Friday, February 23, 2018

Arizona vs. Oregon score predictions

The Wildcats can clinch a share of the Pac-12 title with a win

The 14th-ranked Arizona Wildcats take on the Oregon Ducks on Saturday at 8:15 p.m. MST in Eugene.

Arizona (22-6, 12-3 Pac-12) has won three straight, and a win over the Ducks would clinch a share of the Pac-12 title. It would also make Dusan Ristic UA’s all-time winningest player. The senior has accounted for 110 wins in four seasons at Arizona.

But the Wildcats will likely be without Allonzo Trier on Saturday. The junior guard has been suspended after testing positive for a banned substance. It is unclear when, or if, he will return this season.

KenPom gives Arizona a 56 percent chance of winning, with a projected score of 75-73. But ESPN lists Oregon as two-point favorites.

Oregon routed Arizona 85-58 in Eugene last season.

Here is what we think will happen Saturday. Be sure to leave your predictions in the comment section below.

Ryan Kelapire — Oregon wins 78-73

Arizona has never swept the Oregon schools on the road under Sean Miller and I thought that would change this year...then Allonzo Trier got suspended.

Trier scored 25 points in the first matchup, which went down to the wire in Tucson. Combine his absence with the fact that Eugene is a tough place to play, and I see the Wildcats falling short on Saturday.

Christopher Boan — Arizona wins 79-78 (OT)

I really, really want to pick Oregon to win, given the fact that Matthew Knight Arena has been a house of horrors for Arizona of-late.

The issue, however, is that Oregon’s not that great this year, with a lot of flash but no bite behind it. Now I know many of you can say the same about Arizona, but I don’t see the Ducks having the depth to weather any sort of foul trouble come Saturday.

I expect Elijah Brown and Troy Brown to go off against Arizona’s sorry excuse for a defense, but not enough to counteract what will be a huge game from Ayton, Ristic and Rawle Alkins.

I’m calling a last-second victory for the Wildcats in overtime, after one of the Browns fouls out on a questionable call.

Matt Sheeley — Oregon wins 79-75

When the season started and the Wildcats had all those crazy high expectations, this was the only Pac-12 loss I had them penciled in for. Arizona has dropped three of four in Eugene including last year’s 27-point loss.

Granted the Ducks aren’t who I expected them to be but now that Arizona is without Allonzo Trier and needed overtime to beat Oregon State, I see the anticipated loss coming true.

It’ll be a close one but that crowd and Dana Altman’s supreme coaching will lead to Arizona’s downfall.

Alec Sills-Trausch — Arizona wins 71-70.99

¯\_(ツ)_/¯ I don’t know what's going to happen here. I still feel any team that has Deandre Ayton on it will win more times than not but without Allonzo Trier who the hell knows. Them fighting back to force OT and then throttling OSU in the extra time showed this team is still immensely talented but how cohesive they will be against a better Ducks team - we can only know when we see it. I think Arizona wins this but as you can tell by my highly plausible score, I don’t know.

Jason Bartel — Oregon wins 84-79

Me and Ryan are the same person except I like to be six points greater than him. It’s just a thing.

Scott Moran — Oregon wins 78-71

Normally, I’d think this would be a hard-fought victory for Arizona. However, Allonzo Trier being suspended completely changes the game. Despite all the praise he gets, I still believe he’s underrated as a player and he’s definitely the leader on this team.

Without having to worry about Trier, Oregon has the talent, coaching, and home-court advantage to beat Arizona. It won’t be a blowout, but I think Oregon has a very strong chance to upset the ‘Cats on Saturday.



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