Arizona (8-5) at West Virginia (11-2)
- When: Jan 7 2025, 7:00 PM
- Where: WVU Coliseum, Morgantown, WV, USA
- Where to watch: ESPN2
The Arizona Wildcats enter Tuesday’s rematch against the West Virginia Mountaineers as 3.0-point road favorites, with the total set at 143 points. Both teams have had notable shifts in momentum since their first meeting during the Battle 4 Atlantis, where West Virginia secured an 83-76 overtime victory.
West Virginia’s Recent Surge
The Mountaineers (11-2, 2-0 Big 12) have soared into the AP Top 25, riding a seven-game winning streak that began with their win over Arizona. Even without standout scorer Tucker DeVries, who dropped 26 points in the first game but is sidelined with an upper-body injury, West Virginia hasn’t missed a beat. They recently stunned then-No. 7 Kansas on the road and followed it up with a dominant 69-50 win over Oklahoma State.
Javon Small has stepped up as West Virginia’s offensive leader, averaging 19.5 points per game to lead the Big 12. On defense, the Mountaineers have been stifling, allowing just 62.5 points per game and ranking first in the conference in 3-point defense (27.4%).
Head coach Darian DeVries credited the team’s success to their defensive versatility:
“Our length on the perimeter makes it tough for opponents to get clean looks,” DeVries said.
Arizona’s Fight to Bounce Back
Arizona (8-5, 2-0 Pac-12) has regained momentum with four consecutive wins, including a 72-67 victory over No. 16 Cincinnati on the road. Their bench shined in that matchup, with Carter Bryant scoring a career-high 14 points on a perfect 5-for-5 shooting night. Meanwhile, 7-footer Henri Veesaar filled the stat sheet with eight points, eight rebounds, and multiple defensive plays.
Caleb Love, Arizona’s top scorer, had an off-night against Cincinnati, hitting just 3 of 15 shots. However, Love had been dominant in the three previous games, averaging 26.7 points on 58.7% shooting.
“Carter Bryant is an elite talent with elite character,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said of the freshman’s emergence. “He’s been a game-changer for us.”
Key Matchup: Perimeter Defense vs. Caleb Love
Arizona will be aiming for redemption after Love’s 24-point outing wasn’t enough to overcome the Mountaineers in their first clash. However, West Virginia’s perimeter defense, anchored by the length of Toby Okani (6-foot-8) and Jonathan Powell (6-foot-6), could once again make life difficult for the Wildcats’ sharpshooters.
Prediction:
West Virginia’s home-court advantage and defensive pressure make them tough to beat, especially in Morgantown’s raucous environment. However, Arizona’s recent form and balanced scoring could help them flip the script this time around. Expect a close game, but Arizona’s firepower and the emergence of bench contributors give them the edge to cover the 3-point spread. The over (143) is also worth a look, considering the high-paced offenses on display.
Pick: Arizona -3.0 and Over 143.
- NCAAB Odds source: Bovada Sportsbook
