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. 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

Arizona State will look to return to its winning ways when it faces UMass on Saturday in the Basketball Hall of Fame Classic in Springfield, Mass. The Sun Devils (8-2) had their six-game win streak snapped in an 83-66 loss to then-No. 9 Florida on Dec. 14 in Atlanta. Arizona State struggled against the Gators’ physicality, particularly on the boards, as it was outrebounded 47-27. Rebounding has been an issue for the Sun Devils in their two losses this season. In an 88-80 defeat to then-No. 6 Gonzaga earlier in the year, Arizona State was outrebounded 38-29. Arizona State boasts a balanced offensive attack, with five players averaging double figures in scoring. Leading the way is Joson Sanon with 14.8

Northwestern’s senior guard Brooks Barnhizer looks to extend his impressive streak of four consecutive double-doubles as the Wildcats face off against DePaul on Saturday in Evanston, Illinois. With a strong recent performance and a history of dominance in the rivalry, Northwestern (8-3) is ready to defend its turf against a DePaul team (8-3) eager to bounce back from a tough loss. Brooks Barnhizer’s recent success hasn’t come solely from his scoring ability. While his offensive contributions have been significant, he credits his focus on defense for maintaining consistency during scoring droughts. “Coach [Chris Collins] does a great job reminding us to stay confident, even if the shots aren’t falling,” Barnhizer said. “It’s all about sticking to our identity and playing

“The difference between a Christmas and a Merry Christmas is a win,” Kansas State coach Jerome Tang likes to say. For Kansas State Wildcats and Wichita State Shockers, their final game before the holiday break offers an opportunity to turn recent struggles into a celebration. On Saturday evening, Kansas State travels down Interstate 135 to face Wichita State. Both teams, currently on two-game losing streaks, will be eager to close out this stretch with a victory. The stakes are high as they look to carry momentum into the new year. Neither team enters the matchup in peak form. Wichita State (8-3) is coming off back-to-back losses to DePaul on the road and Missouri-Kansas City (UMKC) at home. Kansas State (6-4)