Arizona Basketball: Preview and Prediction for Rivalry Clash with Arizona State

The No. 8 Arizona Wildcats open conference play Sunday at the McKale Center against their biggest rival, Arizona State. 

Sunday night's game comes after an extended holiday break for the Wildcats, who lost to UNLV in their last contest on December 23. 

The Sun Devils enter the rivalry clash with an 8-5 record and a two-game winning streak. Thanks to wins over Detroit and Harvard in its final nonconference games, Arizona State carries a bit of momentum into one of its biggest games of the season. 

Below we will preview the matchup and provide a few key things to watch during Sunday's showdown in the Grand Canyon State.  

How the Wildcats Handle the Long Break

It is not uncommon to see teams go a week without playing a game during December due to finals and the holidays. But the 12-day gap in between games for Arizona is abnormally long. 

The first thing to watch in regard to the play of the Wildcats is their intensity. If Sean Miller has prepared his team the right way, which he should, Arizona will not lack any fight from start to finish. 

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Despite not playing a competitive game in close to two weeks, the Wildcats have been able to practice during their break to sharpen up their skills for the conference season. 

One thing to keep in mind when talking about Arizona's extended rest is the last game it played. With the four-point loss to UNLV still on their minds, the Wildcats will be looking to prove a point that the loss has not affected them one bit. 

If they do come out of the locker room with a fire lit under them, the Wildcats could make quick work of their rival from Tempe. 

Arizona State's New Look 

Three of the five starters from Arizona State's double-overtime conquest of the Wildcats last season are no longer in the lineup. Eric Jacobsen and Shaquielle McKissic are back this season, and they have key roles in the squad. But losing Jahii Carson, Jermaine Marshall and Jordan Bachynski has certainly hurt Arizona State's upset chances. 

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Only four of the eight Arizona State players who participated in the 69-66 home victory are still with the program, which means some of the new faces may face a culture shock when they enter Tucson for the first time. 

Those four players combined to score 10 points in last season's win over Arizona, which was dominated by the three stars of the 2013-14 season. 

The good news for Arizona State is Jacobsen and McKissic have developed into key contributors during nonconference play. Their experience from playing against the Wildcats last season will help the pair of Gerry Blakes and Savon Goodman adjust to the volatile setting. 

If the Sun Devils can settle into the game without any major concerns, it will be because of the leadership exuded by Jacobsen and McKissic. 

Arizona's Backcourt Defense 

While we're on the topic of Arizona State's starters, it is worth noting they will have to go up against one of the stingiest defenses in the nation Sunday night. 

Gabe York and T.J. McConnell cause plenty of offensive nightmares with their play in the backcourt, while Kaleb Tarczewski, Stanley Johnson and Brandon Ashley form a formidable group down low. Scoring on the Wildcats will not be an easy task, as the unit as a whole has improved with each game.

While the frontcourt does deserve a decent amount of credit for the Wildcats' defensive success, the play of York and McConnell defines the team's defensive identity. 

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York and McConnell will be asked to halt the progress of Blakes and McKissic, who as a duo have combined to average 22.9 points per game through the first 13 contests of the season. Although they have put up strong numbers for most of the season, Arizona State's guard duo has failed to impress in some of the team's biggest games. 

In the Sun Devils' most recent loss to Lehigh on December 13, the guard duo combined for only 15 points. In the losses to Maryland and Alabama, Blakes scored 14 and 21 points, but McKissic was nowhere to be found. 

With that in mind, York and McConnell might only have to shut down one of the two Arizona State playmakers. But don't expect them to stop there, as they will look to find a way to silence both Blakes and McKissic.

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson's Play off the Bench 

The true X-factor during the final three months of the season for Arizona will be the play of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. 

The sophomore forward embraced his role as the sixth man during nonconference play, as he found his way into double digits in all but four of Arizona's games. 

Despite the promise he has shown off the pine, three of the four games in which he has scored fewer than 10 points came against quality opposition. 

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Hollis-Jefferson scored six points in 30 minutes against Kansas State in the Maui Invitational, put up eight in the overtime win over Gonzaga and totaled a combined nine points against UTEP and UNLV. 

To be fair to Hollis-Jefferson, he did score 14 points in the Maui Invitational title game against San Diego State. But for Arizona to be confident about its national championship hopes, the forward needs to deliver more performances like the one he had against the Aztecs. 

Arizona State may not be the most difficult opponent Arizona will face during conference action, but a positive showing from Hollis-Jefferson is needed after his two straight stinkers to finish off the nonconference slate. 

Prediction

If everything goes Arizona's way, this will be a one-sided affair just like last season's matchup at the McKale Center. The Sun Devils have the potential to make this an interesting game, but they need perfect nights from all of their stars to pull off an upset. 

Arizona 78, Arizona State 64

Follow Joe on Twitter, @JTansey90. 

All statistics obtained from ESPN.com.