Arizona basketball (19-9, 13-4 Big 12) bounced back to beat Utah (15-13, 7-10 Big 12) in an 83-66 rout in McKale Center.
Arizona basketball came into their matchup against Utah going 1-3, with two losses at home. This included the controversial late-game call against BYU, which saw the Cougars get the narrow 96-95 victory off a questionable call on Arizona’s Trey Townsend.
Arizona entered this game with a vengeance, looking to dominate, and they certainly made this known by completely controlling most facets of the game, from boards to clutch offensive chances. This matchup was Wildcats basketball at its peak and certainly a performance fans hope they can emulate once March Madness begins.
Wildcats all around performed with high marks, from Caleb Love scoring 23 points, Tobe Awaka with a double-double, to Carter Bryant stunning off the bench. Everything in Arizona’s favor just seemed to land, with this being one of their few games this season with a nail-biting comeback.
Takeaway #1: Arizona shows strength that could transcend to March
Arizona’s last two outings have been some high-scoring affairs, with several Wildcats pushing into double digits through three-point performances and paint control. Love, Henri Veesaar and Awaka have been lighting up the scoring column, with Love having back-to-back 20+ point games.
Awaka has been in his best form of the season, grabbing two straight double-doubles off stellar shooting and paint defense. Veesaar has also been proving himself as the perfect pairing for Awaka as they each have dominated paint action, with Veesaar having 10+ points and 5+ rebounds in both outings.
We’ve also seen Arizona’s bench provide their much-needed intensity with Bryant and KJ Lewis providing that added pressure. Against Utah, Bryant put up 8 points with a matching 8 rebounds and 3 massive blocks. His presence was felt on all sides of the court, showcasing his ability to provide Arizona with a crucial spark when he comes off the bench.
Lewis continues to provide for Arizona’s secondary, finding his position on the bench as a way to bring life back into the Wildcats. Lewis would only have one assist against Utah but five against BYU, as he ranks third on the team with 3.1 assists per game.
Takeaway #2: Caleb Love continues to show his pedigree as Arizona’s leader
Love may have seen some struggle from the arc in recent outings, but he has consistently proved he can light up for the Wildcats where needed. His two straight 20+ point outings prove he might be finding his shooting stride at the right time, as he’s shot an overall 14-31 from the field and 10-21 from the arc.
However, unlike in the past, Love has been extremely consistent at dishing out the ball out to his teammates and found great success at expanding the floor. The Wildcats are 6-2 when Love averages more than 5 assists in the matchup, a crucial focus that will more than likely play a major role in March Madness games ahead.
Love is surely making a statement in his college exodus as he has heated up at the right time for Arizona to succeed. Love has scored 10+ points in 10 of his last 11 outings while also putting up 20+ in 5 of those matchups. Love has been playing with a vision, and that vision is pushing Arizona into a prime position once post-season tournaments begin. He has three more games to close out his final collegiate regular season, and so far, he continues to bring the heat.
Takeaway #3: Utah brought some fierce competition seen outside scoring
Utah may have slagged off during this matchup when it came to pure scoring, however, they would excel in other areas that proved to be a thorn in Arizona’s offensive and defensive control. Utah would prove to have the better bench over Arizona, scoring 27 points over Arizona’s 20. Utah’s bench would have key players like Keanu Dawes, who came off the bench and tied the team-high of 18 points. Dawes would be part of a crucial second-half offensive that attempted to push Arizona but would ultimately fail.
Utah was also able to find the paint scoring more often, and they would score just 2 points more than Arizona, 26-24 points in the paint. However, this wasn’t the nail in the coffin it would mean in most games, as Arizona basketball was able to capitalize on other scoring chances while limiting Utah’s perimeter shooting.
Next up for Arizona (19-9, 13-4): at No. 9 Iowa State (21-7, 11-6) on Mar. 1 at 7 p.m. MST
Next up for Utah (15-13, 7-10): vs. Arizona State (13-15, 4-13) on Mar. 1 at 5 p.m. MST