The No.2-seeded Arizona Wildcats (31-3) square off against the No.6-seeded Xavier Musketeers (21-12) in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament at the Staples Center. The game starts at 7:05 pm ET on Thursday, Mar. 26.
The Wildcats were victorious over Ohio State 73-58 in the third round. T.J. McConnell played a key role, recording 10 points and six rebounds to notch his second double-double this season. The Musketeers, meanwhile, are coming off a 75-67 win over Georgia State in the third round. Matt Stainbrook led the game in scoring with 26 points on 11-for-14 shooting.
Arizona is a considerable 10-point favorite in this game and the Over/Under (O/U) is set at 135 points. The Wildcats look to build on their records of 33-3 Straight Up (SU) and 23-13 Against The Spread (ATS). They are 8-2 ATS over their last 10 games. The Wildcats are a dangerously accurate shooting team with a .489 field-goal percentage, one of the highest marks in Division I. The Wildcats have a distinct advantage on the boards in this matchup. They are the 46th-ranked rebounding team in Division I, averaging 37.2 per game, while the Musketeers rank 141st in the nation with 35.0 per game. The Wildcats, sporting the 44th-best assist-to-turnover ratio in Division I (1.27), have proven themselves to be an extremely efficient offensive team.
Across the court, the Musketeers head into the game with records of 17-17-1 ATS and 23-13 SU. The Musketeers are getting to the foul line at a high rate. Their 511 free throws made ranks 31st in Division I. The Musketeers rarely make the wrong play with the ball. They have the 26th-best assist-to-turnover ratio in the country at 1.36.
Arizona and Xavier have not played one another in a regular season matchup in recent years.
Predictions: SU Winner – Arizona, ATS Winner – Arizona, O/U – Over
Notes
Xavier won its last game by a one-point margin. In games decided by a margin of three points or less, Arizona is 2-2. Xavier is 2-5 in close games this season.
Ranked seventh, the Arizona Wildcats have one of the top defenses in the country, giving up just 141.9 points per 100 possessions. The Xavier Musketeers rank 42nd in offense, scoring 110.1 points in the same number of possessions.
Xavier has an average field goal percentage of 47.6% (ranked 25th). Arizona is a losing 1-2 when opponents have a similar or higher field goal percentage.
The Arizona Wildcats and the Xavier Musketeers both rank higher in average field goal percentage when compared to their effective field goal percentages. Arizona is 39th and sixth in the nation for eFG% and FG% respectively, while Xavier ranks 41st and 25th in these categories.
Xavier ranks among the best in the nation in assists at ninth (16.5 assists per game). Arizona is ranked 67th with 14.2 assists per game.
Arizona, the 46th-ranked team in rebounding, register an average of 37.2 rebounds per game. Xavier does worse, ranked 141st with 35.0.
Xavier ranks 231st in offensive rebounds, while Arizona ranks at 16th in defensive rebounds.
