Arizona Wildcats vs Purdue Boilermakers Match Preview – Players to Watch, Head to Head, and Prediction

Going with an undefeated 8-0 record, the Arizona Wildcats will clash with the Purdue Boilermakers who have a 9-1 tally at the Gainbridge Fieldhouse.

Both the teams have put on quite a stellar show and hence this game will decide who has the upper hand in the college basketball circuit.

Players to Watch

The Wildcats have played as a unit together. Their guards Caleb Love and Kylan Boswell have been well complemented by their center Oumar Ballo. While Love has an exceptional 14.1 points per game, Boswell is not far behind with 12.4 points per contest. Ballo has also taken complete advantage of his height with 12.5 points per match.

Coming to their defensive abilities, the team has again more or less contributed as a unit. While their forward Keshad Johnson has nabbed 6.9 rebounds per match, Ballo has grabbed 6.3 rebounds per game. If the Wildcats continue to stick together as a team then there is no stopping them. And their waters will be tested against the Purdue who have a more individualistic approach.

For the Purdue Boilermakers, their center Zach Edey has been the anchor and the team has played around him. The 7-feet-4-inch baller has smoked an exceptional 24.8 points per game and also tops the list in terms of rebounds average and blocks average for the Boilermakers. Edey averages a double-double with 10.8 rebounds per contest and 2.6 blocks per match.

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His performance during the Maui Invitational this year was unparalleled as he single-handedly pulled his team to win the title. Apart from that, the Toronto-born dropped a season-high 35 points against the Alabama in his last game. Going by his gameplay, he certainly looks unstoppable this season.

Head to Head

The two teams have locked horns 12 times with the Purdue getting the better of their rivals 7 times. Whereas the Arizona have only ended on the winning side 5 times. The last two meetings between the two which took place in 2017 and 2007 have ended in the Purdue’s favor.  The Wildcats won their last game against their rivals in December, 2001 when they outfoxed the Purdue by a 79-66 margin. Going by the record wouldn’t be one of the major points this season since both the teams have been afresh this year and last played against each other in 2017.

Prediction

The Wildcats will have to control Edey. This will also be a test for the big man to show his resilience. So far he has continued for the Boilermakers but if the Wildcats find even a single open space in the wall, then they will make the better of it anyhow. The game should swing in the Wildcats’ favor since they have gelled together better as a unit and Edey will at least fail once in his exploits.

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Whatever the result, the clash of the titans is going to be one of the most anticipated matches in the college basketball circuit this season.