Under the leadership of Tommy Lloyd, Arizona had built a reputation for bouncing back strong after difficult losses. However, that trend came to an end as the No. 17 Wildcats fell 69-55 to No. 12 Duke at McKale Center on Friday, marking the first time under Lloyd that Arizona has suffered back-to-back defeats. The Wildcats had not lost two successive games since the 2020-21 season, which was during Sean Miller’s tenure as head coach.
Arizona’s struggles were evident as they could not generate their usual offensive flow, posting a shooting percentage of 39.6 percent overall and only 26.1 percent from beyond the arc. Throughout the game, the Wildcats experienced multiple scoring droughts, lasting more than two minutes on at least four occasions. Moreover, they were out-rebounded by 13 and committed 15 turnovers, contributing to 19 points scored by Duke.
Top scorer for Arizona was Jaden Bradley with 18 points, while KJ Lewis added 12. Caleb Love struggled, managing only eight points on 3-of-13 shooting, including 1-of-9 from three-point range.
For Duke, Cooper Flagg shone brightly, scoring 22 points with 14 coming in the second half. The Blue Devils shot 42.6 percent from the field and connected on 9 of 25 three-pointers. Duke’s defense was also significant, limiting Arizona to just six offensive rebounds, a sharp decline from the Wildcats’ impressive offensive rebound rate of 50 percent prior to the game.
The Blue Devils led 34-27 at halftime, benefitting from a late scoring run while Arizona failed to score in the final 2:55 of the half. This was the fewest points scored by Arizona at halftime since a game against UCLA in January 2023.
Following halftime, Arizona initially gained momentum but could not sustain it, allowing Duke to push their lead to 42-31. Despite a brief resurgence that brought the score to 50-43, Duke responded with key three-pointers to effectively seal the game. The Wildcats managed only one field goal in the last 5:39 minutes, a reflection of their continued scoring difficulties.
The game’s physical nature favored Duke early on, as they capitalized on the lack of foul calls and built a significant lead. Arizona’s offense, looking to settle from long-range too often, struggled to yield the points needed for a comeback.
Next up, Arizona will head to the Bahamas for three games in three days during the Battle4Atlantis tournament, starting Wednesday against Davidson. This will be an opportunity for the Wildcats to regroup and regain their winning form—a chance to turn their current challenges into learning experiences as they look to bounce back on the court.
In summary, while this loss may be a setback for Arizona, it’s also a pivotal moment for growth and adaptation. The upcoming tournament could provide the momentum needed for the team to reestablish its identity and competitiveness. Coach Lloyd and the Wildcats have the potential to show resilience and emerge stronger from this challenging phase of the season.