The California Golden Bears (8-12) will look to make an impact in their matchup against the 11^th-ranked Arizona Wildcats (15-5) on Thursday, February 1 at 8:30 PM ET at the McKale Center in Tucson, Arizona. The Wildcats are heavily favored by looking at their point spread of -17.5 (-110).

The Golden Bears have won their last two consecutive matchups and will need that positive momentum to carry over into this game. Their most recent success was a 73-71 performance over the Stanford Cardinal.

Jaylon Tyson has been great for them, leading them with 20.6 points and 3.2 assists each game. He is also shooting 48.8 percent from the field and 78.6 percent from the foul line.

The Golden Bears score an average of 75.5 points per game with a 43.0 percent success rate in field goal attempts. However, their ball movement, reflected in 12.1 assists per game, needs improvement for better scoring opportunities.

Defensively, they permit opponents to score an average of 76.3 points per game, leaving little margin for error, especially against the Wildcats. Additionally, they contribute 37.5 rebounds, 2.8 blocks, and 5.8 steals per game.

The Wildcats have gone 3-2 in their last five matchups and need to find consistency at home. They recently took care of the Oregon Beavers 87-78, which put them back on the winning side.

Caleb Love leads their offense with 19.3 points per game and is shooting 44.9 percent from the field. He is also getting 86.0 percent of his foul shots to go in.

The Wildcats maintain an average of 89.3 points per game, boasting a 48.9 percent shooting accuracy. Their adept ball movement results in numerous scoring chances, evident by their 18.8 assists per game.

On the defensive end, they restrict opponents to an average of 72.5 points per game, showcasing a significant margin of victory relative to their offensive performance. Additionally, they secure an average of 42.9 rebounds, 3.3 blocks, and 9.1 steals per game, providing a potential advantage.

Bookmaker has presented the betting odds, indicating that the Arizona Wildcats are favored by 17.5 points to win. The Wildcats hold a 97.6 percent chance of securing victory.

The Golden Bears might have some success on their side with recent wins, but this does not mean they have turned their season around and will begin making a charge for March Madness. Their issues on both sides of the ball are concerning, especially up against a much better team like the Wildcats. Look for the Wildcats to win and have a good shot at covering the spread.