Washington @ Arizona preview

Last Meeting ( Mar 7, 2020 ) Washington 69, Arizona 63

Arizona started the season 9-0 and had the look of a team that could go far in the NCAA Tournament, but inconsistent play has resulted in an 11-11 record since. The fifth-seeded Wildcats try to erase a 1-4 regular-season finish and quickly exact revenge from No. 12 seed Washington on Wednesday in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas.

“I’m very disappointed,” Arizona coach Sean Miller told the media after Saturday's 69-63 loss to the Huskies cost his team a first-round bye. “I’m the coach, we weren’t ready.'' The Wildcats had a tough closing schedule with losses to No. 13 Oregon, at USC and at UCLA, and could be looking at a 10 seed come NCAA Tournament time unless they make a run this week. Washington won its first two conference road games of the season last weekend in Arizona and has won three of four since a nine-game losing streak dropped it into last place. “You get a chance at the end of the day,” Huskies coach Mike Hopkins told reporters. “It’s what makes March Madness what it is. Anything can happen. We just got to go to Vegas and play against a great program like this and hopefully we can come back and execute the game plan.”

TIME: 5:30 p.m. ET. TV: Pac-12 Network

ABOUT WASHINGTON (15-16): Isaiah Stewart on Monday was named to the Pac-12 first team and was an all-freshmen selection as the 6-9 forward paced the team with 16.6 points and 8.7 rebounds per game this season. Jaden McDaniels (13.1 points, 5.8 rebounds) is the Pac-12 Freshman of the Week after the 6-9 forward averaged 18 points, six rebounds, 2.5 blocks and a steal in last weekend's state of Arizona sweep. Sophomore guard Jamal Bey went 16-for-17 from the free-throw line and totaled 23 points in the Grand Canyon State to raise his season average to 5.8.

ABOUT ARIZONA (20-11): Zeke Nnaji was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year after leading the conference with 14 double-doubles and pacing the club in scoring (16.3 points) and rebounding (8.6). Nico Mannion, a 6-3 guard from Italy, was a second-team and all-freshmen team selection after averaging 14 points and 5.4 assists, and is projected to be an NBA lottery pick this summer. Josh Green, a 6-6 freshman guard, scored a total of 20 points in two games since missing two with a back injury, and contributes 11.7 points and 4.6 rebounds per contest.

BUZZER BEATERS

1. The winner meets fourth-seeded USC in Thursday's quarterfinals.

2. Washington was sixth nationally entering Tuesday in field-goal percentage defense at 38.1 and has allowed only one opponent to shoot 50 percent or better from the field this season.

3. Mannion, whose 5.4 assists were second among freshmen in the nation, has 167 assists and needs 12 to pass Mike Bibby (1996-97) for second all-time among freshmen in school history. Russell Brown holds the record with 197.

PREDICTION: Arizona 69, Washington 63