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Arizona vs. North Dakota prediction and game preview, as the No. 2 Wildcats and No. 15 Fighting Hawks face off in the NCAA Tournament.

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Brian Jones and the Fighting Hawks are in the NCAA Tournament for the first time, so their fans will be ecstatic for this one. The problem is that the first-round opponent is West Coast power Arizona. Tough debut matchup. Meanwhile, Sean Miller’s Wildcats are looking for a much better performance in the Big Dance than they had last year, when they were bounced in the first round.

Arizona vs. North Dakota Game Preview

Date: March 16
Venue:  Vivint Smart Home Arena, Salt Lake City, Utah
Region: West

Arizona Strengths

The Wildcats’ versatility and athleticism set them apart. Allonzo Trier is one of the most talented players in the nation, and freshman 7-footer Lauri Markkanen extends the floor with his 3-point range. Rawle Alkins is a budding star and adds another dynamic to Arizona’s attack.

Arizona Weaknesses

Kobi Simmons saw his minutes decrease during a slump to end the regular season, something that can’t continue into the Tournament when all will be needed. Simmons was reliable when Trier was out due to suspension, and he’ll need to round back into that form when the Big Dance starts.

Arizona Wildcats In-Depth Analysis

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North Dakota Strengths

Head coach Brian Jones and his Big Sky champions are going to their first NCAA Tournament. The Fighting Hawks are led by Quinton Hooker, who is averaging 18.8 points per game. His scoring is down from last year, but the Fighting Hawks have plenty of other scoring options to take the load off of him. The Fighting Hawks are shooting 48 percent from the field and are averaging 80 points per game, so this is a team that can be dangerous.

North Dakota Weaknesses

Outside of Drick Bernstine, North Dakota doesn’t have another standout rebounder. The Fighting Hawks rely on team rebounding more than anything else. There’s no question this team can shoot and put a bunch of points up in a hurry. But if the shots aren’t falling against a bigger team, the rebound mismatch could cost the Fighting Hawks.

North Dakota Fighting Hawks In-Depth Analysis

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Arizona vs. North Dakota By The Numbers

Arizona Statistics

Scoring Margin: 11.0 (23rd Nationally)
Rebounding Margin: 6.9 (19)
Turnover Margin: .8 (131)
3-Point FG Percentage: 39.0% (24)

North Dakota Statistics

Scoring Margin: 7.7 (53)
Rebounding Margin: 1.0 (153)
Turnover Margin: 1.9 (59)
3-Point FG Percentage: 38.7% (33)

Arizona vs. North Dakota Prediction

The Wildcats wanted a No. 1 seed, and they’ll take out their frustrations for being snubbed on the Fighting Hawks. North Dakota is a fantastic story, but there will be no Cinderella story for the Fighting Hawks as ‘Zona coasts to a win.

Arizona vs. North Dakota Score Prediction: Arizona 86, North Dakota 64

MORE: Complete NCAA Tournament Bracket, Previews, Predictions