The stage is set for a thrilling showdown as Arizona gears up to take on Central Florida in the Big XII Tournament quarterfinals. Arizona, in pursuit of its first Big XII Tournament title, faces a Central Florida team fresh off a nail-biting 66-65 overtime victory against Cincinnati.
These two teams have some history. Arizona edged out Central Florida 84-77 in their last meeting on January 17, showcasing their ability to handle pressure.
The Wildcats also claimed victory in their only other encounter last season, winning 88-80 in Tucson. In that game, Central Florida made a late push, trimming an 11-point deficit to six with just 24 seconds left.
However, Jaden Bradley's clutch free throws sealed the deal for Arizona. Bradley was on fire, leading with 23 points, while Brayden Burries and Motiejus Krivas added 18 and 17 points respectively.
Krivas also grabbed 12 rebounds, contributing to a balanced offensive effort with five Wildcats scoring in double figures.
On the other side, Central Florida's point guard, Themus Fulks, was a standout performer against Arizona in January. He dropped 30 points, dished out eight assists, and snagged five rebounds, shooting an impressive 11-18 from the field. Despite fouling out, Fulks' performance was a highlight, especially his perfect six-for-six from the free-throw line.
However, Fulks faced challenges in the recent game against Cincinnati, scoring just four points on two of nine shooting. Even with his struggles, he managed to contribute with three rebounds and seven assists.
Cincinnati's defense was relentless, limiting UCF to 33.8 percent shooting and a mere three of 24 from beyond the arc. UCF's free-throw woes continued, hitting only 13 of 23 attempts.
Looking ahead, Arizona enters the matchup as a 16.5-point favorite according to early FanDuel odds. With Arizona leading the Big XII in scoring at 86.7 points per game and Central Florida not far behind at 82.0 PPG, fans can expect another high-scoring affair.
Catch the action at noon MST on ESPN, with the top-notch team of Dan Shulman, Jay Bilas, and Kris Budden bringing you all the courtside excitement. The winner will secure a spot in the Big XII Tournament semifinals, set for 3:00 PM MST on Friday. It's a game you won't want to miss as these teams battle for a chance at glory.