Desert Financial Arena Showdown: Arizona Wildcats vs. Arizona State Sun Devils
As the Arizona Wildcats prepare to face off against their in-state rivals, the Arizona State Sun Devils, at Desert Financial Arena, fans are buzzing with anticipation. The Wildcats have been on a tear recently, and their performance suggests they're not slowing down anytime soon.
In their last game on December 23 at McKale Center, the Wildcats dominated Morgan State Bears with a commanding 93-68 victory. Their offense was firing on all cylinders as they shot an impressive 58 percent from the field and an even more astonishing 77 percent from two-point range. The team's ability to score in the paint was particularly noteworthy; they racked up 48 points inside, showcasing their physicality and skill around the basket.
The defensive prowess of ARIZ cannot be overlooked either. They held MORG to just 38 percent shooting from two-point range while also contributing three blocks and seven steals to disrupt Morgan State's offensive flow. This multifaceted defensive effort is something that ASU will need to be wary of come game time.
Looking back further into ARIZ's season provides even more reasons for optimism among Wildcat fans. Against Montana State Bobcats on December 21, ARIZ secured an 85-64 win with a balanced attack that saw them shoot well both inside (46 percent) and beyond the arc (40 percent). Their defense forced MTST into committing a total of 20 turnovers which translated into critical points off turnovers for ARIZ.
The close encounter against Tennessee Volunteers on December 18 ended in favor of ARIZ with a tight scoreline of 75-70. Despite being outshot from three-point land by TENN who made eight threes at nearly a 30 percent clip compared to ARIZ’s five at just over 20 percent, it was free throws where ARIZ excelled – sinking nearly nine out of every ten attempts.
What stands out about these past performances is not only the consistency but also how well-rounded this Wildcat team is proving itself to be – efficient scoring coupled with tenacious defense makes them formidable opponents for any team.
As we look ahead to New Year's Eve clash against ASU at Desert Financial Arena set for a tip-off at noon local time (2 PM Eastern), it’s clear that if recent form is anything by which we can predict future outcomes, then fans should expect another strong showing from this talented squad led by head coach Tommy Lloyd. The Sun Devils will have their work cut out for them if they hope to contain what has been an explosive offense while finding ways through what can only be described as a stingy Wildcat defense.
Fans eager not to miss this exciting matchup can catch all the action live on FOX National broadcast network or attend in person in Tempe where these two teams will battle it out one last time before ringing in the new year.