Arizona’s early-season resume has already taken a hit, but Friday night brings a chance to steady things against a dangerous Auburn team that hasn’t been tested by a power conference opponent yet.
The Wildcats opened with a loss to UCLA, then got back on track with wins over Cal Poly and Northern Arizona. Now they draw a 2-0 Auburn squad that has handled SE Louisiana and Appalachian State and is stepping up in class for the first time.
The biggest reason Arizona should feel good about this matchup is Ivan Kharchenkov. He’s been the engine for the Wildcats so far, leading the team in points per game at 24.7, rebounds at 9.0, and steals at 2.0. His blend of size and athleticism gives opposing defenses real problems, and Auburn will have to figure out how to slow him down if it wants a shot at the upset.
Arizona does have some concerns in the back court, and that part of the roster hasn’t looked especially sharp this season. Even so, Kharchenkov and Matiejus Krivas give the Wildcats enough firepower to handle this opponent.
Auburn has been winning, but the underlying numbers haven’t exactly screamed dominance. Despite facing teams well below its level, the Tigers are still outside the top 100 in college basketball in effective field goal percentage. They also turned it over 16 times against SE Louisiana in their opener.
That’s enough for me to expect Arizona to be the better side here. The Wildcats should be a larger favorite, and I’m laying the points with Arizona.
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Auburn Faces An Early Proving Ground Against Arizona
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For Auburn, it is another chance to reinforce the start it has built. For Arizona, it is an opportunity to show the loss to UCLA was only a brief stumble and that the group can handle a high-end opponent on the road to a stronger resume. The article points to key players and a few swing factors that could decide whether Arizona can rise to the challenge, which makes this one worth watching well beyond the usual early-season window. [Read more 🡒]