TUCSON, Ariz. - The final week of the regular season is here and the Arizona Wildcats will host the Washington State Cougars on Thursday night in the McKale Center. The Wildcats are still in contention for a first round bye at the Pac-12 Tournament in Las Vegas next week, but likely need to win both games this week to remain in contention. 

GAME INFORMATION
Washington State at Arizona
Thursday, March 5, 2020
8:30 p.m. (MST) at McKale Center
TV: FS1 (Aaron Goldsmith & Steve Lavin)
Radio: Arizona IMG Radio Network (Brian Jeffries & Ryan Hansen)

OFF THE TOP
Arizona enters the final week of Pac-12 play as part of a 4-team logjam competing for the No. 4 seed at the Pac-12 Tournament, joining Stanford, USC and Colorado with seven conference losses.

Arizona is 106-11 (.906) in the last 117 games they have played in the McKale Center.  

Josh Green (back sprain) did not play in either game in Los Angeles last weekend. Max Hazzard (personal) did not play on Thursday at USC but did return against UCLA.  Ira Lee started against USC in place of Green.

After collecting 10 offensive rebounds at UCLA on Saturday, the Wildcats have registered 10+ offensive rebounds in 14 of 16 Pac-12 games. Arizona leads the Pac-12 in offensive rebounding in conference play (11.56/gm) and is second in defensive rebounding (26.06).

A win tonight would give head coach Sean Miller a 20-win season for the 13th time in 16 years as a head coach.

Arizona ranks 10th In the latest NET ranking (best in Pac-12) and a strength of schedule that ranks FIFTH. 

In conference play, Arizona ranks third in scoring (70.1) and second in fewest points allowed per game (65.0)

For the season, Arizona is the only Pac-12 team that ranks in the top three in scoring offense and defense.

The 1.31-to-1 assist/turnover ratio is 22nd in the country and currently ranks as the best ratio for an Arizona team since 2013-14 (1.48). UA leads the Pac-12 in fewest turnovers/game (11.6), and it would be the first time in 11 seasons under Sean Miller that the Wildcats led the conference in that category.

Zeke Nnaji is coming off a 16-point, five rebound effort at UCLA on Saturday, the 26th time in 29 games he has scored in double figures. Nnaji leads the Pac-12 with 13 double-doubles, with his most recent coming at USC last Thursday. The 13 double-doubles ranks second all-time at Arizona among freshmen (Ayton - 24) and is third among all freshmen nationally this season. A 4-time Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honoree, Nnaji leads the Pac-12 in rebounding in conference play (9.2) and ranks seventh in scoring (16.00). Nnaji is also one of 10 finalists for the Karl Malone Award, handed out to the nation's top power forward.

Nico Mannion's 155 assists are the fourth-most by a freshman at Arizona and ranks second nationally among freshmen this season. He needs seven assists to pass Jason Gardner to move into third place on the Arizona freshman assist list. His 5.3 assists per game rank second in the Pac-12 and his 13.8 points per game are good for 16th in the conference. 

As a starter, graduate transfer Stone Gettings has averaged 8.3p, 4.8r and shot 52.4% the last 13 games.

Fifth-year senior Dylan Smith leads Arizona in 3FG made (48) and he grabbed a season-high 8 reb. at UCLA.