Arizona Basketball Defeats BYU For 5th Straight Win: 3 Takeaways

Arizona basketball (16-6, 10-1 Big 12) continues its Big 12 dominance with an 85-74 victory over BYU (15-7, 6-5 Big 12). 

Arizona basketball achieves its fifth straight victory, losing only once in its last 13 games. This recent run post-Texas Tech has been highlighted by a resurgent Caleb Love. Love has put together some of his best performances of the season. Especially now, as the Wildcats get into the depths of conference play.

The Wildcats’ performance against BYU was easily one of their best this season with four players getting 10+ points, three of which posted 17+. Love, Jaden Bradley and Henri Veesaar headlined the night with each having crucial shooting performances.

After a lull period for the sophomore forward from Estonia, Veesaar has fallen back into his peak form scoring 17 points on 8-10 shooting, his second-highest outing of the season. Veesaar has now had two straight games of 10+ points, which is his second time of the season. However, Veesaar’s form quickly dipped off once the first time the Wildcats faced Texas Tech, a foe they will be facing again on Feb. 8 in McKale Center.

Takeaway #1: Second-half basketball is the key to Arizona’s success

Arizona’s first half against BYU certainly had fans on edge as the Wildcats and Cougars would trade shots back and forth possession after possession. Arizona would have an early 8-point lead that would quickly get diminished. After the teams remained in the neck-and-neck battle, they would enter the second half tied up at 41.

While Arizona’s success was found in the second half, this didn’t come early. BYU’s Egor Demin and Trevin Knell would push the Cougars ahead by four points with barely more than two minutes in the half elapsing. However, Arizona’s second-half skill would come into play quickly as the Wildcats would go on a 9-0 scoring run from 16:29 to 13:54. 

BYU wouldn’t know how to handle the resurgent Arizona offensive as after that run, Arizona would have a 7-0 run from 10:51 to 9:42 and a final 9-0 run from 7:47 to 4:42. This allowed Arizona to grow its comfortable and game-winning lead over BYU.

It wasn’t just an offensive onslaught that propelled the Wildcats forward, from their rebounding to their perimeter guarding pushed them ahead. Arizona finished with 45 rebounds, comfortably controlling the rebounds game over BYU’s 30. Arizona also shut down the BYU three, from having a 38.9% from the arc in the first, the Wildcats would limit the Cougars to a mere 18.9% in the second half.

Takeaway #2: The Caleb Love show is cementing itself, but not without some help

Caleb Love has put together his best run of the season so far, especially in the face of Arizona’s biggest conference foes. In their last three games, Love has been responsible for 15+ points and has had 10+ in their last 5. His crucial leadership and performances have cemented Arizona into a real contender in the Big 12. 

Even when his shooting came into question, he easily reminded audiences of why we can’t forget his name. From the half-court heave and overtime three-pointers that sealed Arizona’s upset over then-No.3 Iowa State to Arizona’s Territorial Cup win that saw Love score 27. Love has reasserted himself in the leading position more than just within the team, but on the court again.

He hasn’t done this without the help of other key players. From Veesaar’s consistent off-bench play, Bradey’s control of offensive facilitation and Tobe Awaka’s ability to seemingly gravitate towards all rebounds, this team has looked like a well-oiled machine. Arizona is not just ready for marginal success, but surely ready to make a run once conference tournaments and March Madness begin.

Takeaway #3: BYU held Arizona down early with a gritty offense and defense

BYU struggled early, letting Arizona have a 10-0 run and putting an 8-point lead over the Cougars with just less than 7 minutes into the first half. They would then execute some crucial offensive and defensive moments that kept the game close for the remainder of the first. 

BYU would pick up crucial points in both the turnover game and second-chance possessions, with the Cougars leading in both categories in the first. BYU would have 7 points off turnover compared to Arizona’s 4. While this is marginal the back-and-forth nature of the game proved these points critical. BYU also led in second-chance points, 10 compared to Arizona’s 5. They would also have two big blocks on the Wildcats by Egor Demin and Keba Keita. 

Next up for Arizona (16-6, 10-1 Big 12): vs No. 13 Texas Tech – Feb. 8 at 8:30 p.m. MST

Next up for BYU (15-7, 6-5 Big 12): at Cincinnati – Feb. 8 at 4 p.m. MST