Arizona basketball looks to restart its win streak on the road against Oklahoma State after a tough loss against Texas Tech. Read more for a full Arizona vs Oklahoma State prediction and preview.
Arizona (11-6, 5-1) lost a 7-game win streak after a tough road loss to Texas Tech last weekend. With a tough start to the season it is concerning to see this Arizona team struggle again, will the team beat the funk before it suffers more losses? Arizona has cruised through this Big 12 inaugural season until Texas Tech hit the gas and made Arizona stomp on the breaks. Texas Tech beat Arizona by 13 points, shocking everyone in the conference. Did this road loss give the OSU Cowboys some hope against Arizona?
Oklahoma State and Arizona have not met since 20 years ago in the NCAA tournament. However, in the last 20 years, Arizona basketball has continuously been a favorite and most times, a ranked favorite. Oklahoma State has been the opposite with only one bid to the NCAA Tournament in 7 years.
Although OSU has not been a favorite historically, they are under a new head coach, Steve Lutz who has experience playing against teams like Arizona.
General Information:
Teams: Arizona (11-6, 5-1) and OSU (10-7, 2-4)
Tip-off: 7 p.m. MST
Watch: ESPN
Latest on Oklahoma State basketball:
OSU has certainly had a tough ride leading up to this season with very few people from last year’s roster returning this year under a new head coach. One can only imagine how hard it must be trying to build a team from the ground up in less than a year, and Steve Lutz has.
The OSU roster holds talent, with players like Abou Ousmane and Arturo Dean who have put up the best statistics.
OK State has lacked consistency in its losses and wins this season however the team finds themselves in the best position when they are able to keep up with the transition from offense to defense. When the Cowboys can get out on fast breaks, force turnovers, and keep high pressure on defense they find themselves winning games; like the game against Colorado this weekend. Against Colorado, the Cowboys played fast-paced, physical basketball and they made their free throws.
The Cowboys are shooting 72% from the free throw line which will be crucial in a physical game like Arizona is bound to play. After Arizona’s arguably worst performance of the season against Texas Tech, OSU and Arizona are looking pretty even in field goal percentage and free throw percentage.
For a win against an extremely talented Arizona team, OSU will have to play the best basketball they’ve played in the history of the program, or in the last 20 years.
Latest on Arizona basketball:
Arizona was extremely close to a top 25 ranking, an 8-game winning streak and an undefeated Big 12 record; the team blew it.
Arizona played arguably the worst basketball of its season in the loss against Texas Tech last weekend. Arizona was unable to get a lead against the Red Raiders besides its 2-point lead in the very beginning of the first half. The game was within reach with a 5-point gap with 5 minutes to go. Arizona gave it up in the last 5 minutes; going on a drought for points, giving up easy turnovers and ultimately allowing Texas Tech to extend its lead and win by 13 points.
Consistent, strong players for the Wildcats just did not show up against Texas Tech, maybe it was the away game curse? KJ Lewis, Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, and Henri Veesaar have been key players to the success of this Arizona basketball team so far but all of them were off last weekend leaving Arizona fans worried that the Cats will fall back into its funk.
Although it was a rough performance for consistent players, freshman standout Carter Bryant set the tone from off the bench but was still unable to finish crucial shots to get the Cats ahead.
With the adversity that this Arizona team has faced at the beginning of its season, there is no doubt that the team will continue to win big.
Arizona vs Oklahoma State prediction: Wildcats by 13 (74-61)
Although Arizona is coming off an excruciating loss on the road this game could be considered its redemption game before hitting the road back to Tucson. There is absolutely no doubt that OSU will put up a hard fight especially with the knowledge that Arizona is coming off of a road loss. However if Arizona shows up the way they have in the majority of this early inaugural season, OSU respectfully does not have a chance to come within 10 points of Arizona the entire game.
I do think the loss against Texas Tech will give the Wildcats a slow start but once the team gets its momentum in a new arena, with a new crowd it will be unstoppable which is why I have them winning against OSU by 13 points, 74-61.