Las Vegas will host a basketball doubleheader Friday with Arizona and Wichita State tipping things off in a battle of teams playing lock-down defense. UNLV will meet Michigan in the second game at T-Mobile Arena.
Arizona ranks ninth in the nation in points scored on a per-possession basis while scoring 94 ppg and has been even more efficient on defense, ranking third in points allowed on a per-possession basis while surrendering an average of 49 ppg.
Wichita State enters undefeated just like Arizona, but it has been a bumpier ride. The Shockers have allowed 58 points or fewer in each of their first three games but have scored 65 or fewer in all three, with last year’s top scorer Tyson Etienne dealing with an illness and missing their most recent game against Tarleton State.
The Wildcats also rank 21st in the nation in rebound rate, getting on offensive rebound on 38 percent of their missed shots while also getting 7.7 blocked shots per game on defense.
Though Etienne is expected to be back for Wichita State, first-year Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has a defense that is holding opponents to shooting 27.6 percent from the floor, the best mark in the country.
Look for the Wildcats to overwhelm the Shockers on Friday.
The play: Arizona, -7.5