Will KU basketball’s 7-game win streak end vs. No. 1 Arizona? Game prediction
The Kansas men’s basketball team hosts Arizona on Monday night.
No. 11 KU (18-5) last defeated Utah on Saturday, while No. 1 Arizona crushed Oklahoma State. The Jayhawks are looking to extend their win streak to eight games with a win over undefeated Arizona.
Here’s more about Monday’s game, including a scouting report and prediction:
No. 11 Kansas vs. No. 1 Arizona: Game details
When: 8 p.m. Central on Monday, Feb. 9
Where: Allen Fieldhouse (Lawrence)
TV/streaming: ESPN
Opponent’s record: 23-0
KenPom (Ken Pomeroy) ranking: 1
Betting line: Arizona is a 2.5-point favorite.
All statistics are from KenPom.com and EvanMiya. KenPom stats include only Division-I competition.
Arizona Strengths
Rebounding savants: Arizona ranks No. 5 in offensive rebounding percentage (39.3)
Best defense in the nation: The Wildcats rank No. 1 in adjusted defensive efficiency (89.6), which measures the number of points allowed per 100 possessions, adjusted for opponent.
Elite offense: Arizona ranks No. 5 nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency (126.7).
Arizona Weaknesses
Don’t love the long ball: Arizona ranks No. 362 in 3-point rate (33.3).
Lack of bench trust: The Wildcats rank No. 245 in bench minutes percentage (30.1).
Free-throw struggles: Arizona ranks No. 151 free-throw percentage (73.4)
Arizona Name to Know
6-foot-4 freshman guard Brayden Burries (No. 5)
+ Good scorer (15.3 points per game)
+ Solid shooter (36.7% on 3-pointers)
+ Solid rebounder (4.7 per game)
+ Good free-throw shooter (78% at the free-throw line)
- Not much of a facilitator (2.7 assists per game)
- Turnover prone (1.4 per game)
Kansas-Arizona game prediction
Like KU coach Bill Self said recently, this is the biggest game of the season for the Jayhawks ... so far.
This matchup is an interesting one. Arizona has an offense and defense both ranked in the top5 by KenPom. On top of that, the Wildcats have four players averaging double-digit points, so it’s not about taking one player out of the game.
On the other hand, the Jayhawks come into this game red-hot, riding a seven-game winning streak. The path to a KU win over undefeated Arizona is tricky, but it exists:
- Kansas must wall off the paint and force Arizona to take more 3-pointers than it is comfortable doing. Three-point volume is a rare weakness for this U of A team.
- Darryn Peterson needs to play like he did in the first half against BYU. That means no sluggish start and avoiding the tendency to fade down the stretch.
- Big man Flory Bidunga must continue playing elite defense. He has looked phenomenal on that end in recent weeks, contributing to the current winning streak.
In reality, I think two of those things will happen. And the crowd inside Allen Fieldhouse should be a factor, too.
It’s hard to predict how this game will go, and I expect it to be close regardless. But Self has a knack for winning games like these, and the Jayhawks are rolling.
I’m taking KU as a rare home underdog.
Prediction: Kansas 73, Arizona 71
Shreyas’ pick to cover the spread: Kansas (+2.5)
Shreyas’ season record: 19-4
Shreyas’ record against the spread: 16-7.
KU Player to Watch: Darryn Peterson
It was never going to be any other player in a game like this.
After Peterson’s matchup against BYU and AJ Dybantsa last week, this might be the most intriguing matchup he faces the rest of the regular season.
Self said it best: Peterson hasn’t looked great in the last two games. He scored a season-low 14 points vs. Utah and had a bad shooting day vs. Texas Tech. Self said he expects more out of the freshman superstar.
Well, he has a chance to deliver vs. Arizona.
It won’t be easy against that defense, but a good game vs. the Wildcats will not only give KU a chance to win, but will only help solidify his status as the NBA Draft’s likely No. 1 pick.
