The Arizona Wildcats welcome the Arizona State Sun Devils to McKale Center on Wednesday, looking to continue their undefeated season.
The Wildcats (16-0) are the No. 1 team in the country and are winning by an average of 23 points per game this season.
“They’re very good on the interior. They’re one of the best scoring teams in the paint in the country,” ASU coach Bobby Hurley told Bickley & Marotta on Tuesday. “Their guards really attack the basketball as well.”
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Arizona has five wins over top-15 teams, including two wins over top-three teams.
Meanwhile, ASU’s scoring margin is just +1.9 this season. The Sun Devils started the season hot, winning nine of their first 11 games. However, ASU (10-6) had lost four straight games before beating Kansas State on Saturday, 87-84.
Winning close games is a specialty for Hurley’s team, as the Sun Devils are 5-2 this season when games are within seven points. However, ASU’s average margin of defeat is nearly 12 points.
Hurley would like that to change.
“We’ve got to blow some teams out a little more often,” Hurley said. “I would much prefer it that way.”
However, a close game in Tucson would be a strong showing for ASU. Arizona has owned the in-state rivalry on the court recently, winning the last five matchups and 10 of the last 11.
“My history at Arizona has always been (that) it’s one of the most difficult places to play,” Hurley said. “I’ve only been able to win two games in 10 tries there, so it’s a really hard environment to navigate.”
On Arizona’s side, the Wildcats have lost just one game to ASU since Lloyd took over, and, in 2023 when the loss happened, it required a 65-foot buzzer-beater by Desmond Cambridge Jr.
Other than Cambridge’s miracle shot, Lloyd is 8-0 against ASU with a 17-point average margin of victory.
Hurley said this 16-0 Arizona team fits the typical blueprint of the Wildcats under Lloyd.
“This team has been really strong with being in the moment and being process-oriented,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd told reporters. “So those are the things that we’re trying to focus on. We’re not getting enamored with the results or obsessed with outcomes. We’re digging into processes because we understand doing the process right, more than your opponents, usually allows the outcome to come out in your favor.”
Arizona ranks No. 2 in the country in points in the paint per game (47.0), according to CBBAnalytics. The Wildcats also rank No. 2 in rebound margin, No. 6 in scoring margin and No. 12 in field goal percentage, according to NCAA.com.
“They’re an elite offensive rebounding team. So, it’s typical of what you would see from Arizona and Tommy Lloyd,” Hurley said. “They’re a really talented team, and if they’re making shots, they’re even more difficult to deal with.
“Defensively, they get after it, play really hard at that end of the floor, too. So, they’re a very complete team.”
Arizona is one of five teams in the country still undefeated and the Wildcats have made 11 more free throws than its opponents have attempted this season.
Freshman forward Koa Peat leads Arizona in points per game (14.8) and junior center Motiejus Krivas leads the team in field goal percentage (59.8%), among players with at least 15 attempts, blocks (29) and is second in rebounds (134).
Senior guard Jaden Bradley leads the team with 73 assists and is third in scoring (13.6).
“An experienced player who puts value in the team’s performance over himself, but also understands maybe there’s moments that he can be more focused on being the driving force,” Lloyd said of Bradley. “I’m very impressed.”
Bradley distributes the ball with regularity, but he’s shown the ability to take games over as a scorer when needed. He produced his two highest point totals of the season (21 and 27) in Arizona’s wins over top-three teams, and he’s shot 60% or better in three of Arizona’s last five games.
To most, the two matchups of Arizona-ASU each year as part of the Territorial Cup are more important than any others of the season. However, Lloyd has his Wildcats approach it as any other game.
“I don’t make any more of it. I don’t look for bulletin board materials — nothing like that,” Lloyd said. “I just look at it as another game on our schedule that’s going to be one of our 18 games in our conference standings. I understand people on the outside might get emotional, but I don’t think that helps us perform better.”
But that doesn’t mean Lloyd won’t have Arizona prepared for a fight. Even though the Wildcats have dominated the rivalry lately, ASU plays a specific type of ball they have to be prepared for.
“We know how dangerous they are. We’ve felt it first hand many times before,” Lloyd said. “So we’re going to approach the game with respect and go out and try to play well from there.”
The Sun Devils are led by senior guards Moe Odum and Anthony “Pig” Johnson. Odum leads the team in points (16.4) and assists (103) and is second in steals (22).
Johnson started the year coming off the bench, but has started four of the last six games. He’s second on the team in scoring (14.9) and assists (31) and third in steals (19).
“Those guys, they play off each other well. They’re dangerous. They’re shot makers,” Lloyd said. “They’re both adept at getting fouled, so they can hurt you in a lot of ways. Not only is it going to take great effort from our guards, but it’s going to take great effort from our bigs to support them.
“They’re just the type of players that you can’t leave a guy out on an island. You need some help in those gaps to kind of reduce the operating space for those guys. Those two guards have our full attention.”
The Sun Devils’ third-leading scorer (14.6) and last player averaging double figures is freshman forward Massamba Diop. Diop leads the team with 89 rebounds and 31 blocks.
ASU is allowing 78.8 points per game this season, but have allowed at least 90 points in three of its last four games before the win against Kansas State.
Hurley said the coaching staff has been working with Diop lately to embrace his defensive presence in the paint, and it’s been working. The young center has 14 blocks in the last four games.
If the Sun Devils want to hang around with the top-ranked Wildcats, they’re going to have to protect the paint and shoot well from 3-point range.
ASU has shot less than 20% over the last five games from beyond the arc, but Hurley said the deep ball is “contagious.” One guy needs to get hot and it will affect the rest of the team. Then, in the paint, Diop will have his hands full with one of the best paint-scoring teams in the country.
Arizona and ASU will get underway at 8:30 p.m. MST on Wednesday. It airs on Arizona Sports 98.7 and will be televised on FS1.
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