Can the Wildcats Tame the Sun Devils at McKale Center?

The Arizona Wildcats are gearing up for a pivotal showdown against their state rivals, the Arizona State Sun Devils, and fans are buzzing with anticipation. The upcoming game at McKale Center promises to be an electrifying event, as both teams prepare to battle it out on the court.

The Wildcats have shown remarkable resilience and skill in their recent games. On December 23rd, they faced off against Florida Atlantic Owls in a nail-biting match that went into double overtime. Despite falling just short by one point with a final score of 95-96, ARIZ demonstrated their tenacity and ability to maintain pressure under intense circumstances. They dominated in points off turnovers with 18 compared to FAU's 14 and showcased a robust defense with more steals (12) than FAU (9). Their assist-to-turnover ratio stood at an impressive 1.5.

In another thrilling encounter on December 21st against Alabama Crimson Tide, ARIZ emerged victorious with an assertive performance that ended in an 87-74 win. The team's fast-paced offense was on full display as they racked up a significant number of fast break points (22), reflecting their ability to capitalize on quick transitions.

However, it was not all smooth sailing for ARIZ; they faced defeat against Purdue Boilermakers on December 16th despite putting up a strong fight. The final score read 84-92 in favor of Purdue. Yet even in defeat, the Wildcats showed promise through their high assists count (24) and commendable field goal percentage (52).

Looking ahead to the face-off against ASU, there is no doubt that ARIZ has both the offensive firepower and defensive acumen to secure victory once again. With home-court advantage at McKale Center and having displayed consistent scoring above the mid-eighties mark over past games – including impressive points from paint contributions – it seems likely that this trend will continue.

ASU should not be underestimated though; rivalries have a way of igniting underdog performances that can upset even the most analytical predictions.

As we edge closer to game day scheduled for February 18th at McKale Center starting at 7:30 PM local time (Tuscon), fans can catch all live action exclusively on Pac-12 Network TV broadcast network where every dribble, pass, and shot will be captured as these two teams vie for supremacy.