#9 Arizona (19-4, 9-1) at Washington (16-6, 6-3)
Saturday, 7:30 p.m
Alaska Airlines Arena (Hec Ed)
TV: Pac-12 Network Radio: KOMO
After Washington’s thrilling 68-64 over No. 25 Arizona Thursday night, the Huskies might be playing the best team in college basketball tomorrow night according to Washington head coach Mike Hopkins.
“We’re going up against on Saturday a team that could be the best in the country,” Coach Hopkins said about the Arizona Wildcats.
The 19-4 and No. 9 Arizona Wildcats are 16-1 since losing all three games in the Battle 4 Atlantis tournament early in the season. This is an Arizona team that is so talented that anything less than a Final Four appearance would probably be a disappointment.
“At the beginning of the year they had those issues but they got size, they’ve got shooting, they’ve got guard play, they’ve got a complete package,” Coach Hopkins said.”It will be a great test for us. But that’s why you love coming to schools like this, to play this type of competition, and see where we’re at.”
The Wildcats have maybe the No. 1 pick in the 2018 NBA Draft. Seven-foot-one freshman Deandre Ayton is averaging 19.7 points and 10.7 rebounds per game. His running mate in the front court, 7-foot senior Dusan Ristic, is averaging 11.3 points and 6.7 rebounds per game.
Arizona’s back court is just as impressive. Seattle native Allonzo Trier leads the team in scoring averaging 19.9 points per game. Sophomore Rawle Alkins has battled injuries this year but is averaging 14.7 points per game and Arizona is 10-1 when he plays. Senior point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright gives the Wildcats great leadership and makes 44.6 percent of his attempted 3-pointers.
This is the best team the Huskies have played this season. With Washington sitting right on the bubble of the NCAA tournament an upset win could get the Huskies that much closer to punching their ticket to the most famous basketball tournament in the world.
The good news for the Huskies is they are 12-2 at home this season. As of yesterday there were under 200 tickets remaining for the big game Saturday night in what should be an electric environment.
