting and Barefield’s 26 points.

3. With Tillman (5.4 boards), Allen (5.0) and 7-footer Jayce Johnson (7.1) all averaging at least five rebounds per game for Utah, which owns a 4.3 average rebound margin on the season, the Utes should have the edge on the glass versus Arizona, which sports a minus-0.7 rebound margin in Pac-12 play.

PREDICTION: Utah 76, Arizona 70