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UCLA Basketball: Five Questions With Zona Zealots About Arizona

By Mike Regalado

January 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Kobi Simmons (2) controls the ball against UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
January 21, 2017; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Kobi Simmons (2) controls the ball against UCLA Bruins guard Bryce Alford (20) during the second half at Pauley Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports /
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Go Joe Bruin once again chats with Zona Zealots (FanSided’s Arizona site) about the upcoming Arizona-UCLA Basketball game.

The UCLA Basketball team gets ready to do battle in Tucson with Pac-12 rival Arizona in the biggest game of the weekend. Go Joe Bruin talks with Zona Zealots site expert Shereen Rayan about what the Bruins can expect against the Wildcats.

Go Joe Bruin: Aside from the Oregon loss, Arizona is rolling. What is the biggest reason for this?

Zona Zealots: The Wildcats are playing like a team. No matter who is hurt and who is starting it doesn’t matter, they’re not going for single records like Markelle Fultz. They are a team and they’re looking at the big prize. Every game somebody steps up and somebody has a bad game so it’s a very well-rounded team and they’re all bought in now that Allonzo Trier is back.

Related Story: The UCLA Basketball All-Time Team

GJB: Like UCLA, Arizona is a mixture of very good young talent and experienced upperclassmen. Which will be more important to rely on heading into this game?

ZZ: The two upperclassman that help glue the team together or Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Kadeem Allen. Those two make sure everybody else keeps her head in the game and Miller has a lot of respect from these players so they really listen to him. And even though he always looks frenzied, he’s been a lot calmer lately; he’s only taken off his jacket once in recent games.

GJB: Who is “the man” for the Wildcats right now?

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ZZ: Oh, that’s a real hard one. I have to say, although you wouldn’t think so, the guy who’s holding the team together is Ka’Deem Allen. Laurie Markkanen, if not stopped like Oregon did, is a force to be reckoned with. The guy who flies under the radar as Rawle Alkins, his defense keeps them in games. And Chance Comanche is coming to his own and both have no fear.

GJB: What is Arizona’s momentum like heading into this game and the post-season?

ZZ: The roster is back to a full force team with Dusan Ristic and Kadeem Allen back in the lineup. If they get through USC and UCLA, ASU will probably be a slam dunk and we’re hoping for a two-seed thinking the biased committee will never give us a one-seed because of our loss to Oregon.

GJB: From an outsider’s perspective, did UCLA get hosed by the Selection Committee as a #4 seed in the Bracket Challenge?

ZZ: All the pac-12 teams got hosed in my opinion by the committee. How can Gonzaga be a number one seed? Their division has no competition, absolutely no competition and their win against Arizona was out without Allonzo Trier but as I’m told by some experts it’s not logic that guides the seeds. All I can hope for is that Arizona ends up in Gonzaga’s bracket as of Two seed.

Next: Bruin Front Court Comes Up Big Against ASU

The Arizona and UCLA Basketball teams face each other this Saturday, February 25 at 5:oo p.m. PT on ESPN. Thank you once again to Shereen Rayan for sharing her knowledge with Go Joe Bruin.