NFL Tickets
The Arizona Wildcats look really good. How good? How about three players in double-figures against the Ohio State Buckeyes, good? This will be a problem for the Xavier Musketeers. Stop T.J. McConnell, and then there is still Gabe York and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson to worry about. If you’re not really into worrying, then you should probably forget about Stanley Johnson and Brandon Ashley as well, since these two Wildcats average 14.3 and 12.4 points per game, respectively.
While Arizona has a fully-stocked weapons cabinet, Xavier has Jalen Reynolds in the drawer. March Madness is all about heroes, and one shining player can take you all the way to one shining moment. Jalen Reynolds isn’t anything like Shabazz Napier, but has shown the potential to break down teams from the inside. A 21-point, 6-rebound effort against the Georgia State Panthers would prove transcendent if duplicated against the Wildcats
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What To Watch For
Xavier desperately needs Reynolds to play out of this world again. Arizona is strong and athletic down low, and Reynolds will have to equalize. Both teams shoot at similar percentages, with Xavier coming out ahead from the line (72.3 percent vs. 70.5 percent). Xavier will need to sink an even larger share of free throws to keep the ‘Cats within upset range.
Prediction
It takes an army to beat Arizona, and Xavier just doesn’t have the troops. I think five days will do a lot to cool Reynolds, Myles Davis and the Musketeers, and next Thursday could take a different feel from this weekend. Arizona is built to run deep, and in the Sweet 16 the Wildcats will run over Xavier.
Arizona 82, Xavier 70
Jerry Landry is a writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow Jerry on Twitter at @Jerry2Landry, “Like” him on Facebook or add him on Google.
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