The University of Arizona men’s basketball team returns home to compete against Abilene Christian University on Tuesday, Dec. 16, at 7 p.m. in McKale Center. This will be the first meeting between the two teams in program history.
Arizona has earned its second consecutive week in the No. 1 slot in AP Polls after taking down the University of Alabama. Through matchups played since Nov. 14, Arizona is the only team in the country with five wins over Top 25 opponents this season.
Abilene Christian players to watch
Brette Tanner leads the program in his fifth season as head coach. Before being welcomed into his current position, he served as ACU’s associate head coach under Joe Golding for eight seasons. This year, Tanner has earned the team a 7-3 record, keeping their home games a clean slate at 5-0.
Bradyn Hubbard, a senior forward, dominates ACU’s stat line, averaging 16.4 points per game on 44.9% shooting in field goal range. He also falls second in line for rebounds with 5.3 per match. Hubbard is dangerous from the free-throw line, able to draw fouls and complete on 38-of-49 free-throw attempts.
Hubbard is a key player for Abilene Christian, being in his second season with the program. Against the University of Nebraska, Omaha, Hubbard put up a season-high of 26 points, making 11-of-12 free throws.
Just behind Hubbard is junior guard Yaniel Rivera. This season, his third with the team, he averages 9.8 points per game with a season high of 19 points against Stephen F. Austin State University earlier this season. Rivera serves as ACU’s strongest outside shooter this season, completing 18-of-46 3-point attempts.
Additionally, he’s contributed 22 assists, 14 steals and two blocks, an all-around asset for Abilene Christian this season.
Arizona players to watch
Tommy Lloyd enters his fifth season as head coach for Arizona, having an eye for talent entering this season as the Wildcats look to extend their current 9-0 streak. Lloyd has gradually moved his team up the ranks, starting with a massive win over the reigning national champions, the University of Florida.
Brayden Burries, a freshman guard, had a breakout game in Arizona’s last matchup over Alabama. He led the match with 28 points, shooting 5-for-10 from beyond the arc and grabbing seven rebounds. Despite his youth, Burries has proven himself more than capable of driving to the hoop and completing impressive shots for Arizona.
On average, he earns 13.1 points per game, shooting 46.2% from field goal range and 35% from 3-point range. Defensively, he’s earned 25 rebounds this season with an additional five on offensive boards.
A huge impact on the team this year is senior guard Jaden Bradley, both offensively and defensively. In his senior year as point guard, Bradley fell second on the stat line in points, bringing home an average of 14.3 per game. Notably, he’s had 16 steals this season, earning the team several second-looks at the basket.
Bradley has been a key player in building chemistry for Arizona this season as well, welcoming several new players from across the world. He’s contributed 37 assists, often able to find Arizona’s forwards in the paint for 3-point plays. He’s grown respectively more confident from the perimeter as well, shooting 57.1% at the 3-point mark.
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