Arizona fans have seen their team enter the tournament as top seeds (this is Tommy Lloyd’s third time leading the Wildcats to a number 1 seed in 5 seasons) , they’ve seen impressive regular seasons and conference titles, but they’ve only ever seen one national championship.
This includes the past two seasons when Arizona boasted the best Pac-12 record in 2023-24 and was defeated in the Sweet 16 as well as when they appeared in the Big-12 championship game last season and once again fell short in the Sweet 16. Naturally, Arizona fans are reluctant to believe this team is unique and ultimately going to deliver in March.
However, Arizona fans should recognize that this season and the Wildcats regular season accomplishments are noticeably stronger than those of the past few seasons. Therefore, expectations should be heightened, not tempered.
Non-Conference Performance
In just the lead up to conference play, Arizona boasted an undefeated record and had knocked off the champions of the past three seasons (UConn, UConn and Florida). Additionally, Arizona crushed Alabama in Montgomery and bested UCLA at the Intuit Dome. Both Alabama and UCLA are tournament teams this year and each have been predicted to make runs in the tournament by various analysts.
Head Coach Tommy Lloyd did not make a non-conference schedule that was devoid of challenges and yet Arizona moved through the nearly two month stretch without flaw.
Big 12 Domination
Following a challenging early schedule, the Wildcats were placed into arguably the strongest college basketball conference in the nation. The Big 12 sent 8 of its 16 teams to the NCAA tournament with Arizona, Houston and Iowa State consisting of 3 of the top 8 seeds.
Additionally, teams like Kansas, Texas Tech and BYU have spent considerable time inside the AP top 25. With that said, Arizona concluded the regular season with a 16-2 conference record and ran the table in the Big 12 tournament. Arizona was 4-0 against Iowa State and Houston this season (including conference tournament action).
Simply put, Arizona may have had the toughest schedule from November to March in program history, and finished with just 2 losses. Lastly, Arizona is the first team ever to earn 12 wins over teams ranked inside the top 25 before the start of the NCAA tournament – this is not just another year.
Offensive Diversity
With all of the success Arizona had this season, an essential question is how Arizona was able to win at the rate that they did. One unmistakable strength has been the variety in the Wildcats offensive attack.
In the backcourt, Arizona has been propelled by both youth and experience. Senior point guard Jaden Bradley has been a stabilizing presence with his 13.3 PPG and 4.5 APG. Bradley has also been a steady ballhandler and calming presence for an otherwise remarkably young team. Meanwhile,
Freshman Brayden Burries has hijacked the story leading the team in points per game with just under 16 while knocking down roughly 37% of his three point attempts. In two of Arizona’s three conference tournament games, Burries scored over 20 points including the Big 12 title game against Houston.
Another welcomed development for Arizona’s offense has been Anthony Dell Orso’s timely contributions. Since Valentine’s Day, Dell Orso has been breaking Arizona’s opponents hearts, boasting four games with 20 or more points. Notably, Dell Orso scored 26 against Iowa State in the Big 12 semifinal on a night when he made 6-of-9 3-pointers.
The Senior sharpshooter from Australia provides long-range shooting on a team that only attempts roughly 16 3-pointers a game. In fact, Arizona’s opponents took 237 more 3-pointers than the Wildcats over the course of the season. Without Dell Orso, that margin would be even wider.
Rim Protection
Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Kirvas have been an inviolable tandem around the rim. Both average more than 8 rebounds per game while Krivas has blocked nearly two shots per game.
Krivas is one of the taller forwards in the nation, towering at 7 ‘2, but can display the touch of a guard. On the season, the Junior from Lithuania has made 78.6% of his free-throws, showcasing the versatility of his game. After missing most of last season with lower body injury, Krivas has removed all doubt about his talent, toughness and value.
When Krivas is sidelined, Tobe Awaka has proven to be a formidable player down low. A tenacious rebounder, Awaka ensures the Wildcats have plenty of second chance opportunities on the offensive end. On the season, Arizona has grabbed nearly 11 more rebounds per game than their opponents.
One Round Done
After an uneventful 92-58 first round victory over Long Island University, Arizona is already one step closer to the finish line. The Wildcats thorough domination was the culmination of precise shooting, suffocating defense and unparalleled control of the glass.
Remarkably, Arizona outrebounded LIU 52-31, and had 16 second chance looks. For any fan still unconvinced to believe in Arizona, Friday’s victory should not be the sole reason to believe, but rather another shred of convincing evidence.
In addition to the Wildcats 12 wins over ranked teams (which is a historic mark) Arizona now has 17 wins by 20 or more points this year, which is atop the nation. Additionally, the Wildcats have defeated the NCAA champions going back to 2022. Arizona has experience, star power and the resume to command national attention. This Arizona team is special, and is more than capable of winning the program’s second national championship, they have earned your trust.
David is the Sports Director at KAMP Student Radio. To hear his full thoughts and analysis you can listen to his show, The Rundown, Mondays at 5 pm and Fridays at 10 am on KAMP Student Radio or YouTube.