Arizona Wildcats vs Central Michigan Chippewas Picks and Predictions December 21st 2024

Arizona, Central Michigan Clash with .500 Records on the Line

Arizona and Central Michigan both enter Saturday’s matchup in Tucson with identical 5-5 records, each aiming to climb above the .500 mark as they wrap up their nonconference schedules.

Wildcats Seek Consistency

Arizona rebounded from a tough loss to then-No. 24 UCLA last week with a commanding 96-64 home victory over Samford on Wednesday. Despite a rocky start to the season, which marks the Wildcats’ worst 10-game opening since Sean Miller’s first year in 2009-10, head coach Tommy Lloyd remains optimistic about his team’s potential.

Preseason All-American Caleb Love led the way against Samford, scoring 23 points on 7-of-14 shooting while adding five rebounds and four assists. Love’s performance came after a disappointing seven-point outing on 3-of-10 shooting in the loss to UCLA.
“Caleb’s a good player, and I’m gonna hang with him,” Lloyd said. “That’s my job. I love my players, and we have real talks. We’re going to keep pushing forward.”

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Arizona is dealing with the absence of starting center Motiejus Krivas, who is out indefinitely with a foot injury. In response, Lloyd pulled reserve Emmanuel Stephen out of his redshirt status. Stephen played two minutes against Samford, scoring his lone field-goal attempt but also committing two fouls.

Chippewas Face Depth Challenges

Central Michigan heads into Saturday’s game on the heels of an 83-59 loss to Mississippi State. The Chippewas, who were limited to just seven players due to injuries, struggled to keep pace with the Bulldogs.

Lithuanian forward Ugnius Jarusevicius, one of Central Michigan’s key contributors, remains sidelined with an undisclosed injury. In his absence, Jakobi Heady stepped up with a season-high 18 points and six rebounds against Mississippi State.

Head coach Tony Barbee emphasized the importance of maintaining competitive intensity regardless of the opponent.

“For our identity, for what we want to become, it doesn’t matter if we play the pickup team from the Y or (Power 4 opponents),” Barbee said. “If you’re a true competitor, you get up for any game no matter what.”

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Keys to the Game

1. Arizona’s Frontcourt Adjustments: With Krivas sidelined, the Wildcats will need effective minutes from their remaining big men, including Stephen, to control the paint and limit Central Michigan’s scoring opportunities.
2. Consistency from Caleb Love: Love’s ability to maintain a high level of play will be crucial for Arizona as it seeks to avoid the offensive lulls that have plagued them in losses.
3. Depth and Stamina for Central Michigan: With a shortened bench, the Chippewas will need another big game from Heady and strong performances from their remaining rotation to stay competitive.

What to Watch

Arizona will look to capitalize on its home-court advantage and the momentum from its recent win, while Central Michigan seeks to bounce back despite its depth issues. Both teams aim to finish their nonconference slates on a high note before diving into league play.