Washington vs. Arizona score predictions

Will the Wildcats hand the Huskies their first Pac-12 loss?

The Arizona Wildcats (14-8, 5-4) look to snap their three-game losing streak when they host the Washington Huskies (18-4, 9-0) on Thursday in McKale Center.

Tip-off is set for 7 p.m. MST on ESPN2.

KenPom predicts UW will win 66-65 with a 52 percent win probability. Here is what we think will happen. Be sure to leave your predictions in the comment section below.

Christopher Boan — Washington wins 77-70

The Arizona basketball program is in shambles, not including the latest Yahoo! Sports story that Sean Miller no-commented. The Wildcats are on the verge of losing four-straight games for the first time in a long, long time (I’m too lazy to look up when the last time was). Washington is a devil of a team to face, with Mike Hopkins employing the matchup zone defense that he honed as Jim Boeheim’s right-hand man at Syracuse. All of this gibberish adds up to a nightmare of a matchup for Arizona’s shorthanded roster, leading to a comfortable win for the visitors from Seattle. When does softball season start again?

Ronnie Stoffle — Arizona wins 72-69

This feels like an obvious pick for Washington with the absence of Brandon Williams and they way both teams have been playing of late. However, I’m picking the Wildcats in this one. It just feels like with a week to prepare for no Williams in the lineup and returning home to McKale Center will be a trap for Washington.

In order for this to happen, Justin Coleman has to have another strong performance and Chase Jeter must absolutely dominate the post. But also, the role players in Ira Lee, Alex Barcello and Devonaire Doutrive, will need to have combine for at least 20 points.

Teams go home to get right and I think UA gets right Thursday night.

Zant Reyez — Washington wins 80-73

Washington shows why it’s the best team this season in the Pac-12, while also showing why Arizona will not make the Big Dance this season.

Ezra Amacher — Washington wins 78-73

Playing without Brandon Williams, it will take an inspired performance for the Wildcats to hang in there with Washington in a matchup that on paper very much favors the Huskies. Arizona under Sean Miller has not found much success against any zone defense, and UW’s zone may be the toughest Arizona will face this season. The Huskies do a great job of limiting three pointers as well as clogging the lane. Arizona will need to be persistent getting to the basket. I just don’t see the Wildcats depth carrying them through for 40 minutes in this one.

Brian J. Pedersen — Washington wins 65-62

Why isn’t Washington favored in this game? The Huskies are 9-0 in the league, its best start in 65 years, and has already pulled off two road sweeps. Meanwhile, Arizona has dropped three in a row, once again won’t have its full compliment of players and is embroiled in plenty of off-the-court drama. Does the uncertainty of Noah Dickerson’s ankle injury matter that much? Considering all that’s happening, a Wildcat win would be a major shocker.

Ryan Kelapire — Washington wins 71-63

Brandon Williams is out and the Wildcats are dealing with the whole Mark Phelps situation now, so I don’t see this as the right environment for an upset.

Even if Dickerson doesn’t play, Washington’s zone will be able to get enough stops to hold the Wildcats off.

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