After swapping positions in the AP Top 25 this week, No. 3 UCLA and No. 7 Arizona will conclude their season series in their second meeting in 10 days, this time in Tucson. UCLA had a relatively easy time winning as a 2.5-point home underdog Jan. 26. Potential absences in this one must be monitored.
No. 3 UCLA at No. 7 Arizona
Thursday, 8 pm ET
TV: ESPN
Record: UCLA 16-2, 8-1 Pac-12; Arizona 17-2, 7-1 Pac-12
Spread: Arizona -6.5
Over/Under: 149
Moneyline: Arizona -280; UCLA +225
Injuries/unavailable: UCLA G Johnny Juzang (COVID-19) missed two games last weekend but was cleared to play after testing Tuesday. UCLA F Jaime Jaquez (ankle) is questionable. UCLA reserve G Jaylen Clark (concussion symptoms) is out. Arizona F Azuolas Tubelis (ankle) is questionable.
Series history: UCLA has won the last six and eight of the last 10. Arizona’s last home win in the series came on Feb. 12, 2016, 81-75.
A look at UCLA
The Bruins, who have won six in a row, are controlled, athletic and above all resourceful.
UCLA took advantage of matchup advantages in the surprisingly easy 75-59 victory over the Wildcats the last time, when interchangeable wings Johnny Juzang, Jaime Jaquez and Jules Bernard used their athleticism to overcome Arizona’s size advantage.
Leading scorer Juzang is expected to play, but Jaquez’s status is up in the air. The Bruins swept the two Bay Area schools last week without Juzang (18.1 points per game), when streaky Bernard stepped up with 28 points and spot-up shooter reserve Jake Kyman added 25.
But Juzang takes them from good to elite.
UCLA confirmed that Juzang has been cleared. He was scheduled to take a COVID test Tuesday, his fifth full day after testing positive without symptoms last week.
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) February 2, 2022
Point guard Tyger Campbell’s stat line seldom overwhelms — he had nine points, four rebounds, three assists and zero turnovers in the first meeting — but his ability to run the offense and avoid mistakes helps make the Bruins what they are.
Campbell has a 3.68:1 assist-to-turnover ratio, second in Division I.
UCLA limited Arizona, California and Stanford to a combined 34.1 shooting from the floor last week.
A look at Arizona
Arizona remains DraftKings’ slim choice to win the Pac-12 at -110, slightly ahead of UCLA (+110), although the first game between the two skewed the other way.
The Wildcats had their worst-shooting game of the season in Pauley, making only 30.7 percent from the floor, a number that did not appreciably increase (32.2) in a 67-56 over arch-rival Arizona State its last time out Saturday.
Projected 2022 NBA lottery pick Bennedict Mathurin had a 16-point, 10-rebound double-double against the Bruins, but it took him 22 shots to get there.
Guards Kerr Kriisa and Dalen Terry had similar trouble in the first meeting, going a combined 0-of-17 from the field. Some were open looks, and others were contested attempts against a switching perimeter defense.
The Rematch
UCLA @ Arizona
After getting thumped in the last game, Arizona takes it back to McKale.
Key to the game: Kerr Kriisa needs to be more efficient from the floor. Kriisa went 0-12 from the field in game one.
He's going to need to stay composed tonight in Tucson.
— Terrence Oglesby (@T_Oglesby22) February 3, 2022
The Wildcats went small in the last meeting, when 6’6 guard Pelle Larsson started instead of Tubelis, and they could try that again. Larsson had 10 points and five rebounds as the Wildcats had a decided 49-34 edge on the boards.
Facts to know
- UCLA begins a four-game road trip here
- Arizona is No. 4 in KenPom’s efficiency rating; UCLA is No. 9
- Mathurin and Juzang this week were named two of 10 players on the watch list the Jerry West Award, given to the best shooting guard
Numbers to know
- 5-0 — UCLA’s record in true road games
- 21.5 — Arizona’s average scoring margin per game, second in Division I
- 5-0 — UCLA coach Mike Cronin’s record against Arizona
The pick: Arizona 79, UCLA 72
