Three things to watch: Arizona Wildcats vs. Gonzaga Bulldogs

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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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#ArizonaWildcats guard Nick Johnson Named One of Four Naismith Finalists http://t.co/6HTBl3R2B6

— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 23, 2014

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Tip: Approximately 6:40 p.m.
Television: TBS (Andrew Catalon/Mike Gminski/Otis Livingston)
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Brian Jeffries/Matt Muehlebach)
National Radio: Sirius 94; XM 193 (Westwood One broadcast)

CAN ARIZONA’S DEFENSE WITHSTAND ANOTHER TOUGH TEST?

Kevin Pangos

Gonzaga shoots 49.8 percent from the field, which ranks sixth nationally while Arizona’s field-goal percentage defense ranks fifth at 37.9 percent. Last week in the Pac-12 tournament championship, the Wildcats were put to the test by an efficient UCLA offense. The Bruins made 18 of 31 field goal attempts in the first half and scored 43 points. Arizona’s defense took control in the second half (limiting UCLA to 25.5 percent shooting) but it was too late to hold back Kyle Anderson, Jordan Adams and Co. Look for Gonzaga’s David Stockton and Kevin Pangos to force the tempo from the start with an attacking style and plenty of looks off on-ball screens. Arizona has the defense to match that threat.

TO THREE OR NOT TO THREE

Kaleb Tarczewski

Gonzaga has taken more than 100 more three-point attempts than Arizona this season (627 to 519). The Bulldogs make 7.1 threes a game compared to only 5.3 for Arizona. The Wildcats scoring is structured around dominance in the lane and second-chance opportunities. Arizona has more than 100 offensive rebounds than Gonzaga. The Wildcats have 435 compared to 332 by Gonzaga. Arizona’s strength around the glass with Aaron Gordon, Kaleb Tarczewski and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson will be critical on clear outs following Gonzaga misses, igniting Arizona’s offense, and for those critical put-backs. Gonzaga center Przemek Karnowski (7’1″ and 296 pounds) will be a tremendous challenge for Tarczewski. An alarming trend: Arizona has been outscored on second-chance points in three straight games, including a 16-11 advantage by Weber State on Friday. The Wildcats have outscored only one opponent (Utah in the Pac-12 tournament) on second-chance opportunities in its last five games after outscoring 24 of its first 30 opponents in that category.

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UNCORKING T.J. McCONNELL

T.J. McConnell

Not only did Arizona junior guard T.J. McConnell go scoreless against Weber State but the Wildcats’ offensive execution was stagnant on many occasions, which caused captain Nick Johnson to speak up on the court about Arizona’s ball movement. No question that Sean Miller and his assistants, namely point-guard mentor Damon Stoudamire, have gotten in McConnell’s ear to direct the offense better. He had four assists and two turnovers against Weber State. In a game in which Arizona scored 68 points, McConnell should have been responsible for than eight of them. On some occasions, Gordon dribbled the ball beyond the three-point line. It will be interesting to see if Gordon become more mid-range to allow McConnell more room to operate.

TOP FIVE ARIZONA REBOUNDING TEAMS
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You tell him I'm not the vebal police “@PKT6425: @GregAnthony50 @awfulannouncing @gregtalbott Gumbel that its ARCHIE Miller not Sean”

— Greg Anthony (@GregAnthony50) March 23, 2014

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NICK JOHNSON CAREER POINTS RANKING
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ARIZONA FRESHMAN REBOUND RECORD
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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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