Central Michigan Chippewas vs. Arizona Wildcats Pick & Prediction DECEMBER 21st 2024
Preview and Prediction
Arizona will face Central Michigan in their final nonconference game of the season on Saturday, with a win being crucial for them to reach a .500 record. Both teams currently hold a 5-5 record, making this a pivotal game for both sides.
The Wildcats are coming off a dominant 96-64 victory over Samford, bouncing back from a loss to then-No. 24 UCLA where they blew a 13-point lead in the second half. This has been Arizona's worst start to a season since 2009-10, the first season under former coach Sean Miller.
Star guard Caleb Love, who was named to the preseason All-America team, had a strong performance against Samford with 23 points, 5 rebounds, and 4 assists. However, in the loss to UCLA, he only managed 7 points on 3-of-10 shooting.
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Coach Tommy Lloyd has shown his support for Love, stating that he will continue to stand by him and hold him accountable. He also made the decision to take reserve post player Emmanuel Stephen out of his redshirt status and play him against Samford, although he only played for two minutes and was called for two fouls.
On the other side, Central Michigan is dealing with an injury to one of their top players, Lithuanian forward Ugnius Jarusevicius. This has forced them to play with only seven players in their most recent game, a 83-59 loss to Mississippi State.
Despite their struggles, Central Michigan's Jakobi Heady had a strong performance with 18 points and 6 rebounds. Coach Tony Barbee emphasized the importance of being a true competitor and getting up for any game, regardless of the opponent.
Both teams will be facing challenges with injuries and roster limitations, making this game even more crucial for their records and confidence moving forward.