Film study: the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats at Fertitta Center

Houston (22-3, 11-2 Big 12) needs to bounceback at home on Saturday against the No. 4 (but injury-plagued) Arizona Wildcats (24–2, 11–2). UA freshman phenom Koa Peat is out due to a quad injury that will sideline him for at least a week. Sole possession of first place in the Big 12 is at stake with two weeks left.

Arizona has several options to be its “head of the snake,” but if the point guard is in the mix, that’s who I’d want to take away. For Arizona, that’s Jaden Bradley, who makes the team go. In the two matchups last season, Bradley averaged 9 points, 4 rebounds, and 3 assists. If the Coogs can hold him to single-digit scoring and around three assists, I really like their chances! Bradley had 12 points and 10 assists Wednesday night in a 7-point home win over BYU.

This is the game that Coog fans have had circled since the schedule was released. It’s a top-five matchup at home, and the middle game of a three-game gauntlet against top-10 teams. To win the Big 12, UH has to have this one. It’s two ELITE teams and two ELITE coaches. There may be blood, sweat, and tears shed on the court Saturday afternoon. I wouldn’t expect anything less in this one!

Arizona Offensive Notes

• The Wildcats are one of the best offensive teams in the nation. They don’t settle for bad shots; they work to get paint touches to score or kick out for wide-open threes. The Cats are ranked #1 in the Big 12 in scoring offense (88ppg), field goal percentage (51%), and fast-break points (17). The Coogs MUST be locked in defensively in this one.
• Zona is also ranked #1 in the Big 12 in offensive rebounds per game with 13.23. Houston needs the trio of Tugler, Cenac, and Kalifa to stay on the court and rebound with a vengeance to limit second-chance opportunities. They also need help rebounding from the guards. Kelvin Sampson pointed out Friday that Emanuel Sharp and Milos Uzan need to be more consistent on the boards.
• The Wildcats have shot 249 more free throws than Houston. They do an incredible job of getting into the paint and forcing teams to foul or give up easy baskets at the rim. The Coogs can’t afford to get into foul trouble and allow them to score without the clock running.
• As Fran Fraschilla will 100% point out, Jaden Bradley has been an elite point guard this season. Arizona does a great job taking care of the ball and creating for one another, and it starts with him. Houston will need to pressure him and limit his success. The Wildcats are ranked 3rd in the Big 12 in assists per game with 17.7.
• Arizona has not taken or made many three-point baskets this year. They are ranked #353 out of 361 teams in attempts per game (17) and #334 in makes (6) per game. However, they were hot on Wednesday vs BYU (9-21, 43%).

Wildcats Defensive Notes

• Arizona has played 1,861 possessions of man-to-man defense and 2 possessions of zone. I suspect we won’t see any zone from them on Saturday. If they can go over ball-screens, they will. If they can’t go over a ball-screen, they tend to switch.
• Zona only full-court presses when they are trailing late in the game. It’s a simple man-to-man press to try to get a steal or foul late.
• The Wildcats have one of the best defensive squads in the nation. They are ranked 6th in the Big 12 in scoring defense. But they are also ranked #8 nationally in field goal percentage defense. They do a great job of defending the paint and forcing the offense to take tough three-pointers and contested shots off the bounce.
• They are ranked 6th in the Big 12 in blocked shots, and Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka defend the rim at a high rate. The Cats are ranked 2nd in the Big 12 in steals. Bradley and Burries do a nice job patrolling passing lanes around the arc.
• Speaking of the duo of Krivas and Awaka, Arizona is the best rebounding team in the Big 12 and is ranked second nationally.

Arizona Personnel (*Indicates likely starters)

*#0 – Jaden Bradley – 6’3″ – SR – Guard – (Alabama) – 13ppg, 4rpg, 5apg, 2spg.

• Head of the snake;
• Savvy/experienced point guard. Makes them go;
• Fran is going to compare him to Jamal Shead; Ehhh…
• Elite mid-range shooter off the pick and roll or dribble hand-off;
• Solid at getting all the way to the rim to draw a foul or score. Leads the team in free throw attempts (101-126, 80%);
• Doesn’t shoot a ton of three-pointers, but is effective when he does (16-40, 40%);
• Really tough defender.

*#5 – Brayden Burries – 6’4″ – FR – Guard – 16ppg, 5rpg, 3apg.

• Elite freshman scoring guard;
• Really good outside shooter (44-117, 38%). Leads the team in three-point attempts and makes;
• Makes extremely tough three-point baskets off the bounce, with just an inch of room;
• Doesn’t shoot a ton of mid-range shots. Most of his attempts are from beyond the arc or at the rim.

*#13 – Motiejus Krivas – 7’2″ – JR – Center – 11ppg, 9rpg, 2bpg.

• Really tall/elite defender and rebounder;
• Gets the majority of his points from offensive rebounding put-backs or duck-ins;
• Capable of scoring over either shoulder with his back to the basket;
• He is ranked 4th in the Big 12 in blocked shots with 49 on the season;
• Ranked 6th in the Big 12 in rebounds per game with 9. 3 of those are on the offensive glass;
• Not a major shooting threat.

*#8 – Ivan Kharchenkov – 6’7″ – FR – Forward – (Bayern Munich) – 10ppg, 4rpg.

• Big time energy guy. Three-level scorer;
• Makes hustle plays for them that bring energy to the team;
• Was their leading scorer vs BYU Wednesday night with 18 points;
• Has struggled shooting the three-pointer (21-70, 30%);
• Can drive using either hand, but seems to prefer going left off the bounce;
• Does a really nice job cutting to the basket without the ball.

*#30 – Tobe Awaka – 6’8″ – SR – Forward – (Tennessee) – 10ppg, 10rpg.

• I said last year that he would be a great Coog. I still feel that way;
• Big/STRONG bully. Great motor;
• Unbelievable rebounder on both ends of the court; 5th in the Big 12 with 5.81 defensive rebounds per game and 2nd in the conference in offensive rebounds per game at 3.77;
• Doesn’t shoot many threes, but is more than capable (5-9, 56%);
• He’s not OVERLY talented on offense, but draws a ton of fouls in the post…oh no…
• Best on offense, when shooting the right-handed shot over his left shoulder.

#3 – Anthony Dell’Orso – 6’6″ – SR – Guard – (Campbell) – 9ppg, 2rpg, 2apg.

• Long/slender shooter off the bench;
• Has struggled shooting the three this year, but was on fire Wednesday vs BYU, going 4-8 from beyond the arc (season: 31-99, 31%);
• Very capable mid-range jumper and at getting to the rim;
• Rhythm shooter, who struggles if you can force him to miss his first couple of shots.

#15 – Sidi Gueye – 6’11” – FR – Forward – (Real Madrid) – 2ppg, 1rpg.

• Long/athletic post player; EXTREMELY RAW ATHLETE;
• Has been getting more playing time recently with the injury to Peat and the sickness of Aristode;
• Not a catch and score guy yet. Gets a majority of his points off lobs and offensive rebounds.

Arizona Cheat Sheet

What I’ll Be Watching…

1. Rebounding: It should be yet another blood bath in the paint between two elite Big 12 teams. These are two of the best rebounding teams in the nation. Arizona has not been out-rebounded in a single game this season. Houston needs to be the first (last year in Tucson, UH and Arizona tied in rebounds at 35-35).
2. Turnovers: UH was sloppy at Utah and lost the turnover battle to Iowa State, 7-3. They will need to limit their turnovers and force more on Saturday afternoon.
3. Three-point shooting: Arizona does a nice job of keeping teams out of the paint. Houston needs to find their way in there, but MUST knock down any open three-point opportunities that they get.
4. Battle of freshmen guards: Kingston Flemings vs. Brayden Burries is an elite matchup of freshman guards. Burries has been under the weather and got an IV following the win over BYU Wednesday night. I’m sure he will be 100% by Saturday and will be looking to get his name in the same sentence as Flemings and the other elite guards.
5. Bloodbath: Cover the kids’ eyes. This could be the most physical game the Coogs have played to date. Krivas and Awaka vs Tugler and Cenac will be rated R in the paint. Both teams will likely do whatever it takes to secure this massive win.

After the game: CATS!

Join the CATS gang to discuss and breakdown this game and the Big 12 race.