Utah Utes basketball: Arizona's 3-headed monster is big concern

No school has played in more consecutive NCAA tournaments that Arizona.

Since 1985, the Wildcats have been an annual fixture in NCAA brackets, with numerous players who have gone on to excel in the NBA, including the likes of Sean Elliott, Damon Stoudamire, Steve Kerr, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, Gilbert Arenas, Luke Walton and Andre Igoudala.

This year, a lot of folks have questioned the inclusion of the Wildcats and believe the 'Cats aren't worthy of playing in their 25th straight tournament. Still, many "experts" give them the edge against Utah Friday night (5:10 p.m. MDT) at American Airlines Arena, despite their No. 12 seed.

"I think we're happy to be a fifth seed and they're happy to be in the tournament," said Utah coach Jim Boylen "Now you throw the seeds out the window and you play the game."

The Wildcats may have three future NBA players in Jordan Hill, Chase Budinger and Nic Wise. Boylen calls them the "three-headed scoring monster."

The 6-foot-10, 235-pound Hill averages 18.5 points and 11.0 rebounds per game, numbers that eclipse even Utah's Luke Nevill. Budinger, a 6-7 forward who was one of the nation's most-touted players out of high school three years ago, averages 17.9 points on 41 percent from 3-point range, while Wise averages 15.1 points on 42.4 percent from behind the line.

The other two starters are a pair of freshmen — guard Kyle Fogg, a 6-2 guard who averages 6.2 ppg, and Jamelle Horne, a 6-6 forward (6.8 ppg). Sophomore Zane Johnson, a 6-5 forward who has started 13 games this season, averages 4.8 points per game.

But that's about it. Like the Utes, the Wildcats don't have a very deep bench. Each of the "Big Three" often play the entire game, with Budinger averaging 37.6 minutes per game, Wise 36.3 and Hill 35.8. In comparison, three Utes barely average 30 minutes per game, with Nevill leading the Utes at 32 per game. If the Utes can get one or more of those players in foul trouble, it would help their cause.

"It's a concern for both teams," said Boylen, talking about foul trouble. "They are not deep at the center position with Hill, and obviously we need Luke Nevill in the game. Figuring out how the game will be refereed in the first five minutes of the game is very important. The referees are under pressure too. They're one-and-done if they don't perform well. "

Looking at their season stats, the Wildcats look good, but not outstanding in most areas.