NCAA tournament: How Arizona and Xavier match up

WHO: No. 2 Arizona (33-3) vs. No. 6 Xavier (23-13).

WHAT: NCAA West Regional semifinal, Thursday, 7:15 p.m. approximately

WHERE: Staples Center. TV: TBS.

UPDATE: Arizona hasn’t been tested in either of its NCAA tournament games. The Wildcats defeated Texas Southern by 21 points and Ohio State by 15. Arizona is among the nation’s most balanced teams in terms of efficiency on offense and defense, and Stanley Johnson is a matchup nightmare for any opponent. The freshman from Santa Ana Mater Dei, where he was the Los Angeles Times high school player of the year last season, is 6 feet 7, 245 pounds and equally proficient scoring on the inside or outside. Xavier is the only one of the six Big East Conference teams to make the tournament that is still playing. “People always talk about underestimating us or thinking we’re the little engine that could,” center Matt Stainbrook said Wednesday. “But by no means are we that.” Xavier has made nine of the last 10 NCAA tournaments but has had a major distraction this week: top reserve Jalen Reynolds is under investigation by the school for his part in what has only been described as an “incident.” Xavier Coach Chris Mack has said Reynolds would play.

STARTERS

ARIZONA; Ht.; Wt.; PPG; Pos.; XAVIER; Ht.; Wt.; PPG

Stanley Johnson; 6-7; 245; 14.0; F/G; Remy Abell; 6-4; 195; 8.5

T.J. McConnell; 6-1; 195; 10.1; G; Dee Davis; 6-0; 170; 8.9

Kaleb Tarczewski; 7-0; 245; 9.2; C; Matt Stainbrook; 6-10; 270; 12.1

Brandon Ashley; 6-9; 230; 12.2; F; James Farr; 6-10; 247; 4.3

Rondae Hollis-Jefferson; 6-7; 220; 11.3; F; Trevon Bluiett; 6-6; 215; 11.3

RESERVES

ARIZONA; Ht.; Wt.; PPG; Pos.; XAVIER; Ht.; Wt.; PPG

Gabe York; 6-3; 185; 9.1; G/F; Jalen Reynolds; 6-10; 232; 9.9

Elliott Pitts; 6-5; 185; 3.6; G; Myles Davis; 6-2; 195; 10.7

Parker Jackson-Cartwright; 5-10; 160; 3.0; G; J.P. Macura; 6-5; 190; 5.5