Under the leadership of Tommy Lloyd, Arizona had established a reputation for bouncing back strong following tough losses. However, the team faced an unexpected challenge this past Friday night as they fell to No. 12 Duke with a final score of 69-55. This defeat marks Arizona’s second consecutive loss, a first for Lloyd, as they had not lost back-to-back games since the 2020-21 season.
Arizona struggled to find their rhythm throughout the game, shooting only 39.6 percent from the field and a disappointing 26.1 percent from beyond the arc. The team experienced significant scoring droughts, including stretches of over two minutes without a field goal on multiple occasions. Additionally, the Wildcats were outrebounded by 13 and committed 15 turnovers, which led to 19 points for Duke.
Jaden Bradley led Arizona with 18 points, while KJ Lewis contributed 12. Notably, Caleb Love had a tough night, scoring just eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, including only 1-of-9 from three-point range.
Duke, looking to avenge their loss to Arizona from the previous season, relied on impressive performances, particularly from freshman Cooper Flagg, who tallied 22 points, including 14 in the second half. The Blue Devils capped off their performance by shooting 42.6 percent from the field, hitting 9 of 25 attempts from three-point territory while limiting Arizona to just six offensive rebounds.
The Wildcats had a particularly rough time in the first half, scoring a mere 27 points—Arizona’s lowest at halftime since facing UCLA in January 2023. Despite a brief push at the start of the second half, Arizona could not maintain momentum and faced another scoring drought that allowed Duke to extend their lead.
The game saw physical play from both sides, with only one foul called in the early stages. This seemed to benefit Duke, who was able to capitalize on their interior and perimeter scoring while Arizona often settled for long-range attempts, missing nine consecutive three-pointers.
Looking ahead, Arizona will have an opportunity to regroup as they set to compete in the Battle4Atlantis in Nassau, Bahamas, starting next Wednesday against Davidson. This tournament may serve as a pivotal moment for the Wildcats to adjust and regain their strong play.
While this loss is a setback for Arizona, it is important to remember that challenges like these can provide valuable lessons. The Wildcats have the chance to learn from this defeat and come back stronger, which may ultimately strengthen their resilience and competitive spirit moving forward in the season.