The NCAA Tournament selection committee gets many things wrong, but some props are in order. They had Dayton as a No. 7 seed and Nevada as a No. 10 seed, while KenPom ratings favored Nevada over Dayton, and Vegas had Nevada as 1.5-favorites. With a 63-60 victory over Nevada, Dayton proved KenPom and Vegas wrong. Now the Flyers get to play the underdog role once again. This time, though, it’s not a surprise role, as Arizona is a No. 2 seed for a reason and is a big favorite for Saturday’s matchup.
The first-round win wasn’t easy for Dayton, either. The Flyers were down nine points at halftime, and Nevada pushed the lead to 17 points in the second half. After shooting only 3-of-12 from downtown in the first half, Dayton got hot, going 5-of-7 from beyond the arc to fuel the comeback. Two of the main weaknesses for Dayton manifested, as the Flyers allowed Nevada to shoot 46 percent from the field and turned the ball over 12 times. However, Nevada only shot six free throws compared to 15 for Dayton. The Flyers closed the game on a 24-4 run and still only won by three to advance.
Arizona didn’t dispatch Long Beach State early, as the Wildcats only led 41-35 at halftime. They missed a ton of layups, which allowed the Beach to continue using their zone defense and remain within striking distance. Arizona was moving the ball well in the halfcourt, though, and was getting good looks. While both teams played fast, Arizona never looked rushed. It was only a matter of time before the Wildcats pulled away, and they did so in convincing fashion in the second half.
All five starters scored in double figures, the guard play was excellent and Oumar Ballo dominated down low. But it was the defense that truly shone, as Long Beach State shot only 3-for-17 (18 percent) from downtown and Arizona racked up 10 steals and eight blocks.
Saturday’s game between Arizona and Dayton will be an interesting one because Arizona has the size and athleticism to match up with Dayton’s big man, DaRon Holmes. The Wildcats are also ranked 11th in defensive efficiency, according to KenPom. Arizona’s guard play can be erratic and is the likely wild card, but can the 88th-ranked defensive team make life difficult for them?
What: West Region, Second Round
Tipoff time: 12:45 p.m. ET Saturday
TV: CBS
Location: Salt Lake City
Arizona vs. Dayton odds
Odds are from BetMGM and update live. Find the best ticket deals on StubHub to see your favorite team.
Expert picks
Model projection: Arizona by 9.5, total 151
Players to watch
Arizona
- Caleb Love, senior guard, Pac-12 Player of the Year, first-team All-Pac 12
- Oumar Ballo, redshirt senior center, first-team All-Pac 12, All-Pac-12 defensive team
- Pelle Larsson, senior guard, second-team All-Pac 12
Dayton
- DaRon Holmes II, junior forward, A-10 Co-Player of the Year, A-10 Defensive Player of the Year, first-team All-A-10
- Nate Santos, junior forward, third-team All-A-10
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(Photo of Jaden Bradley: Christian Petersen / Getty Images)
