The UCLA basketball team goes one step beyond in the Pac-12 Tournament as the Bruins take on rival Arizona. Here is how to watch and what to know…
The UCLA Basketball team has moved on and now face the Arizona Wildcats in the semifinals of the Pac-12 Tournament. With Arizona’s resume and UCLA’s impressive quarterfinal win over Stanford, both seem to have locked up spots in the NCAA Tournament.
RELATED: Holiday, Welsh make the All-Pac-12 team
But that talk can wait until Sunday. Today, the biggest rivalry in the Pac-12 clashes once again as the Bruins and Wildcats fight for a chance to move on to the championship game.
Here is everything you need to know about UCLA vs. Arizona…
Related Story: Pac-12 Tournament: UCLA must win or go home... for the season?
UCLA Basketball vs. Arizona Game Day Info
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Records:
#4 UCLA Bruins 21-10, 11-7
#1 Arizona Wildcats 25-7, 14-4
Location: T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas, NV
Tipoff: 6:00 p.m. PT
TV: Pac-12 Network
Live Stream: Pac-12 Live
Radio: AM 570 or 1150 Los Angeles
On-line Radio: Tune-In
Odds: Arizona -4.5, O/U 156
Last Game:
4 UCLA d. 5 Stanford, 88-77 (Pac-12 Quarterfinals)
1 Arizona d. 6 Colorado, 83-67 (Pac-12 Quarterfinals)
ESPN Win Predictor: Arizona 67.3% – UCLA 32.7%
Projected Starters
UCLA
G Aaron Holiday, G Jaylen Hands, F Kris Wilkes, F Gyorgy Goloman, C Thomas Welsh
Arizona
G Rawle Alkins, G Allonzo Trier, G Parker Jackson-Cartwright, F Deandre Ayton, C Dusan Ristic
Head Coaches
UCLA – Steve Alford | Arizona – Sean Miller
Rosters
UCLA Basketball vs. Arizona: Stats, Final Word and Prediction
Key Individual Stats – UCLA:
Aaron Holiday – 20.1 ppg, 5.8 apg, 3.6 rpg
Thomas Welsh – 12.7 ppg,10.5 rpg, .484 FG%
Kris Wilkes – 14.0 ppg, 5.0 rpg, .440 FG%
Key Individual Stats – Arizona:
Deandre Ayton – 19.6 ppg,11.3 rpg, .604 FG%
Allonzo Trier – 19.0 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.3 apg
Rawle Alkins – 13.7 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 2.6 apg
Team Stats:
| Team | Avg Pts | Opp. Pts | FG% | Rebs | Asts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| UCLA | 82.4 (2) | 76.3 (10) | .464 (4) | 39.0 (1) | 15.2 (5) |
| Arizona | 81.2 (3) | 71.6 (5) | .507 (1) | 36.3 (4) | 15.4 (2) |
Stats in ( ) indicate Pac-12 ranking
Related Story: Potential 2018-19 depth chart
Players to Watch:
The Bench: Prince Ali, Chris Smith, Alex Olesinski – I said in the last game preview that the bench needed to step up and I am saying it again. Holiday scoring 34 is great, but UCLA needs a full team effort against the Wildcats.
Last Word:
Who would have thought that after all UCLA and Arizona have gone through this season that both would be battling it out for the Pac-12 Tournament crown. Yes, this is only the semis, but this game could decide the conference champion (sorry USC and Oregon).
More from Go Joe Bruin
- UCLA Football: It’s time for the nation to meet Dante Moore
- UCLA Football: Where are they ranked heading into week 4
- UCLA Football: Position battle breakdown for Utah showdown
- UCLA vs. Utah: Location, time, prediction, and more
- UCLA Football: Highlights from Chip Kelly’s appearance on the Jim Rome Show
This is only the second time these two teams have played this season, which is a travesty, but meeting in the tournament is going to make this game very intense.
The Bruins beat the Wildcats in Tucson a few weeks ago and it was a surprise as UCLA played lights out in an 82-74 win. With that on their minds, as well as the turmoil they have recently gone through with the FBI, Arizona should be looking to put a beat down on UCLA. Deandre Ayton has been particularly dominant as he has shown why he deserved to be named Pac-12 Player of the Year.
UCLA needs to find a way to stop him under the basket because he will have his way around the rim. Welsh and Gyorgy Goldman have to play tough in the paint and avoid getting into foul trouble.
Aaron Holiday, who was a POTY candidate, showed why he deserved to win the award against Stanford as he put up 34 points in the quarterfinals win. Expect him, as well as the rest of the Bruins, to come out swinging tonight against Arizona. UCLA usually plays up to their opponents and despite the inconsistency this season, the Bruins posted a 5-1 record against the top three seeds in the Pac-12 Tournament.
With what is on the line and intensity of the rivalry, this should be very, very close.
Next: The UCLA Basketball All-Time Team
Prediction: UCLA 85 – Arizona 84