The NCAA Tournament is finally here and the first wave of games takes place on Thursday, March 19th. Unfortunately, Arizona has to wait until Friday afternoon to take the court against No. 16 LIU, but it makes for an extra day of practice and rest. The Wildcats are a massive favorite in this one, deservedly so, as they enter the tournament as one of the four No. 1 seeds. Still, they’ll have to take care of business and avoid a slump game against a streaky LIU group. Here’s a preview, prediction, key storylines, and updated odds to keep an eye on in this matchup as we get set for tonight’s game.
Arizona vs. LIU Basketball Updated Odds
The Wildcats opened as a 31.5-point favorite over Idaho, with an over/under of 150.5 total points. By Thursday afternoon, the line moved to Arizona -29.5 points, and an over/under of 150.5 total points.
Key Storyline: Slow Down the Offense
In this game, both offenses are elite. It should go without saying just how dynamic Arizona is on that end of the floor, but they lead the Big 12 Conference in points per game, scoring 86.1. LIU, while the numbers may not be as impressive, also leads their league in points scored per game, with an average of 74.1. In this game, it’s safe to assume there will be a lot of points scored between these two programs, when their offensive attacks go head to head.
Match Up to Watch: LIU’s Offense vs. Arizona’s Defense
As I noted above, LIU should not be taken lightly, at least when it comes to their offense. They’ve got four players scoring in double digits, all four of which are guards. Their backcourt has been a massive piece of their 24-10 campaign, led by Jamal Fuller, Malachi Davis, Greg Gordon, and Jomo Goings. On the opposite side of the court is Arizona, who’s defense ranks fifth in the Big 12, giving up 68.8 points per game. The offense is their bread and butter, but their defense travels and can help propel them on a long run in the NCAA Tournament.
Prediction: Arizona 88, LIU 51
This game prediction felt pretty easy, in all honesty. Arizona is the best team in their region, and in the eyes of many, the best team in the country. LIU would have to play an incredibly perfect game to upset the Wildcats, while Arizona would have to play its worst game of the season. That doesn’t feel very likely to me, and it’s safe to say the Wildcats will overpower their opponent and cruise on to the Round of 32.
