MEDIA INFORMATION
Tip Time: 7:17 p.m. PT
TV: TBS (Harlan/Miller/Bonner/Nichols)
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Jeffries/Hansen)
Audio Stream: arizonawildcats.com
Satellite Radio: Sirius TBD, XM TBD
National Radio: Westwood One (Larrivee/Marshall)
Live Stats: arizonalivestats.com
INSIDE THE SERIES
Overall: Never met
In Tucson: Never met
In Cincinnati: Never met
At Neutral Sites: Never met
Current Streak: Never met
Last Meeting: Never met
Miller vs. Xavier: 0-0
POINTS OF EMPHASIS
» Second-seeded Arizona and sixth-seeded Xavier will meet for the first time on the hardwood on Thursday when the two programs square off at Staples Center in the Wildcats’ 17th Sweet 16 appearance; prior to his tenure as head coach at Arizona, Miller coached five seasons at Xavier and led XU to four NCAA Tournament berths.
» The Wildcats are 10-3 (.769) under Miller in the NCAA Tournament, reaching four Sweet 16s and two Elite Eights; Miller is one of four coaches nationally to reach at least six Sweet 16s since 2008 (also Calipari, Izzo, Krzyzewski).
» Arizona has 146 victories since the start of the 2010-11 season, the fourth-best total nationally; UA has won 30 games in consecutive seasons for the first time in program history and owns four 25-win seasons under Miller.
» Ranked third nationally in adjusted defensive efficiency, UA has held 79 of its last 81 opponents under the 80-point mark; UA is allowing just 0.867 points per possession and has held 22 opponents under 60 points on the season.
» Led by T.J. McConnell (2.1) and Stanley Johnson (1.5), Arizona is averaging 7.3 steals per game, which ranks second in the Pac-12 and would mark UA’s highest average in Miller’s tenure as head coach.
» The Wildcats rank second in the nation with a +9.2 rebound margin and rank first nationally in defensive rebound percentage at 77.6 for the year; Arizona is 125-21 (.856) in Miller’s tenure when it wins the battle on the glass.
» Arizona is shooting 48.9 percent from the floor as a team to rank fifth nationally; UA outscores opponents by an average of 10.8 points per game in the paint, 6.7 per game off of turnovers and 5.7 per game on second chances.
» UA is one of the nation’s best teams at getting to the line, leading the nation in attempts (925) and ranking second nationally in makes (655); four of Arizona’s starters have attempted at least 140 free throws on the season.
» With McConnell ranked in the top 15 nationally in assist average, steals average and assist-to-turnover ratio, Arizona is one of two teams nationally in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency (also Kentucky).
» Arizona is 26-0 this season when its bench outscores its opponent’s reserves; UA is getting an average of 21.1 points per game from its bench and outscoring the opponent’s bench by an average margin of 7.8 points per game.
