No. 3 Arizona MBB to host UT Arlington

November 19, 2023

The Arizona men’s basketball bench celebrate after Pelle Larsson makes a 3-pointer against Southern University in McKale Center on Monday, Nov. 13. The Wildcats have won the first three games of the season.

The No. 3 Arizona men’s basketball team will be playing against the University of Texas at Arlington on Sunday, Nov. 19, at 4:00 p.m. in McKale Center. Arizona continues its weekend of games after coming off a home win against Belmont University on Friday, Nov. 17, where the Wildcats won 100-68. This is the first time UT Arlington and Arizona will ever be meeting as the Wildcats try to collect their fifth straight win to open the season.

UT Arlington players to watch

The Mavericks hold a 2-1 record as they are coming off an 82-80 loss against the University of New Mexico on their Thursday, Nov. 16, meeting in Albuquerque, New Mexico. They are led by first-year head coach KT Turner. With their roster being mainly built up of guards, DaJuan Gordon is one to keep an eye out for. Gordon transferred in from New Mexico State University and currently averages 17 points per game and posted a career-high 14 rebounds in a pair of games against Oral Roberts University and the New Mexico Lobos. Along with Gordon, senior Shemar Wilson also has a chance to make an impact. The 6-foot-9 forward is the team’s second leading scorer who averages 15.3 points per game and had a season-high 29 points against New Mexico. Additionally, in the 2022-23 season, Wilson shot 54.9% from the floor. Guard Kade Douglas isn’t to be left out, as the freshman averages 10.5 points per game and made five 3-pointers in a single game this season against the University of Texas at Tyler on Saturday, Nov. 11.

Wildcats to watch

The Wildcats have opened up the season strong, holding a 4-0 record and being the only team in the country to have five of their players score in double digits within the first four games this season. Guard Caleb Love will be coming off a 20-point game against Belmont along with center Motiejus Krivas who also scored 20 points in the home victory. Krivas – who stands at 7-foot-2 – also had a career-high nine rebounds in the game against Belmont as he continues to be comfortable while taking care of the ball for Arizona. Other players scored in double figures against the Bruins including guard Kylan Boswell, who finished as the team’s third-leading scorer in the game with 14 points and forward Keshad Johnson. Johnson leads in scoring this season, averaging 14 points per game for the Wildcats, and finished with 11 points in the game. As the Wildcats seek their fifth win in order to reach a 5-0 record and stay clean, they will have to beat the Mavericks in order to do so this coming Sunday.