One of the keys to Arizona's offense is dribble penetration and kicking to the open man. The last few seasons, Arizona has lacked a guard who could penetrate and create, but they have such a player in Bayless.

Stopping Bayless from getting into the paint off the dribble is one of the keys to the game.

Fortunately for UCLA their best perimeter defender is 6'3 guard Russell Westbrook who will take on Bayless. Westbrook locked down Arizona State's James Harden on Thursday limiting the freshman to just 9 points.

Arizona lacks big bodies in the low post but Jordan Hill's stellar play this season has helped make up the difference. Hill is averaging 13.1 points on 61.9% field goal shooting. He has really improved his low post presence on both ends of the court. Hill is averaging almost two blocks a game.

Hill (6'9, 211, So) still has a tendency to be foul prone at times and he will have a tough time handling UCLA's big man Kevin Love down low. With reserve Kirk Walter (6'11, 254, Sr) providing very little support off the bench, if Hill gets into any foul trouble the Wildcats don't have the bodies inside to keep up with the Bruins.

At another wing is senior Jawann McCllelan (6'4, 211). After battling injuries most of his collegiate career, he is averaging over 35 minutes a game this season. A powerfully built player, he is still a threat from outside if he gets it going. This will be a good match-up for UCLA's Josh Shipp.

Bruins junior Josh Shipp said he had no Xs-and-O's type explanation for UCLA's recent success against the Wildcats. "Just that they've had great teams," Shipp said, "and it's always easy to get up for them."

Arizona is a much better defensive team than they were the last few years," UCLA point guard Darren Collison said. "That was one of their main focuses that they needed. Arizona's always been a good offensive team. It's just a matter of them playing defense."

Opponents are scoring 66.6 points per game, which is the fewest points the Wildcats have yielded since 2001 (66.3), when they played in the national title game. Also, Arizona is limiting opponents to 43.7 percent from the field, which ties for the school's second lowest total since the 2000-01 team held opponents to 39.7 percent from the field.

"I just think they have some older guys here now, and better quickness," Howland said. "It comes down to the personnel, and I think their personnel really lends itself to being a good defensive team. They're smaller, but they're very, very good.

"And (Jordan) Hill, they're sending everything towards him, he's sitting there and sending it back, swatting it back at you. He's a very good shot blocker, pretty much in league with the Lopez (twins from Stanford)."