Arizona, Arizona State men's and women's basketball heading toward first showdown
It's been a while since the Arizona State and University of Arizona men have played for more than just bragging rights. The Wildcats have had the upper hand while the Sun Devils have been mired near the bottom of the Pac-12 standings. But when the two will square off at noon on Saturday at Desert Financial Arena, more will be at stake than in years past.
Arizona (12-1, 1-1) comes in with a lofty No. 5 national ranking, the lone loss coming to Utah 81-66 on Dec. 1. The Wildcats are the second-highest scoring team in the country and boast a lineup in which all five starters are averaging double figures, led by junior forward Azuolas Tubelis (20.1 ppg, 8.7 rpg) and junior center Oumar Ballo 17.8 ppg, 9.1 pg). The two top the Pac-12 individually in both scoring and rebounding, with Ballo also leading it in field goal percentage (74.2).
ASU (11-2, 2-0) had won nine straight games before dropping its last non-conference game at San Francisco last Wednesday. ASU, which is just three victories shy of its win total last season with the bulk of conference play yet to go, has been reliant on its defense, which ranks 11th nationally in field goal percentage defense (36.71).
Sophomore guard D.J. Horne (12.5 ppg), the only athlete in the starting lineup that is not a newcomer, is the team's leading scorer, just a tad ahead of Nevada transfer Desmond Cambridge (12.4 ppg), who has had a knack of hitting big shots. He missed the last game with a non-covid illness but is expected back.
Arizona won both meetings between the teams last year 67-56 in Tucson and 91-79 in Tempe.
ASU, Arizona women to battle Thursday
The ASU and Arizona women played two competitive games a year ago, splitting those. The rivalry takes center stage on Thursday at McKale Center when the teams square off in a 6 p.m. showdown to be televised by the Pac-12 Network.
It will be an introduction to the rivalry for new ASU women's basketball coach Natasha Adair, who came to Tempe after five years at Delaware.
It will be the first conference game for ASU (7-4), which snapped a three-game losing streak with an 82-67 win over Prairie View A&M on Dec. 17. The Sun Devils are led by Tyi Skinner (20.6 ppg), the second-leading scorer in the Pac-12 who followed her coach from Delaware.
The most notable win thus far for the No. 18 Wildcats (10-1, 1-0) was a 75-54 victory over then No. 18-Baylor. The Wildcats are led by Shaina Pellington 13.7 ppg), Jade Loville (12.8 ppg) and Cate Reese (12 ppg, 7.3 rpg). It will be the first time playing against her former team for Loville, ASU's leading scorer a year ago.
Both teams will have another game later this week with Arizona traveling to Cal for an 8 p.m. game on Saturday and ASU squaring off with No. 2 Stanford in a 7 p.m. showdown at Maples Pavilion.
Related: Arizona State women's basketball guard Tyi Skinner brings fearlessness to team
Grand Canyon opens WAC play
The Grand Canyon men return from a one-week break when they square off against California Baptist at 6 p.m. Thursday at GCU Arena. It will be the WAC opener for the Lopes (9-4).
GCU was a 68-66 winner over Idaho State the last time it played with Ray Harrison tallying 18 points and six assists and Gabe McGlothan adding 14 with 11 reboundsHarrison (13.7 ppg) leads the team in scoring with Jovan Blacksher Jr. (11.3 ppg) second.
Blacksher, a junior guard, was the coaches' choice as WAC preseason Player of the Year after averaging 15.6 points and 4 assists last season as a sophomore. GCU was also the pick to finish first in the conference while its first WAC opponent was selected fifth of the 13 teams.
Meanwhile, the GCU women's team will open WAC play with a 2 p.m. game Thursday at Utah Valley. GCU (8-3). The Lopes rely on balance with six players averaging between 8.7 and 10.5 points.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: Arizona, Arizona State men's basketball heading toward first showdown
