Under Tommy Lloyd, the Arizona Wildcats have been known for bouncing back from tough defeats with strong performances. However, that pattern seems to have hit a roadblock as they faced a disappointing loss to No. 12 Duke, falling 69-55 at McKale Center. This marked Arizona’s second consecutive loss—an unusual occurrence during Lloyd’s tenure and the first instance of back-to-back losses since the 2020-21 season when Sean Miller was coaching the team.
Arizona, now holding a 2-2 record, struggled to find its rhythm offensively. The team managed to shoot only 39.6 percent from the field and a lowly 26.1 percent from beyond the arc. They experienced multiple scoring droughts, failing to hit a field goal for over two minutes at least four times during the game. Duke capitalized on Arizona’s struggles, out-rebounding them by a significant margin and forcing 15 turnovers that resulted in 19 points for the Blue Devils.
Jaden Bradley stood out as Arizona’s leading scorer with 18 points, supported by KJ Lewis who contributed 12. In contrast, Caleb Love’s performance was lackluster, as he scored only eight points on a 3-of-13 shooting night, including just one successful three-pointer out of nine attempts.
Duke, led by freshman sensation Cooper Flagg who scored 22 points, effectively avenged last year’s home loss to Arizona. They executed a solid offensive game, shooting 42.6 percent overall and draining nine three-pointers while limiting Arizona to just six offensive rebounds.
The game began with Duke leading 34-27 at halftime, a score that reflected Arizona’s struggles, with 27 points being their lowest halftime total since January 2023. After a brief surge to open the second half, Arizona fell into another scoring drought, allowing Duke to extend its lead and continually pull away.
Despite moments of offensive resurgence that briefly narrowed the gap, Arizona ultimately could not maintain consistent scoring. The Wildcats’ performance was particularly hindered by insufficient attempts to access the free-throw line and a tendency to rely excessively on outside shooting.
Looking ahead, Arizona will aim to regain its footing as they prepare for a challenging schedule next week. The Wildcats are scheduled to play three consecutive games at the Battle4Atlantis tournament in Nassau, Bahamas, starting with a matchup against Davidson on Wednesday. This upcoming opportunity may just be the fresh start they need to reestablish their competitive edge.
Ultimately, while this loss may sting, it could serve as a critical learning experience for Arizona as they work to improve and reclaim their status as a formidable force in college basketball. Every setback can be a stepping stone, and the Wildcats are poised to bounce back stronger.