Game info

Who: UCLA (16-7, 7-4) at No. 13 Arizona (19-5, 9-2)

Where: McKale Center

When: 8 p.m. Thursday

Watch: ESPN

Listen: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM

Follow: @TheWildcaster on Twitter / TheWildcaster on Facebook

Probable starters: Arizona

Probable starters: UCLA

How they match up

Series history

Arizona has won five of its last seven games against UCLA, but one of the losses came on Kadeem Allen’s Senior Day at McKale Center last season, when the UA blew a four-point halftime lead in a 77-72 loss in part because UCLA scored 20 second-chance points off 14 offensive rebounds. The Wildcats beat UCLA in Los Angeles earlier in the season, and won 86-75 in the Pac-12 Tournament semifinals, however. Since 2012-13, UCLA and Arizona have split 12 games, while UCLA leads the all-time series 55-43.

UCLA overview

The Bruins return only one starter and lost three projected rotation players accused of shoplifting in China, and their shorthanded lineup has produced only the 136th most efficient defense in Division I. But thanks to a high-powered offense, and heavy reliance on veterans Aaron Holiday and Thomas Welsh, the Bruins have managed to stay in the Pac-12’s upper half.

UCLA can hit 3-pointers from every position and has the nation’s 27th best offensive efficiency. UCLA is coming off three straight wins, the last an 82-79 win over USC at Pauley Pavilion, where Holiday had 23 points and Welsh had 21 points and eight rebounds.

The Bruins rely heavily on Holiday, who averaged 26.4 minutes off the bench last season and now averages 38.1 in Pac-12 games. Quick and creative freshman guard Jaylen Hands has improved to better than a 2-1 assist-turnover ratio in Pac-12 play and he’s the team leader in steals per game during Pac-12 play.

Kris Wilkes is prototypically athletic and versatile forward, able to score in transition, from 3-point territory or by getting to the rim. But without forwards Cody Riley and Jalen Hill, who were suspended for the season, the Bruins have a smaller lineup featuring redshirt sophomore wing Prince Ali, who sat out last season after tearing a meniscus in July 2016.

Welsh is the team’s inside anchor, averaging a double-double in Pac-12 games, while G.G. Goloman and Alex Olesinski give the Bruins size off the bench.

He said it

“With our defense the way it is, they could put 100 on us, both teams (UCLA and USC). So it’s a great, great challenge, and hopefully it’s a challenge we’re up to.” — UA coach Sean Miller

Key player: Aaron Holiday

UCLA’s junior guard has turned from a sixth man into an All-Pac-12 player, doing a little bit of everything on both ends of the court with remarkable efficiency. He’s ideal for Steve Alford’s motion offense, able to play on the ball or, if Jaylen Hands is setting up teammates, off it.

Key player: Allonzo Trier

The junior guard played well in all three UA games against UCLA last season, including a 28-point effort on 11-for-14 shooting during the Bruins’ win at McKale Center. In a matchup that features two high-powered offenses but inconsistent defenses, the Wildcats will probably need those kind of scoring numbers again.

Red light, green light

At this point of the season, it’s pretty clear that most defensive approaches on Deandre Ayton don’t usually work too well.

So maybe a little acting can’t hurt.

“Anytime you can flip or draw an offensive foul, it’s to your advantage,” Miller said earlier this week. “It’s not only a personal foul on him but it’s also a turnover. Sometimes you have guys on a quest to do what their coach is asking and I don’t blame anybody. “

Perhaps because the Pac-12 prohibits coaches from speaking publicly  about officiating, Miller carefully described the judgment process of such actions.

“Look, you have a guy out there who’s 7-foot-1, 260 pounds — he has to have freedom of movement and be able to turn, and if I were playing against him, I would probably try to flop and potentially create an offensive foul situation,” Miller said.

“I think the experienced and really good officials kind of see through that. The ones that aren’t as experienced or don’t see through it, they fall for it. It’s like that red light, green light deal: You come through that intersection and sometimes you see the red there, you stop. Once in a while you have that guy who just doesn’t pay attention, comes right through it.

“That call can change the game. That’s what all coaches hope doesn’t affect the game. And by the way, if it is a charge it should be called. … There’s good coaches and good players. There’s bad coaches and bad players, and referees are the same: There’s some really good ones and there’s some ones that aren’t very good.”

After picking up four fouls in UA’s loss at Washington last Saturday, including one on offense, Ayton leads the Wildcats with 59 fouls.

Body of work

During the NCAA’s first teleconference call to discuss NCAA Tournament selections Wednesday, selection committee chair Bruce Rasmussen of Creighton reinforced the notion that all the games a team plays count equally, something that changed about a decade ago when the committee eliminated an emphasis on the last 10 games.

Rasmussen was asked if ASU’s early success would count less after it subsequently slipped in Pac-12 play and said “it doesn’t matter what time of year — we look at wins the same in November and December the same as January and February.”

That’s good news for ASU but maybe slightly bad news for the UA, which lost three games in the Bahamas. However, the Wildcats did not have Rawle Alkins available for them, something the committee might consider.

Arizona will find out where it stands on Sunday, when the NCAA announces its top four seeds to date in every region at 10:30 a.m. on Channel 13.

Ex-teammates meet again

Though it might be a stretch to say 5-foot-10 Parker Jackson-Cartwright and 7-footer Thomas Welsh will match up Thursday, it could be the final time the ex-Loyola High School teammates will face each other on the court in college.

Welsh is having his best season as a Bruins senior, averaging 13.0 points and 10.3 rebounds while hitting 28 of 72 3-pointers (38.9 percent).

“He’s been playing great,” PJC said of Welsh. “He’s a large part of their success and he’s having a lot of confidence, you can just tell. He’s gotten better every year and I’m really happy for him.”

Numbers game

3

Players on UCLA’s roster who participated in the Bruins’ 77-72 win over Arizona at McKale Center last season: Welsh (25 minutes), Holiday (25) and Goloman (7).

13

Arizona wins in its last 15 games played at 8 p.m. or later

15.6

Points Dusan Ristic has averaged in his last seven games, while shooting 69.6 percent from the field.