Arizona Basketball Continues Win Streak Against UCF: 3 takeaways

Arizona basketball (10-5, 4-0 Big 12) continues its win streak with a 88-80 victory over the UCF Knights (11-4, 2-2 Big 12), in the program’s first matchup ever.

Arizona basketball continues their vintage Wildcat ways with a win over the Knights to keep them undefeated in Big 12 and extend their win streak to 6 games. The Wildcats came off a road sweep going 2-0 on the road against Cincinnati and WVU and kept it up in McKale Center against UCF.

A season-ending injury for Arizona’s Motiejus Krivas seems to be a blessing in disguise for this Arizona team. The Wildcats seem to be solidifying their roster with key players being significantly more consistent; including, Caleb Love averaging 15.8 points per game. He showed up again for Arizona tonight with 16 points, 7 rebounds and 6 assists. Other players have stepped up to solidify their positions; like Henri Veesaar, he had 14 points and 5 rebounds for the Wildcats against UCF. 

The Wildcats maintained a lead for the entirety of the game but it wouldn’t be a game in Mckale Center if they didn’t make it interesting allowing UCF to close the 13 point lead to a 3 point lead going into the second half. Although Arizona never trailed to UCF it struggled defensively despite its outstanding performance on defense in its last four games. 

Takeaway #1: Off-the-glass defense was absent for the Cats

As many know the Wildcats had a rough start to their season struggling to find their groove in every area. However, in its last six games everything changed. Defensively, offensively, off the glass, in the paint, outside the paint; it was all better. Defensively the Wildcats struggled tonight allowing UCF to hold them to just an 8-point win. 

Arizona has made themselves known as one of the best rebounding teams in the country, not tonight. Against a stronger offensive team Arizona would not have pulled off a win with their off the glass performance. 

The team had 41 rebounds tonight trailing to UCF’s 42 rebounds. Tobe Awaka is the most consistent rebounder for the Cats averaging 7.3 a game, he only had 5 against UCF. Caleb Love led the team in all areas tonight including his 8 rebounds. 

Arizona will face a historically strong Baylor team that will capitalize on poor off the glass defense from the Wildcats. 

Takeaway #2: From Where’s the Love? To There’s the Love!

Wildcat fans were nervous after the Pac-12 player of the year and standout player, Caleb Love had an extremely slow start to his season. I think it is safe to say he is SO back. 

Love now averages 15.8 points per game, 4.2 rebounds and 2.8 assists with a 40.2% field goal percentage. His comeback started against Samford where he had 23 points but his comeback was solidified when he had 33 points in the teams Big 12 opener against TCU. 

Against UCF he led the team in every area with 16 points, 8 rebounds, 6 assists and a 41.7% field goal percentage. He has brought hope back to McKale Center and the Arizona stat sheet. Arizona cannot afford to see an absent Caleb Love again this season. Will he continue to show up? 

Takeaway #3: UCF shows potential for future Big 12 wins after their first matchup in history against Arizona

UCF joined the Big 12 conference in 2023 just before Arizona and have found themselves in close games but came out with good wins. Most recently they played Colorado at home and won by an electrifying one point.

Wins like the one against Colorado shows the potential of the UCF program however the loss like the one they recently had against Kansas show the many flaws the team needs to fix. However, Arizona needed a few losses to finally light its fire. Maybe this loss against Arizona is the fire UCF needed to perfect their offense and strengthen their defense especially in the paint.

 Next up for Arizona (10-5, 4-0): vs. Baylor (11-4, 2-1) – Jan. 14 at 9 p.m. MST

Next up for UCF (11-4, 2-2): at Arizona State (9-4, 0-2) – Jan. 14 at 9 p.m. MST