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Arizona Wildcats

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Bucks Bet on Burries, Draft Arizona Guard at No. 10
sports17 days ago

Bucks Bet on Burries, Draft Arizona Guard at No. 10

The Bucks selected Arizona guard Brayden Burries with the No. 10 pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, aiming to boost their outside shooting as they adjust to a post-Giannis era. Burries posted 16.1 points and 4.9 rebounds per game as a freshman at Arizona, shot 39% from beyond the arc, and ranked among the Wildcats’ top freshmen in points, threes and steals. While many mocks had him to Dallas, Milwaukee scooped up the consensus best available prospect.

Koa Peat stays in 2026 NBA Draft as Arizona eyes Milan Momcilovic via portal
college-basketball1 month ago

Koa Peat stays in 2026 NBA Draft as Arizona eyes Milan Momcilovic via portal

Arizona will wait for Koa Peat, who remains in the 2026 NBA Draft and is projected as a late first‑round pick, while ex-Iowa State star Milan Momcilovic has withdrawn from the draft and could land with the Wildcats through the transfer portal; Arizona has added four portal players this offseason, sits with two open roster spots, and faces continued recruiting interest from other programs.

Raiders’ Treydan Stukes: from walk-on to versatile NFL safety
sports2 months ago

Raiders’ Treydan Stukes: from walk-on to versatile NFL safety

The Las Vegas Raiders drafted Arizona safety Treydan Stukes with the No. 38 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. A former walk-on from Litchfield Park, AZ, Stukes developed into a ballhawking defender, posting seven interceptions and 22 pass deflections over his final four college seasons and a standout 2025 campaign with four interceptions and 24 solo tackles. He earned multiple All-American honors, posted a 4.33 40-yard dash at the NFL Combine, and brings versatility to the Raiders’ secondary, having played safety, nickelback, and outside corner.

Final Four Faceoff: Michigan, Arizona, UConn, Illinois Set for 2026 Crown
sports3 months ago

Final Four Faceoff: Michigan, Arizona, UConn, Illinois Set for 2026 Crown

Bleacher Report’s post-Elite Eight power rankings cap the 2026 NCAA men’s tournament with a Final Four featuring Michigan, Arizona, Connecticut and Illinois. The semifinals tilt Arizona vs. Michigan and UConn vs. Illinois, with UConn’s stingy defense and a rising scoring threat from Tarris Reed Jr., Illinois’s nation-leading offense led by Keaton Wagler and David Mirkovic, Arizona’s guard-driven attack and paint control anchored by Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries, and Michigan’s size-based three-big lineup shaping the path to the title. The piece also notes a buzzer-beater by Braylon Mullins and emphasizes that guard play and game pace will largely determine the champion.

Arizona’s Figure-It-Out Rally Sends Wildcats to the Final Four
sports3 months ago

Arizona’s Figure-It-Out Rally Sends Wildcats to the Final Four

Arizona rode coach Tommy Lloyd’s “figure it out” approach to erase a halftime deficit and beat Purdue 79-64 in the West Region final, earning its first Final Four in a quarter century. A deep, versatile lineup—Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Ivan Kharchenkov, Jaden Bradley, Motiejus Krivas, Anthony Dell’Orso and Tobe Awaka—took over in the second half, combining interior dominance, improved guard play and rebounding to seal the win and keep Arizona’s title potential alive.

Final Four Frenzy: Coaching Dominoes Set to Shake College Hoops
sports3 months ago

Final Four Frenzy: Coaching Dominoes Set to Shake College Hoops

Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd has the Wildcats back in the Final Four, and rising coaching chatter could trigger a domino effect across college basketball: Lloyd’s future at Arizona, Dusty May’s skyrocketing stock (with possible interest from Kansas or UNC), and rumors of Billy Donovan to North Carolina or Bill Self retirement potentially opening Kansas. The piece frames the Final Four as a flashpoint for big-job moves that could reshape the coaching landscape beyond this season.

Arizona Exploits Purdue's Second-Half Slump to Reach the Final Four
sports3 months ago

Arizona Exploits Purdue's Second-Half Slump to Reach the Final Four

Arizona outscored Purdue decisively in the second half, flipping a 7-point halftime lead into a 79-64 Elite Eight win and ending Purdue’s bid to return to the Final Four. Purdue’s offense cooled dramatically after halftime (only 1-for-8 from deep in the second half, 9-for-28 for the game) as key moments—Trey Kaufman-Renn picking up his third foul early and Braden Smith’s ankle injury—hampered the Boilermakers. Oscar Cluff led Purdue with 14 points and 10 rebounds and earned JWMPOTG honors, but the season closed with a tough defeat to a strong Arizona squad.

Elite Eight Showdown: Purdue Meets Arizona for a Final Four Bid
college-basketball3 months ago

Elite Eight Showdown: Purdue Meets Arizona for a Final Four Bid

In San Jose, Purdue (30-8) faces No. 1 Arizona (35-2) in the NCAA Elite Eight, aiming for a second Final Four in three seasons. Purdue remains the top offense per KenPom but needs improved 3-point shooting after a rough night from deep; Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith carry the scoring load, with Trey Kaufman-Renn trending at 21.3 PPG on 64% shooting in the tournament and Oscar Cluff providing inside heft. Arizona, a high-scoring, elite-efficient team, uses a low-volume 3-point approach but excels on the glass and interior defense, led by a strong frontcourt. Purdue must avoid foul trouble for its big men, generate double-digit threes, and rely on Smith to match Arizona’s physicality. On3 projects a tight, high-level clash with Arizona likely to edge Purdue 82-78.

Arizona eyes Final Four in Purdue Elite Eight showdown
arizona-basketball3 months ago

Arizona eyes Final Four in Purdue Elite Eight showdown

Top-seeded Arizona (35-2) faces second-seeded Purdue (30-8) in the West Region Elite Eight at SAP Center in San Jose, with a potential Final Four berth on the line. The game is slated for about 5:49 p.m. PT on CBS, with NCAA.com streaming and Wildcats Radio 1290 AM providing radio coverage. Arizona is a 5.5-point favorite with an over/under of 153.5, per FanDuel, and KenPom gives UA a 66 percent chance to win. Follow SB Nation’s Arizona Desert Swarm for pregame notes, live updates and postgame analysis via X.

UNC’s coaching hunt rides on Arizona’s title bid and Lloyd’s move calculus
sports3 months ago

UNC’s coaching hunt rides on Arizona’s title bid and Lloyd’s move calculus

North Carolina is weighing its head-coaching options after Hubert Davis, with Tommy Lloyd and Billy Donovan as the top targets. Lloyd’s success at Arizona—an undefeated-ish 35-2 run this season and multiple conference titles—puts him in elite consideration, but leaving for UNC after a potential national championship would be a difficult optics move. The Athletic linked Lloyd to UNC; his public comments and his agent’s behind-the-scenes work suggest UNC has time as Arizona presses toward a title, making the decision timing a central factor in whether Lloyd departs or stays put.

Arizona Expected to Overpower Utah State in NCAA Clash, 82-66 Prediction
sports3 months ago

Arizona Expected to Overpower Utah State in NCAA Clash, 82-66 Prediction

A college basketball preview of the NCAA Tournament Round of 64 matchup between Utah State and Arizona highlights Utah State’s ball‑moving offense and disruptive, shape-shifting defense led by coach Jerrod Calhoun, with top scorers Mason Falslev and MJ Collins. Arizona’s size and paint dominance pose a tough test, and the expert predicts Arizona wins 82‑66, noting possible coaching rumors around Calhoun.

Arizona cruises past LIU in NCAA opener as freshmen step up
sports3 months ago

Arizona cruises past LIU in NCAA opener as freshmen step up

Arizona rolled to a 32-point victory over LIU in the opening round of the 2026 NCAA Tournament, never letting the margin dip below 22 in the second half. Coach Tommy Lloyd stressed respecting the 16-seed and focusing on the next game, while freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries reflected on their development and readiness as Arizona looks ahead to Sunday’s matchup.