Arizona Basketball’s Win Streak Ends After Loss To Texas Tech: 3 Takeaways

Arizona basketball (11-6, 5-1 Big 12) drops their first game since mid-December in a 70-54 loss to Texas Tech (13-4, 4-2 Big 12). 

Arizona basketball ends their seven-game and five-game conference win streak after a blowout loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders. A win here would have meant almost certainty that the Wildcats would appear back in the AP Top 25 Rankings, but with this massive loss, it is nearly impossible. 

Arizona didn’t lead at any point, except when they opened scoring with a Tobe Awaka layup. Arizona made several attempts to bring the game close with a tie game near the start of the second half and a one-point game several times within the later half of the second. They eventually let the Red Raiders go on a massive 13-0 run in the final four minutes of the second half.

Arizona basketball struggled throughout finding them with a very inconsistent shooting performance and struggles maintaining a late offensive push.

Takeaway #1: Arizona let a close game end in a rout

What was a neck-and-neck contest for most of the game time, Arizona suddenly dropped all scoring and went scoreless in the final 5 minutes of the game. Just before the scoring draught, Jaden Bradley had sunk two free-throws and brought the game to within 3, still easily within Arizona’s reach.

Caleb Love had only attempted 1 three-pointer in the first half, finding better luck with two-pointers and dishing it to teammates. However, once Arizona was just three points away late in the second, Love put up four three-pointers and missed all of them. This was his second game of the season without a made three-pointer, the last time this happened was when Arizona was blown out against Wisconsin.

It wasn’t just Love who was struggling behind the arc, Arizona shot a total of eight three-pointers from a plethora of players and failed to make a single one. During this time, Arizona only attempted ONE non-three-point try. What could’ve been a closer game, Arizona was too keen on taking the chance to bring the game even than slowly coming back.

Arizona needs to prevent panic and keep their cool when such a game still could side their way.

Takeaway #2: Arizona struggled on all sides of the court

It wasn’t one or two players who struggled to land shots, but rather most of Arizona’s roster found it hard to land any shots. The best player for Arizona tonight was easily freshman Carter Bryant. Bryant went 4-5 shooting with 10 points, 2 rebounds, a steal and a block. 

Bradley and Tobe Awaka fall in a close second. Bradley would shoot 3-7 and finish with a team-leading 11 points, along with 4 rebounds, 3 assists, and a steal. Awaka would be just two points away from his fourth double-double of the year, with 8 points, 2 blocks and a team-leading 14 rebounds.

Henri Veesaar went from scoring 14 and 19 in back-to-back games to having a 0-5 shooting performance with 2 rebounds and 2 blocks. He seemed to be the next-up for Arizona after losing Motiejus Krivas, but after this outing, it looks like he’ll have to perform against Oklahoma State to bring that back. 

Another big man who struggled was starting forward, Trey Thompson. Thompson went 2-9 shooting with just 6 points, 2 rebounds, a steal and a block. This was Thompson’s worst shooting outing of the season, having 22.2% from the field compared to his average of 51.3%.

The Wildcats would have 34 total rebounds to the Red Raiders’ 50, one of the few games in which they didn’t lead in boards. The rebound disadvantage also proves crucial to previous victories throughout the season.

This was not the game for Arizona’s big men, showcasing how vital they are when it comes to winning for the Wildcats. 

Takeaway #3: Texas Tech stuns with JT Toppin leading the charge

Texas Tech seemingly controlled this game in every aspect, despite some attempts for Arizona to take the lead the Red Raiders controlled the game late and forced a blowout victory. 

Texas Tech would have three players score 10+ points, and their leading scorer JT Toppin put up 20 points on 7-14 shooting. This was Toppin’s fifth time of the season scoring 20+, as he continues to be the clear leader for the Red Raider offense. 

Not to mention along with the 20 points, Toppin put up 16 rebounds. The 16 boards are his second-highest of the season, just behind the 18 he had against Saint Joseph’s. 

He also was a key player in their 13-0 run during the last 4 minutes of the game, putting up 7 of the total 13 points from the Red Raiders.

Next up for Arizona (11-6, 5-1 Big 12): at Oklahoma State (10-7, 2-4 Big 12) – Jan. 21 at 7 p.m. MST

Next up for Texas Tech (13-4, 4-2 Big 12): vs. Cincinnati (12-5, 2-4 Big 12) – Jan. 21 at 5 p.m. MST