NCAAB Game Preview - Nebraska-Omaha at Arizona
Wed Dec 11, 2019 8:00 PM EST

Mich
62
Ill
71
F
NebOm
49
Ariz
99
F
(N/A)
28
NCC
109
F
NGrn
65
Furm
90
F
Dart
77
Maine
44
F
Corn
58
Colg
66
F
Army
60
(N/A)
69
F
UMassL
72
NJIT
66
F
(N/A)
60
VMI
78
F
FaDi
70
StPet
86
F
UNCA
85
SCSt
90
F(OT)
Wisc
65
Rut
72
F
Yale
83
UMass
80
F(OT)
(N/A)
50
Marsh
86
F
(N/A)
56
Belm
105
F
CarBi
44
Nich
118
F
Bois
56
Tuls
69
F
Winth
60
TCU
70
F
ArkSt
53
MOSt
75
F
S NO
56
Lamar
73
F
ASU
41
KSU
86
F
TexAr
63
Hou
71
F
Troy
60
JSU
55
F
Chat
58
VaTec
63
F
USD
66
CS-Ful
54
F
NDSU
71
CSNor
62
F
Fres
63
Cal
69
F
PVAM
79
AzSt
88
F
No. 15 Arizona looks for rebound game vs. Omaha
Tue Dec 10, 2019 3:03 PM

No. 15 Arizona, coming off its first loss of the season, will look to build on a positive defensive performance when it hosts Omaha on Wednesday night in Tucson, Ariz.

The Wildcats (9-1) fell 63-58 at then-No. 18 Baylor on Saturday, when they rallied from an 18-point first-half deficit in their first true road game of the season against their most talented opponent, by far. Arizona coach Sean Miller, who has challenged his team to play better defense, saw the Bears make only 6 of 27 shots after halftime.

"Our defense was as good as it's been," Miller told reporters. "Our defense was certainly good enough, and we also forced 16 turnovers. They are a team that doesn't turn the ball over and I think we made some real strides in that area."

Arizona will continue to try to fine-tune its defense against the Mavericks (5-6) before getting its second big test of the nonconference season on Saturday against visiting sixth-ranked Gonzaga.

Omaha has lost three consecutive games, all away from home, starting with a loss at Saint Mary's on Dec. 1, followed by setbacks against Arkansas State on Dec. 3 and Northern Arizona on Sunday.

Matt Pile is averaging a double-double with 11.5 points and 10.5 rebounds. Guard KJ Robinson is coming off the bench to average 11.6 points, second on the team behind fellow guard JT Gibson, who is at 13.9 points per game while making 39.1 percent of his 3-point attempts (25 of 64).

Zach Thornhill is coming off a 14-point performance and has started every game this year after his 2018-19 season was cut short due to a hip injury.

"I really conditioned myself in the offseason coming off the injury," Thornhill told the Omaha World-Herald. "It took a little time, but it's good."

Other than the 6-foot-8 Pile, Omaha doesn't have a lot of height or rebounding muscle, which should allow Arizona to establish its post game, led by 6-11 freshman Zeke Nnaji, who had only six shots with four turnovers against Baylor.

He is averaging team-highs with 16.6 points and 6.7 rebounds per game, shooting 71.8 percent from the field.

Arizona shot only 26.9 percent against the Bears, including just 2 of 18 from 3-point range. The Wildcats still rank 10th nationally in field-goal percentage at 50.5, but Miller wants to see a bit more patience.

"We had a number of guys that didn't necessarily play well on offense," Miller said. "Sometimes you think you get good looks, and maybe you didn't, but we clearly have to get better.

"When we're in transition and the ball is going in, you know that's when we're at our best. We want to play with tempo. When you play against good teams on the road, as the college basketball season grows, the early shots aren't going to be as plentiful, nor are they going to be as open many times. When you take quick, ill-advised shots, you almost put that in a category of a turnover."

Point guard Nico Mannion, who missed practice before last week's game because of a back problem, is averaging 15.3 points. Fellow freshman Josh Green (12.5) will be 100 percent after dealing with strep throat last week and scoring eight points against Baylor. Both practiced in full Monday, Miller said Tuesday.

Backup post player Stone Gettings will miss his third consecutive game while dealing with concussion symptoms and a facial fracture, Miller said.

--Field Level Media

Team Record Comparison

Standings GB W-L Aw/Hm Stk L10
Nebraska-Omaha  
Arizona  

Hot Players (Last 10 team games)

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