Arizona Softball: Season Start is Right Around the Corner by Peggy McClain

After a slew of non-conference games at McKale Center, the No. 8 Arizona Wildcats open their Pac-12 schedule up in Tempe against the Arizona State Sun Devils.

The Arizona Wildcats basketball team (12-1) open their Pac-12 schedule on Sunday, January 3rd at 12:00 P.M. MST against the ASU Sun Devils (10-3).

The battle of dessert kicks off the start of the Pac-12 schedule and another chance to take the Pac-12 conference crown for a possible 2nd straight year. Arizona State faces Cal State Bakersfield before the Wildcats head into town to test the Sun Devils 53-9 home record over the past four seasons.

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Kaleb Tarczewski sat out last game against Cal State Long Beach with a boot on his injured left foot he suffered against Santa Clara. It is unknown if he will make a return to starting lineup in time for the matchup Sunday afternoon. One could only hope that he could make a return, even off the bench.

Dusan Ristic has been holding his own since receiving the starting role in place of Zeus, scoring in double digits for the past four consecutive games.

ASU will be missing sophomore forward, Andre Adams, from a knee injury. The Sun Devils also have a player who has sat out for ‘personal reasons,’ Savon Goodman missed a fourth straight game on Monday night against CSU Bakersfield. Goodman is a junior who transferred from UNLV after his freshman year. He will be able to play on Sunday afternoon.

ASU junior forward Savon Goodman — out the last four games for unspecified reasons — will play Sunday vs. Arizona. — Doug Haller (@DougHaller) January 2, 2016

Other than that ASU will be in full force and ready to face the Cats who will need an answer for Tra Holder and his three-point shot. Arizona has played the Sun Devils tough in Tempe but fell short by three points last season 78-81. Hopefully, the Wildcats can turn their road troubles with Providence into a win against the hated ones.

The biggest question is: Will the ‘curtain of distraction’ rear its ugly head again..because it worked against Arizona last time.

Prediction: The Wildcats face a tough as in Tempe but prevail, prediction: 75-57.

Here’s more information on where you can catch the game on Saturday:

Date: Sunday, January 3rd

Time: 12:00 p.m. MST, 11:00 a.m. PST

Location: Tempe, Arizona Wells Fargo Arena (10,754)

Line: Arizona -4

Television: Fox Sports 1 (Streaming FOX Sports Go)

Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Try TuneIn Radio), KTKT, KCUB 1290 AM The Source, K-Hit 107.9, Fox Sports 910 Phoenix, KHYT 107.5 FM

Team Records:

Arizona 12-1: Won the last seven games lost to No. 14 Providence

Arizona State 10-3: Won the last four games, lost to No. 10 Kentucky, Marquette and Sacramento State, beat UNLV

Last Meeting: February 7, 2015, in Tempe, Arizona 78 ASU 81

Tickets: Here

Arizona Starting Lineup:

PG Kadeem Allen

SG Gabe York

SF Ryan Anderson

PF Mark Tollefsen

C Dusan Ristic

Next Basketball Games- Non-Exhibition (Road and Home Games)

Thursday, January 7th- @ UCLA

Saturday, January 9th- @ USC

Thursday, January 14th- Washington

Saturday, January 16th- Washington State

BEARDOWN ARIZONA!!!