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STEVE RIVERA’S BREAKDOWN

Citizen Staff Writer
THE PRESS

STEVE RIVERA

srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

Arizona vs. Washington: Steve Rivera’s breakdown of the game • Wildcat notes • Players to watch

BACKCOURT

Advantage: Washington

UA point guard Nic Wise and possible starter Zane Johnson will have their work cut out for them against Washington’s backcourt, possibly the best in the Pac-10 Conference. If UA can keep Isaiah Thomas’ shooting percentage down and point guard Justin Dentmon from penetrating to the basket, the Wildcats will have a chance. But shots need to be hit on the Cats’ end, too.

FRONTCOURT

Advantage: Arizona

Washington’s Jon Brockman and Matthew Bryan-Amaning are formidable. Brockman is averaging 15.3 points, and Bryan-Amaning has been consistent (8.4 ppg, 5.4 rpg). UA’s Jordan Hill will have to have another double-double. And UA’s Chase Budinger, fired up after being stepped on by a Houston player last week, needs to keep playing with a chip on his shoulder.

DEFENSE

Advantage: Even

It’s not clear if Arizona’s defense was good or Houston just missed on Saturday. Against Washington, the Wildcats’ defense may not even be noticed because it will be a high-flying, up-tempo game, in which the winner will score at least 80 points.

OUTCOME

Before the season started, I thought UA could pull this one out. I’m wavering now, but I’ll pick UA to upset the league-leading Huskies because the game is being played in Tucson. The tempo will fit the Cats, and they have plenty to play for. So does Washington, but Arizona is in “must-win” mode the rest of the way.

Prediction: UA by 4

UA-WASHINGTON SERIES AT A GLANCE

All-time meetings: UA leads 41-22

Pac-10 meetings: UA leads 40-22

Longest UA win streak: 10 (1986-90)

Longest UW win streak: 6 (1982-84)

Current series streak: Washington, 1

Last season: UA 84, Washington 69 (Jan. 26 in Tucson); Washington 75, UA 66 (Feb. 2 in Seattle)

First meeting: UA 77, Washington 63 (1964 in Los Angeles)

KEY BATTLE

Brockman vs. Hill in the post

Washington’s Jon Brockman may be one of the more unappreciated players in the Pac-10 Conference.

He is neither flashy nor flamboyant. He is, however, consistent and strong.

Every team should wish to have a player like Brockman, a 6-foot-7 senior forward. He’s averaging 15.3 points and 10.7 rebounds.

“Jon Brockman is what’s right with college sports,” said UA interim coach Russ Pennell, who made a recruiting call to Brockman many years ago while he was an assistant at Arizona State. “Just to watch him the last couple of years . . . he’s a warrior.

“He plays like he’s trying to make the team every day. It’s hard to find guys like that, guys who play like their job is on the line. He’s relentless.”

Pennell joked that it feels like Brockman has been around nine years because it’s rare to see star players stay through their senior season.

“I wish he were here nine years,” UW coach Lorenzo Romar said. “That would be great. . . . He’s probably the lowest maintenance player that I’ve ever been around.”

Brockman will be high maintenance for UA’s Jordan Hill, a 6-10 player who Romar feels is one of the better big men in the country.

“Jordan knows this is another good test,” Pennell said of facing Brockman. “Jordan doesn’t say a lot about those things. (But) he’s a very smart kid and he knows who does what. I’m sure Brockman is in his sights.”

All Hill would say is, “I’m just going to try to be the best big man out there.”

UP NEXT

• Who: Washington (15-4, 6-1) at UA (12-8, 2-5)

• When: Thursday, 6:30 p.m.

• TV: Fox Sports Network Arizona

• Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5. FM

• Who: Washington State (11-8, 3-4) at UA (12-8, 2-5)

• When: Saturday, 11 a.m.

• TV: CBS

• Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5. FM

How teams match up

Arizona UW

69.8 Points per game 78.9

47.0 Field goal % 46.2

64.9 Points allowed per game 66.8

41.5 Foes’ field goal % 41.5

Quotable

‘We could come back in two weeks and be 6-5.’

LORENZO ROMAR,

Huskies coach, on being in first place

PAC-10 SCHEDULE

Thursday’s games

Washington at Arizona, 6:30 p.m.; Washington State at Arizona State, 7 p.m.; California at UCLA, 8:30 p.m. Stanford at USC, 8:30 p.m.

Saturday’s games

Washington State at Arizona, 11 a.m.; Stanford at UCLA, 1:30 p.m.; Washington at Arizona State, 3:30 p.m.; Oregon at Oregon State, 5:30 p.m.; California at USC, 9:30 p.m.

PAC-10 LEADERS

Scoring

1. James Harden, ASU 22.0

3. Jordan Hill, UA 18.4

Rebounding

1. Jordan Hill, UA 11.9

2. Jon Brockman, Washington 10.7

Assists

1. Darren Collison, UCLA 5.4

2. Nic Wise, UA 4.6

Blocks

1. Taj Gibson, USC 3.0

2. Jordan Hill, UA 2.3

PAC-10 STANDINGS

Conf. All

School W L W L

Washington 6 1 15 4

Arizona State 5 2 16 3

California 5 2 16 4

UCLA 5 2 15 4

USC 4 3 13 6

Stanford 3 4 13 4

Washington State 3 4 11 8

Oregon State 3 5 9 10

ARIZONA 2 5 12 8

Oregon 0 8 6 14

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