Arizona vs BYU Prediction and Preview

Arizona basketball is newly ranked No. 1 in the conference and 20th in the AP Top 25 going into the matchup against BYU in Provo. Read more for a full Arizona vs BYU prediction and preview. 

Arizona (15-6, 9-1) is coming off an extremely physical game against state rival ASU. Just ahead of this matchup Arizona is tied for No. 1 in the Big 12 after Houston lost to a tough Texas Tech team. The Wildcats also found themselves back in the AP Top 25 sitting pretty at No. 20. BYU (15-6, 6-4) is on a 4-game winning streak and has the opportunity to push Arizona back off the Top 25 if the team can pull off an upset in Provo. 

General Information:

Teams: Arizona (15-6, 9-1) and BYU (15-6, 6-4)

Tip-off: 9 p.m. MST (10 p.m. EST)

Watch: ESPN

Latest on BYU basketball:

The Cougars are coming off four straight wins against four unranked teams but they have battled against extremely tough competition. The Cougars last ranked opponent was Texas Tech where they lost by only five points. BYU is 11-1 at home this season, the one loss was none other than Texas Tech. With the majority of the team’s losses being on the road, Arizona should be worried about the atmosphere they are stepping into late Tuesday night. 

As we enter the second half of Big 12 conference play it is safe to say the first half of the season is behind us. Every team has grown, found its groove, and plays great basketball but it all comes down to this second half. Will BYU find themselves a conference championship?

The team had a slow start to the inaugural season starting with a 2-4 record but now, the Cougars are turning heads, especially standout player, Egor Demin. The freshman has been the player to watch for BYU in its last four victories. He is a 6’9” forward averaging roughly 10 points, 4 rebounds, and 6 assists per game, shooting 43.2 % from outside the arc. 

If BYU is the team they have been in the last two weeks against Arizona on Tuesday night, they have a definite shot at upsetting the Wildcats and finding themselves higher in the ranks. If they pull off an upset against a team as strong as Arizona, they will without a doubt be contenders for a Big 12 conference championship this season. 

Latest on Arizona basketball:

The Wildcats are riding a four-game winning streak with two thrilling wins last week against Iowa State and Arizona State. Approaching the Iowa State game Arizona had been slowly getting their groove back after a hard road trip. Arizona fans have been a huge factor in pulling the boys out of their funk, fans sold out McKale Center for the matchup against Colorado directly following a loss to Texas Tech for the Cats that broke their first win streak. 

After the thrilling home win against Iowa State that was forced into overtime by a buzzer-beater from Caleb Love, the Wildcats had to take a trip down the street to rivalry territory, Arizona State. With high energy and plenty of momentum, Arizona managed to remain the basketball school of the state with an 81-72 win. 

All rivalries are physical and thrilling but the tension behind this game was unreal. Both teams were chirping, both teams got technicals and both teams were told they played with low class. Love had a technical earlier in the game but found himself in an altercation with ASU’s BJ Freeman that led to both players being ejected. 

Speculations said that because Love received two technical fouls including a Flagrant 2, he would be ejected and have to sit out in the game against BYU however, he will be eligible to play against BYU Tuesday night. 

Love is coming off of two games where he had 20-plus points with the majority of his points coming in the second half. The Love and Demin matchup will be fun to watch. Love is averaging about 16 points, 4 rebounds and 3 assists per game. 

The depth of the Wildcats seems to be unbeatable right now unless BYU gets it done in Provo. 

Jaden Bradley is leading the Cats with 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 4 assists per game. 

Tobe Awaka has been extremely crucial in finishing second chances, averaging 7.8 rebounds per game. 

Arizona’s depth on and off the bench continues to stand out. If Arizona can continue to use its depth and strength, even against weaker teams they will see success through the end of the inaugural season and into the postseason.

Arizona vs BYU prediction: Wildcats by 3 (89-86)

BYU is riding a four-game winning streak, as is Arizona. BYU has depth but they will not outweigh Arizona. Both teams have three players averaging 10 or more points per game and they both sit at a 15-6 overall record. 

They both played Texas Tech, and they both lost to Texas Tech. Arizona lost by 16 and BYU only lost by 5. BYU played at home and Arizona played away. Home-court advantage is absolutely a thing, especially in an arena like the Marriott Arena in Provo. 

The Marriott Arena is one of the largest college arenas in the country and holds close to 18,000 people and people in Utah like going to sporting events and really like the Cougars. An environment like the Marriott is a hard environment to play in but so is McKale Center. 

Since Arizona’s loss to Texas Tech, the team has changed its tactics. From the starting lineup to how they move the ball; the Arizona team that BYU is facing Tuesday night is not the same Arizona team Texas Tech played Jan. 18. Arizona is on fire and has something to prove, if they fall to BYU they won’t fall easy. 

Arizona has consistently been a second-half team. They will let BYU have a lead in the first half but will make sure they are winning by halftime and then will come out of the locker room ready to fight in the second half. The Wildcats seem to enjoy a little bit of thrill and this will absolutely be a thriller in Provo but the Wildcats are working to prove themselves and keep moving up in the ranks. I think Arizona will come out on top but just by 3, 89-86.