Arizona (25-8) vs Long Beach State (21-14)
Game Info: Thursday, March 21, 2024 at 2:00 pm (Delta Center)
Betting Odds: Arizona -20 -- Over/Under: 163.5 Click Here for the Latest Odds
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Long Beach State and Arizona will meet this Thursday for a Round of 64 matchup in Salt Lake City at the Delta Arena on TBS. We will look at this from a betting perspective and determine the best bets for this game. Here’s a Long Beach State vs. Arizona Prediction.
- Long Beach’s recent form and recent player performance
- Arizona’s recent form and recent player performance
- Recent Betting trends and streaks involving LBSU
- Recent Betting trends and streaks involving Arizona
- Recent betting trends in games played between LBSU vs Arizona
- A summary that ties it all together and produces a favorable betting outcome for Today’s Game between Long Beach State vs Arizona.
Long Beach State Preview: Can the Beach Make Something Special Happen?
Long Beach State comes in 21-14 after defeating UC Davis in the Big West Championship by four, 74-70. The Beach used a strong second half to punch their tickets to the Dance, but they’ll face a stiff test this Thursday with the Wildcats. LBSU is scoring 77.7 points per game, on 44.4% shooting, while allowing 75.7 ppg, and they’re 5-5 over their last ten games.
Long Beach Team Profile
- Portland native Marcus Tsohonis went for a team-high 25 points in the win over UC Davis, and he leads Long Beach in scoring (17.6).
- Third-year forward Lassina Traore matched his energy with 25 points against the Aggies, and he leads LBSU in rebounding (10.4), while scoring 11.5 ppg.
- Junior forward Aboubacar Traore posted a triple-double in the UC Riverside victory, and he’s averaging 11.9 ppg, 8.0 rpg, and a team-leading 4.1 apg.
- Hometown product Jadon Jones is second on the team at 12.6 ppg, after knocking down multiple threes in five of the last seven games.
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Arizona Preview: Will the Wildcats Shake Their Recent Form?
Arizona enters at 25-8 after losing to Oregon in the Pac-12 Semifinals, 67-59. The Wildcats went cold in the second half versus the Ducks, and they’ll look for better results here against the Beach. Arizona is scoring 87.3 points per game, on 48.9% shooting, while allowing 72.2 ppg, and they’re 7-3 over their previous ten games.
Arizona Team Profile
- UNC transfer Caleb Love has alarmingly struggled over the last three games, but he still leads Arizona in scoring (18.7), while grabbing 4.9 rpg.
- Junior big Oumar Ballo has grabbed 12 boards or more in five of the last seven games, and he leads the Wildcats in rebounding (10.2), while adding 13.1 ppg.
- Veteran guard Pelle Larson led the way with 22 points in the win over Oregon, and he’s first on the team in assists (3.7), while averaging 13.3 ppg.
Long Beach Team Facts
- Long Beach State has hit the Game Total Over in 19 of their last 31 games
Arizona Team Facts
- Arizona has covered the 1H Spread in 11 of their last 14 games
Long Beach vs Arizona Trends
- Arizona leads the head-to-head series, 5-0.
- LBSU is 16-17 against the spread, with a 18-14-1 O/U record
- ARZ is 21-11-1 ATS, with a 16-17 over/under record.
Long Beach vs Arizona Prediction: The Beach Won’t Be a Breeze for the Wildcats
Listen, I want to see Arizona and North Carolina face off in the Elite Eight as much as we all do, but if Caleb Love lays a stinker in the game, Long Beach will have a chance to stick around. The former UNC guard is capable of rising to the occasion, but with him being responsible for a high percentage of the Wildcats’ offense, another poor shooting effort could lead to trouble. Long Beach is also playing for something bigger right now, as their coach Dan Monson was fired, but still showed up to guide them thru the Big West tournament, and you can bet they’re going to show up for their head man. The Beach has the length to stick with Arizona with the Traore brothers in the frontcourt, and I believe they have a chance to capitalize on the generous margin. Let’s put Arizona to the test, and spot Long Beach the points for this Round of 64 matchup.
Corey’s Pick Long Beach TO COVER
AUTHOR: Corey Ghee
Mitch's Take...
