The Arizona Wildcats were tarred by the scandal pertaining to an FBI investigation into wayward recruiting practices which ran afoul of NCAA amateurism rules and, by extension, cut against the federal guidelines which encompass collegiate athletics as agreed upon by NCAA member institutions. The Wildcats lost an assistant coach and recruiter in the process, but now they must move forward with their season. They should get a test in The Bahamas from an ACC team with a new head coach and a new outlook.
Details
Date & Time: Wednesday, November 22, 7:00 PM ET
Location: Imperial Arena — Nassau, The Bahamas
Broadcast: ESPN3
Reasons To Bet On The Arizona Wildcats
The Wildcats have better players. Allonzo Trier is averaging 30 points per game. He is shooting 70 percent from the field and is scoring from many places on the floor. North Carolina State had a top-10 lottery pick in last summer’s NBA Draft, Dennis Smith, but there is no one similarly talented on this N.C. State roster. The Wolfpack will have to contain the supporting cast around Trier, because if it can’t, it very likely will not be able to keep up with Arizona in a shootout. The Wildcats have too much skill, with Parker Jackson-Cartwright dishing out over six assists per game, DeAndre Ayton averaging just under 10 rebounds per game, and Dusan Ristic providing depth and muscle as a big man who will help Ayton, a freshman, defend the paint for Arizona this season. Arizona has inside-outside balance and the defensive commitment under head coach Sean Miller which should be able to get important stops. It is a case of Arizona having more resources and more different ways to win a game. It could be Trier from the perimeter, it could be Ayton inside, it could be Jackson-Cartwright’s dribble penetration, or a combination of all of the above plus the Wildcats’ team defense.
North Carolina State could be very good this season, but under first-year head coach Kevin Keatts, it might take some time for the Wolfpack to get fully organized. It is more likely than not that they will be exposed by an elite team on a neutral court.
Reasons To Bet On The North Carolina State Wolfpack
The fact that N.C. State has a new head coach might not be a drawback in this game. North Carolina State was notorious for playing very undisciplined and inconsistent basketball under former coach Mark Gottfried. The Wolfpack went through severe shifts and abrupt mood swings. They could not get into a rhythm very often, and when they did, they did not stay in rhythm very long. Keatts could bring an entirely new attitude and a lot more focus to this group of players. Arizona has played three home games so far against very inferior opponents. This first neutral-court game of the season could take on a very different feel. North Carolina State’s Torin Dorn is shooting 64 percent from the field and averaging 18.5 points and seven rebounds. If Arizona doesn’t find an answer for him, the Wolfpack have a real shot.
Outlook
We’ve seen a little bit of movement on this betting line as the Wildcats find themselves as a big favorite. They opened at -13.5, which is a pretty sizable line considering this is a neutral site affair. The Wildcats moved up as high as -14 but now it has come back down to -12.5. For what it’s worth, the moneyline opened at -1400 and now sits at -1000. As far as the total goes, we’ve seen a move in one clear direction. The game opened up with an over-under of 158 but it has come all the way down to 151.5. It’s fairly clear bettors are expecting a lower scoring game than the odds makers.
Arizona’s size will help the Wildcats to control the boards. Unless N.C. State can shoot for a very high percentage or unless Arizona gives away a large number of possessions with turnovers, Arizona will probably get more offensive rebounds and more loose balls, which usually matter in early-season games.
Prediction: Wildcats
The 2018 March Madness futures are out. There has been plenty of news to keep up with in the offseason but keep an eye on the betting lines as they move around at Diamond Sportsbook! Get the latest college basketball betting lines right here.
