Arizona Basketball

Three things to watch: Arizona Wildcats vs. Oregon State

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WHAT IS PRODUCTIVITY RATING?:
PP: Productivity Points (Points, assists, rebounds, steals, blocked shots, FGs made, FTs made added together and then subtracted by missed FGs, missed FTs, personal fouls and turnovers)
MIN: Minutes played overall
PR: Productivity rating per minute played (Productivity points divided by minutes played)

ARIZONA OVERALL PRODUCTIVITY RATING
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ArizonaLogo logo.OSU

Tip: 9:07 p.m. MST
Television: Fox Sports 1 (Rob Stone/Marques Johnson)
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Brian Jeffries/TBD)
National Radio: Sirius 91; XM 91
Rankings: Arizona – No. 3 (AP)/No. 3 (Coaches); Oregon State – Not ranked in either.

WILL ARIZONA BE ABLE TO CONTINUE TO PUSH THE PACE?

Sean Miller's team is on its best scoring stretch since 2010-11.

Sean Miller’s team is on its best scoring stretch since 2010-11.

Arizona averages a healthy 74.1 points per game while Oregon State allows 75.4. The Wildcats have averaged 84.7 points in their last three games against potential NCAA tournament teams Colorado, California and Stanford. The 254 points in a three-game span is the most under Sean Miller in the Pac-12 since the Wildcats scored 267 against USC, Stanford and Cal in 2010-11. The game against the Golden Bears went to three overtimes at Berkeley. Arizona scored a season-high 16 fast-break points while holding Stanford to zero Sunday. Many of those breaks came after missed baskets and turnovers by the Cardinal. Arizona ranks No. 1 in the Pac-12 in rebounding margin (plus-9.2) while Oregon State is No. 9 (plus-.4). The Beavers rank 11th in turnover margin at minus-2.61. Arizona outscored Oregon State 16-3 in points off turnovers last month at McKale Center in the Wildcats’ 76-54 victory.

ARIZONA’S SECOND-CHANCE POINTS A KEY

Aaron Gordon leads Arizona's offensive rebounding attack

Aaron Gordon leads Arizona’s offensive rebounding attack

The Wildcats controlled the offensive glass against the Beavers, tallying 15 offensive boards compared to only four by Oregon State. Arizona leads the Pac-12 with 13 offensive rebounds a game, which translates to 12.8 points per game. The Wildcats outscore opponents by 5.7 points with their put-backs, which is significant because it gives them a two- to three-possession advantage. Oregon State ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in defensive rebounds at 24.82 a game but the Beavers have one of the best rebounders in the league — senior Eric Moreland (9.8 overall a game). Moreland has nine double-digit rebound performances in the 15 games he’s played since serving a team-related suspension during the non-conference portion of the schedule. Aaron Gordon leads the Wildcats with 78 offensive boards, which ranks him third in the Pac-12 behind Colorado’s Josh Scott (87) and Washington’s Perris Blackwell (83).

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CAN ARIZONA LIMIT OREGON STATE’S DANGEROUS SCORERS?

Nick Johnson's defense will be important along with backcourt mate T.J. McConnell to keep Oregon State's scoring in check.

Nick Johnson’s defense will be important along with backcourt mate T.J. McConnell to keep Oregon State’s scoring in check.

Oregon State is one of only four Pac-12 teams that have three scorers among the conference’s top 25 scorers, including the No. 1 scorer, guard Roberto Nelson (20.6 points a game). The others are forwards Devon Collier (19th with 13.6 points per game) and Angus Brandt (21st, 12.5). Nelson, Collier and Brandt are seniors playing their last week at Gill Coliseum. Collier (60.8 field-goal percentage) and Brandt (52.4) are two of the best shooters in the conference. Collier ranks second and Brandt 11th in field-goal percentage. The Beavers rank third in field-goal percentage (48.3) and three-point shooting (39.0). Arizona counters with the best defense in terms of opponent field-goal percentage (38.3) and three-point shooting (30.1). T.J. McConnell and Nick Johnson will be called upon to control Nelson, who was 3-for-12 from the field, including 0-for-3 from three-paint range in the first meeting. Brandt and Collier shot a respectable 8-for-12 from the field but they are not go-to guys like Nelson. They had limited looks against Arizona’s defense. The key is to keep the dangerous Nelson, an NBA talent, under wraps.

PAC-12 STANDINGS
a-Clinched outright regular-season title
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PAC-12 RPI (ESPN.com)
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NICK JOHNSON CAREER POINTS RANKING
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ARIZONA FRESHMAN REBOUND RECORD
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TOP FIVE ARIZONA REBOUNDING TEAMS
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ARIZONA SCHEDULE/PRODUCTIVITY RESULTS
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ALLSPORTSTUCSON.COM publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.

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