Opinion
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Can the Washington Huskies Tame the Wildcats at McKale Center?

As the Washington Huskies prepare to face off against the Arizona Wildcats at McKale Center, fans are eager to see if their team can carry forward their momentum from recent games. The Huskies have shown a mix of resilience and vulnerability in their past performances, which could be pivotal in determining the outcome of this upcoming clash.


Jan 5, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to the ref during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

On February 11th, WASH secured a solid victory over Oregon State Beavers with a score of 67-55. Their offense was particularly impressive in the first half, putting up 42 points and demonstrating efficient shooting from inside the arc with a two-point percentage of 50 percent. However, it wasn't just their offense that shone; defensively they were robust too, pulling down 38 rebounds and blocking five shots. This level of defensive tenacity will be crucial when they go up against ARIZ.


In contrast to this win, WASH faced a narrow defeat on February 9th against Oregon Ducks with an end score of 80-85. Despite scoring more points than in their previous game against ORST, they allowed too many turnovers (15) which translated into points for ORE (21). The Ducks also outperformed them on assists (19), indicating that WASH will need to tighten up both ball security and defensive rotations if they want to succeed against ARIZ.


Jan 5, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Azuolas Tubelis (10) after a foul call during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

The most thrilling encounter for WASH fans recently was undoubtedly on February 4th when they went toe-to-toe with Washington State Cougars in an overtime thriller but fell short by three points (87-90). In this high-scoring affair, both teams shot well over fifty percent from two-point range but what stood out was WASH's ability to maintain composure under pressure as evidenced by their improved assist-turnover ratio compared to previous games.


Looking ahead at ARIZ's home advantage at McKale Center poses another challenge for WASH. To come away with a win, it is imperative that they capitalize on fast-break opportunities while minimizing turnovers – aspects that have been inconsistent across recent games.


Jan 5, 2023; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Pelle Larsson (3) makes a pass during the second half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Zachary BonDurant-USA TODAY Sports

The Huskies' performance inside will be critical; dominating paint scoring has been one of their strengths as seen against WSU where they scored an impressive 44 points inside. If they can replicate such efficiency while also keeping tabs on ARIZ's offensive threats through stringent defense and rebounding efforts led by key players who've shown prowess in these areas during past matches – there is every chance for an upset.


Fans are encouraged not only to hope for victory but also witness whether or not these strategies pay off firsthand or through broadcast networks like CBS where the game will air nationally on February 24th at precisely 11:00 AM MST from Tuscon’s renowned McKale Center.

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