 |  |
After a 25-year drought, the Arizona Wildcats are back where they belong, in the Final Four. The Wildcats were once staples of the Final Four, making three appearances in eight seasons (1994, 1997 & 2001), with that 1997 team winning the school's first and only national championship where else but Indianapolis, the site of this year's National Semifinals. Make the jump to read about the Final Four run of the champions of the West Region, the Arizona Wildcats of the Big Twelve Conference.
Arizona Wildcats: The Road to the 2026 Final Four
As the second overall #1 seed entering the 2026 NCAA Tournament, Arizona was expected to come out of the West Region, with the Wildcats impressing throughout its four double-digit victories, including defeating:
- #16 Long Island, 92-58.
- #9 Utah State, 78-66.
- #4 Arkansas, 109-88.
- #2 Purdue, 79-64.
| | |
| | |
Quick Tourney Overview of the Arizona Wildcats
After defeating the Houston Cougars in the Big 12 Championship game, Arizona was awarded the second #1 overall seed behind the Duke Blue Devils, with both teams playing the best basketball of any other teams in the country. In the fifth year of the Tommy Lloyd regime, Arizona was looking to make its first Final Four since way back in 2001, when Arizona, ironically, lost to Duke. The Wildcats have looked the part of one of the best teams in this tournament, handling Long Island in the first round before getting tested by Utah State in the second round. Arizona was up double digits early in the second half of that game when the Aggies rallied and made things tight, getting the game to as little as four points. While momentum was on the side of Utah State, Arizona did not blink, with senior guard Jaden Bradley absolutely fantastic when it mattered. After defeating Utah State by 12 points, the lowest margin of victory in the tourney for the Wildcats, Arizona geared up for what figured to be an entertaining Sweet Sixteen game against John Calipari's talented and athletic Arkansas squad featuring stud freshman Darius Acuff. Arizona made it clear early on that while the Razorbacks were a dangerous team, Arkansas wasn't on the level of the Wildcats. In an up-and-down game, Arizona got double digits from 6 players, including freshman point guard Brayden Burries (23 points) and Koa Peat (21 points). Arizona starts three freshmen at the moment, with German small forward Ivan Kharchenkov (15 points against Arkansas, 18 against Purdue) really coming along. In the Elite Eight, Arizona faced a hot #2 seed Purdue, the preseason #1 team in the country that had struggled late in the year but rallied to win the Big Ten Tournament championship. With three seniors who started in the 2024 National Championship Game (Braden Smith, Trey Kaufman-Renn and Fletcher Loyer), Purdue came out fired up, building a seven-point lead at halftime. If there ever was a time for an Arizona team with three freshmen starters to tighten up, the Purdue game would have been the time. To the Wildcats' credit, Arizona came out and dominated the second half, eventually winning by 15 points and looking like one of the top two teams left to win the National Title.
Arizona's Most Impressive Tourney Win: Purdue in Elite 8
While either of Arizona's performances during the second weekend, defeating Arkansas and Purdue, qualify here, go with the victory against an acclaimed, experienced and motivated Boilermakers' team. Down seven points at the break, Arizona came out with great activity on both ends, relentlessly attacking the rim and suffocating an experienced Purdue team. Peat and Kharchenkov were absolute beasts down low, finishing with a team-leading 20 and 18 points, respectively. Arizona got 14 points apiece from Burries and Bradley. Just like the Utah State game, when Arizona could have wilted to the pressure, the Wildcats did the exact opposite, stepping up and looking like an incredibly poised and mature team.
Arizona's Most Difficult Tourney Win: Utah State in 2nd Round
Arizona seemed to be cruising to a possible 2o+ point victory against Utah State early in the second half when the Aggies caught fire and cut its deficit all the way down to four points. While Utah State was making its run, Arizona kept its composure with Jaden Bradley especially stepping up with several incredible finishes at the rim and Burries burying a dagger three late. Utah State ran some quite impressive offense under Head Coach Jarrod Calhoun, who has since taking the same position at Cincinnati, but Arizona just did not falter. Lloyd really has a great feel for this team and has been incredibly composed on the sidelines when the going gets tough. This composure has carried down to his team on the court, which approaches each game with such a professional and business-like mindset, as seen in the second halves of the Utah State and Purdue games.
Most Memorable Arizona Tourney Highlight: Tobe Awaka Slam
Arizona hasn't had that signature play yet, though Bradley had two crazy finishes in the second half against Utah State, Burries has had some incredible jitterbug finishes at the rim, Kharchenkov has flipped in some nifty layups while going 100 miles per hour, and Peat has bowling-balled his way to more than a few impressive hoops. With that said, this poster of a dunk by key reserve Tobe Awaka (see 2:05 into the clip below ) against Arkansas in the Sweet 16 kind of set the tone for where this game was going for the Razorbacks.
Best Arizona Player This Tourney: Burries Slightly Before Peat
Both of Arizona's much-heralded freshmen have been unflappable this tournament, with point guard Burries averaging 17.75 points per game and power forward Peat averaging 17.5 points so far through four games. To me, Burries gets the slight nod based upon how he runs the point. Just like in 1997, when Arizona last won a national championship, this year's Wildcats are lead by an unflappable point guard. Back then, it was Mike Bibby, who was so steady with the ball and dialed in from three during the NCAA Tournament. Now, it is Burries, who has hit some absolute killer shots for the Wildcats. Burries always seemed to be in control and is the one Wildcat who can get really, really hot from three in spurts off his own bounce. This kid has impressed with his pull-up game. As for Peat, he is like watching a middle linebacker or tight end down low. While Duke's Cameron Boozer justifiably got a lot of the hype this year, Peat is a more explosive player down low, able to go to work from the free throw line in. Like Burries, Peat is always even-keeled. The moment never seems too big for him. While he can be a bit undersized and get his shot blocked at the rim, Peat is a jack-rabbit, energizer bunny who will compete on the glass. It is hard to remember two more composed freshmen on a national title - contending team than Burries and Peat.
| | |
Emerging Arizona Player in Tourney: Frosh. Ivan Kharchenkov
The less heralded of Arizona's three freshmen starters in the NCAA Tournament, Kharchenkov has really come along this March, scoring 18 points, 15 points, 9 points and 14 points, respectively. In the Elite Eight, Kharchenkov played with great energy, attacking the rim with no fear in the second half. While guilty of overpenetrating at times, Kharchenkov is a pretty crafty scorer at the rim, flipping in shots that seem impossible as he is moving so fast downhill. At 6'7'' and 230 pounds, Kharchenkov is the perfect complement to Peat (6'8'', 235 pounds), giving Arizona two bruise brothers at the forward spots. While Kharchenkov will make some mistakes due to being too aggressive, he has a short memory and is always on to the next play. It will be interesting to see how Kharchenkov is able to match up against Michigan's Yaxel Lendeborg in the Final Four. It would seem to be a mismatch, but Kharchenkov doesn't seem like a guy who gets rattled too easily.
Arizona's X-Factor in the Final Four: Center Motiejus Krivas
While Krivas may look a bit slow at times, he is quite skilled, a much better passer than he is given credit for. At 7'2'', he is one of few centers in the country who can match Michigan's 7'3'' Aday Mara. Krivas doesn't have to score many points; however, his post touches are important as he is so wide, causing defenses to collapse on him and leaving openings for Peat to thrive. Krivas also battles on the boards and is a big man who is good at free throws. Arizona needs Krivas to stay on the floor against Michigan's massive front line. Krivas has impressed as he gets manhandled but plays through such physicality. He is a very underrated and important piece to this Arizona team.
Key Arizona Player in the Final Four: Guard Jaden Bradley
Next to Burries, the senior Bradley forms perhaps the most composed and locked-in back court in the entire country. Bradley is the emotional leader of this Arizona team, able to step up his offense when needed, to be as disruptive of a perimeter defender as anyone left in the tournament, and to be a complimentary piece when Burries, Peat and others are on heaters. Bradley has really developed during his three seasons at Arizona after spending his freshman season at Alabama. Bradley just seems like that one player who will not let this time lose. He was so huge when Utah State was making its run in the second half of the second-round game. His steadiness and confidence definitely flows to Burries, who carries himself in a similar fashion. Bradley needs to make it a point to dog Michigan guard Eliot Cadeau, who can get frustrated when things are made difficult. For Arizona to beat Michigan, both of its guards must be great!
Other Arizona Players to Know in the Final Four
Arizona packs quite the punch off the bench with its sixth and seventh mans. Tobe Awaka is a transfer from Tennessee who volunteered to come off the bench this season for Krivas. While a bit undersized, he is a beast down low, whose ability to bang and be physical with Michigan's Morez Johnson, Jr. will be huge. Senior guard Anthony Dell'Orso brings a shooting punch off the bench. Another former starter, Dell'Orso plays with a nastiness and confidence that is a great spark to the Wildcats. Dell'Orso is not a guy who is afraid to mix it up, which could lead to some interesting interactions with Michigan's Cadeau and Lendeborg, two other players who like to talk smack. Arizona may also extend its rotation to eight players with 6'8'', 215 lb. freshman Dwayne Aristode, who could provide some spot minutes and physicality in the case of foul trouble.
| | |
RSS Feed