ASU vs Arizona CBB Hoops Handicapping
College basketball’s No. 1 team will look to remain unbeaten, when top-ranked Arizona host in-state rival Arizona State on Thursday in Tucson. [ad-4468020]
Date/Time: 9 p.m. EST, Thursday, Jan. 16, 2014
Venue: McKale Center, Tucson, Arizona
Broadcast: Fox Sports 1
Spread: -12 Arizona
Over/Under: OFF
Odds From [dfads params=’groups=63740&limit=1&return_javascript=0′]
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Arizona leads the all-time series 144-80, and are 6-2 against the Sun Devils over the last four years. The last time they played they won, 73-58 on March 9, 2013.
ASU (13-4) arrives at the McKale Center coming off a 15-point loss at UCLA, as they continue to be plagued by inconsistent play.
Jermaine Marshall, the Devils’ second-leading scorer, put up 25 points and five rebounds in the 87-72 loss to the Bruins, while point guard Jahii Carson, who led Arizona State to a 7-1 start, was held to just nine points on 4-of-17 shooting in 30 minutes of play.
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The sophomore is on a slide, shooting just 34.8 percent from the field, while averaging just 14.4 points and 1.8 assists over the past five games.
He will hope to bounce back, as he has played nowhere near his capability over that stretch.
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His incontinency bas been a tremendous impact on the Sun Devils, who need a huge game from Carson against Arizona, which ranks fourth nationally in scoring defense (56 points per game) while shooting 48.7 percent from the field.
That defense has Arizona (17-0) off to its best start in school history, behind the solid play of freshman forward Aaron Gordon, who named as the USA Basketball Male Athlete of the Year earlier this week.
Gordon leads a dominant frontcourt that includes Brandon Ashley, Rondae Hollis-Jefferson and 7-foot center Kaleb Tarczewski, who all had a big part in the 73-53 dismantling of USC on Jan. 12.
However, it was Arizona assist leader T.J. McConnell, who put up 19 points and six assists to led the Wildcats in that one.
Versatile guard Nick Johnson, is also a threat to be reckoned with, playing three different positions while leading an Arizona defense, which has held opponents to 28 percent shooting from beyond the arc.
Matt’s Free Pick: Arizona
From a tempo-free perspective, Arizona is strong in offensive rebounding percentage at 40.8 RPG, good enough for first in the conference and ninth in the nation.
Combine that with a rock solid defense both in the paint and on the perimeter, plus a multitalented swing man, and this one goes to the Wildcats who should have little problem covering the spread.
