https://omg10.com/4/10736335
By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
John Calipari is a legendary coach and the Razorbacks are on a roll after winning the SEC Tournament.
The spread (Arizona -8.5) is questionable after the Wildcats struggled down the stretch against Utah State. The game could potentially come down to the final possessions.
Here’s my preview of the matchup.
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 Arizona
No. 4 Arkansas vs. No. 1 ArizonaThursday March 26
6:45 p.m. Pacific Time, CBS
San Jose, California
tThis game is the ultimate test for Tommy Lloyd.
Is he the coach you think he is? Or is he a perennial March Madness flop that can never make it past the Sweet 16?
What happens in this game is huge for Lloyd’s reputation and for Arizona basketball as a whole.
Arkansas has some of the highest crime in the country.
John Calipari’s team is No. 2 in the nation in points per game, No. 2 in fast break points, No. 11 in three-point percentage and No. 17 in effective field goal percentage.
The Razorbacks run at a faster pace than the Wildcats and turn the ball over less.
Read that again: a fast-paced, high-scoring offense that doesn’t turn the ball over. That’s a scary combination.
Arizona can’t commit turnovers against an elite offense like that. The Cats also can’t allow Arkansas any second chance opportunities.
If they do, the season could end in the Sweet 16.
So how do the Wildcats win?
Defense and rebound.
Lloyd’s team is No. 6 nationally in defensive field goal percentage and No. 3 overall in rebounding margin. The cats must dominate the glass and contest every shot.
Any defensive failure along the perimeter will be converted into a score.
Lloyd’s players must be on point with their switches when Calipari inevitably runs the high pick-and-roll action that the Wildcats have struggled to defend at times.
Darius Acuff Jr. and Meleek Thomas take most of the Hogs’ shots. The duo leads Arkansas in scoring, standing at 6-foot-3 and 6-foot-5 respectively.
Sounds like a defensive job that’s on par with Ivan Kharchenkov, Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley. Staying out of foul trouble could be key.
But X-Factor could be the battle between Trevon Brazile and Koa Peat.
The players are identical to each other, except Brazile is a senior and a little taller. Whoever plays better will probably lead their team to victory.
However, individual matchups aside, Arizona must be efficient when it has the ball.
Fortunately, Arkansas is not a good defensive team.
The Razorbacks are allowing 80.3 points per game, which would rank them 14th in the Big 12. That’s below the likes of Utah and Colorado.
They don’t bounce the ball very well either. The Hogs score 36.3 per game, which would put them 10th in the Big 12.
If the Wildcats limit turnovers, recover effectively and defend the three, a trip to the Elite 8 could become a reality.
Miller covers college basketball and college football, as well as Formula 1 racing as a senior writer and assistant editor for SuperWest Sports.
