Bennedict Mathurin finished his evening scoring 15 points and grabbing four rebounds, meanwhile, Dalen Terry added 17 points and six rebounds of his own; ...
As for Arizona, it will be an interesting off-season as Mathurin will depart for the NBA, and the Wildcats will have to do a bit of roster shuffling. Unfortunately for Arizona, that would be the closest that the Wildcats would get in this one, as for every run the Wildcats tried to make, the Cougars had a response. Despite Arizona’s best attempts to stay in this one in the first half, the Wildcats looked sloppy and a bit out of sorts as Houston’s defensive toughness and veteran leadership ultimately proved to be the difference-maker here.
SAN ANTONIO, Texas -- Tommy Lloyd knew exactly what to expect from Houston; the Arizona men's basketball coach used the word "effort" three times in his ...
But we're not going to win a game in the 80s." "We're going to win a game in the 60s. Houston is now 40 minutes from its second straight Final Four -- going against a Villanova team on Saturday that is 40 minutes from its third Final Four in the last six NCAA tournaments. After Mathurin hit a 3 to cut the Cougars' lead to three, Shead hit a pair of free throws and Edwards buried a 3. Arizona tried to speed things up at times defensively, trapping ball handlers, running two defenders at the ball in order to force a rushed shot or turnover. "He just had to grow with our team," Sampson said. "The best thing they did was fast breaks, and they only had nine fast-break points." Late free throws from Koloko cut the deficit to six points going into the break. "They do the things they're good at at such a high level. "You're better served if you play them a couple times," Lloyd said after the game. The Cougars are annually one of the best defensive teams in the country, but they're also an elite offensive rebounding unit. Houston's reputation since Kelvin Sampson took over in 2014 has been built on defense, toughness and aggressiveness -- at both ends of the floor.
Why he left Gonzaga basketball, why the Wildcats were one of the only programs he would leave for, and how he hit the ground running in Tuscon.
Kerr—the Golden State coach, not the point guard named after him—met with Lloyd midseason to emphasize the tradition, reminding Lloyd to coach as he coached in Spokane. Lloyd was unsatisfied with his team at that point. Then Lloyd walked in and the world returned to normal. That guy, Tommy Lloyd, is now poised to make the same impact with a different job title, the one connoted by the seat he now sits in, the one reserved for the head coach. Experts tabbed Arizona the fourth-best team in a down Pac-12. But Lloyd believed he knew better, because he could see his new team adopting the philosophy he already knew worked. His players found out Lloyd liked to crack jokes when not displaying his trademark intensity, that he could be fun, when not drilling the same concepts over and over. In some ways, those months mirrored a choice Lloyd made before he joined Gonzaga. He turned down a job with the Bulldogs in 1999, choosing a summer spent backpacking around the world with his wife over a low-level assistant gig he had needed a favor to obtain in the first place. He lived in a hotel at first, before his family joined him, and while he ate fast food and slept poorly, he loved every second, because those weeks reminded him of the early Gonzaga days, and that mindset was exactly what he needed. Given the current state of college basketball in that particular part of the country, his baseline conditions didn’t leave a lot of options, dwindling a list of schools he was considering to Gonzaga, UCLA and Arizona, more or less. But the Wildcats had dismissed Miller not for his record but for their place in the FBI sting operation that led to a prison stint for former assistant Emmanuel “Book” Richardson on bribery charges. Before the trip, he worked construction for his father, saved every penny he could and took off on what he called “Our Last Hurrah.” The Lloyds visited Europe, Egypt and Zimbabwe. When they ran out of money, a friend had them run a motel in Brisbane, Australia. What struck Chanelle was a contradiction: The son of a carpenter who had decided not to enter the family business did one thing better than anything else. Of course Lloyd wanted the Zags to win, because of his connections, the deep bonds he had developed, what that place meant to him. He brought his family and invited the Bakamus brood, from his mentor, Bill, to Bill’s son, Rem, now the director of player development on Lloyd’s coaching staff at Arizona.
Arizona became the second No. 1 seed to lose Thursday night, falling at the hands of a physical Houston team.
Just a couple of hours after overall No. 1 seed Gonzaga went down in a heap in the West Region against No. 4 seed Arkansas, No. 5 seed Houston sent No. 1 Arizona spiraling out of the South with a 72-60 victory. The early projection on Houston-Villanova again sees the Cougars as a two-point favorite, this time at 65-63, with Houston given a 57% chance to win. Even beyond point guard Kerr Kriisa battling through an ankle injury at the most inopportune time, the Wildcats made just 7-of-18 layups and were still within six points with the ball following a Houston turnover with about two minutes left. But the Wildcats gave the ball back via turnover themselves, and Edwards hit a huge 3-pointer to push the lead back to nine. Should Terry and Koloko both return alongside Kriisa and Azuolas Tubelis, Arizona is staring at another top-five team and national title contender. Now, he'll wait to see what kind of roster he'll have. Houston coach Kelvin Sampson likely didn't get enough credit in the National Coach of the Year discussions. Even with Thursday night's loss, Tommy Lloyd's first season at Arizona was an unqualified success. With the Wildcats' loss, three of the field's four No. 1 seeds have been bounced before the regional finals. That certainly opened the door for Houston's backcourt depth. That became an even bigger problem as guards Jamal Shead (21 points) and Kyler Edwards (19) continued to hit key jumpers. Mark's sophomore classmate, Shead, has stepped into that role well.
"I knew we were going to make them uncomfortable," Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. "That's what we do." The Cougars scored 18 ...
The Wildcats' loss somewhat mirrored those they suffered at Tennessee and UCLA earlier this season. Arizona had two early turnovers, with one by Tubelis leading to a 3-pointer from Houston’s Taze Moore. They took a 34-28 halftime lead while keeping the Wildcats to just 28% shooting. Trailing 34-28 at halftime, Arizona had pulled within 37-35 four minutes into the second with a more characteristic offensive flow led by Tubelis. Scoreless in the first half. By the time Edwards hit his fourth of eight 3-pointers taken with 7:46 left, from the left corner, Houston held a 59-47 lead. "The energy was electric," Houston guard Jamal Shead said. Extremely proud of the coaching staff. Extremely proud of the guys. Houston also had strong support from the crowd, playing just three hours away from campus despite being the lower-seeded team. I think they helped me get Arizona basketball off to a good start in my tenure, and I'll always be thankful for them. Entering the game with the ninth-fastest adjusted tempo and a scoring margin of plus-16.7, the Wildcats never led. "We felt like if we could hold them in the 50s — and if we don’t turn the ball over we probably keep them in the 50s.
Sun Devils fans couldn't be happier to see their biggest rivals once again exit the NCAA Tournament early.
Arizona hasn't escaped the Sweet 16 since 2015. On the football field, Arizona State has dominated the rivals down south. The remarkable 70-7 victory for Arizona State over Arizona in 2020 will also be told as a mythical story passed down by generations of those who first witnessed it at ASU.
SAN ANTONIO—Arizona's dream season ended in a nightmare on Thursday night, falling 72-60 to Houston in the Sweet 16. Our full recap can be found here.
I want our fan base to be the best in the country, and I think we have the potential to do that. We won the Pac-12 regular season, we won the Pac-12 tournament, and we get to the Sweet 16. “We knew we could have done better. We started the season, and nobody believed in us. I’m looking forward to taking a little bit of a rest for myself and for him and getting back in the gym with Zu. I think he’s got a huge jump coming in his near future.” They do what they do, and they do it at a really high level. Mathurin on his future: “Next thing for me is to get in the gym and get better. I think they helped me get Arizona basketball off to a good start in my tenure, and I’ll always be thankful for them. Whatever the future has for me has for me. Mathurin (in French) on how the game went: “I don’t have a lot to say. I felt like at the start of the second half he was giving us something, and we were kind of able to get him in some different short role scenarios. I don’t have a lot to say.”
The 2022 NCAA Tournament saw a second No. 1 seed upset Thursday night when Arizona men's basketball, the South Region's top team, suffered a 72-60 Sweet 16 ...
Here is a complete look at what Lloyd and Arizona's aforementioned three players had to say following Thursday's game. The Cougars enter an Elite Eight matchup with 2-seed Villanova Saturday at 6:09 p.m. ET on TBS after the Wildcats earned a 63-55 win over 11-seed Michigan. Bennedict Mathurin (15) and Christian Koloko (10) rounded out a trio of double-digit scorers for the Wildcats.
The UA shot 33.3 percent as a team, its third-lowest rate of the season and tied for the fourth-worst in an NCAA Tournament game in program history. Its 60 ...
Back-to-back 3-pointers by Larsson and Justin Kier cut the deficit to 19-15 with 9:10 left in the first half. Arizona started off slow, as it has many times this season, missing 10 of its first 12 shots and turning it over three times in the first six minutes, falling behind 14-4. A Kerr Kriisa 3 got the UA within eight with 3:44 left, but Houston got a dunk from Josh Carlton 25 seconds later. The Cougars got the lead back up to 10 not long after, and Edwards’ corner 3 made it 59-47 with 7:46 to go. Its 60 points were tied for the seventh-fewest in an NCAA game and only one above its season-low in scoring. Houston also converted 12 offensive rebounds into 19 second-chance points, and the 10-point lead they built early in the first half was never relinquished.
Arizona and Houston meet in the NCAA Tournament Thursday for the first time since a Cougars player stepped on a Wildcats player's face.
We apologize to the University of Arizona, its basketball team and to the Tucson community for what occurred Saturday evening. Aubrey will be suspended for Wednesday night's game, and we now consider the matter to be closed." "I have never been in an incident like this before, and I have nothing but respect for him as a great player. "I love the game too much to do something like that intentionally. "I know that God knows what is in my heart, but I am hopeful that Chase will understand and forgive." I never meant to step on him," Coleman said in a statement issued by the school after the incident.
The Pac-12 champion has two players expected to be first-round NBA draft picks -- Bennedict Mathurin and Christian Koloko -- and Houston has no current players ...
Guard Kerr Kriisa made his first start of the NCAA tournament after being slowed by an ankle injury, but was just 1-for-7 from the field for three points and one assist. This year's Arizona squad was the No. 2 overall seed in this NCAA tournament and figured to have a chance to win it all. Arizona's powerful offense was limited to 60 points and 33.3% shooting from the field. Lloyd was the Pac-12 coach of the year for good reason, and he did not make any glaring coaching errors Thursday; his team just wasn't as prepared to win an NCAA tournament game as Houston was. Arizona got within two points early in the second half, but Houston never lost the lead or control of the game. Sampson is in his 30th season as a college head coach, all with power conference teams, and this is 19th NCAA tournament as a head coach.
Been that way since '88 when Lute Olson took Sean Elliott, Steve Kerr and Tom Tolbert to Kansas City. Longtime fans tell stories about dancing in the Tucson ...
I want our fanbase to be the best in the country. It’s getting us back to where we were in the days of Lute Olsen.” And I think we have the potential to do that. We have a shot at the title, compared to getting eliminated in the first round in 2018 and not really participating the last couple of years. Maybe it will for the fans, too? Maybe it all comes together next season for the team? “Compared to the two or three years before, it’s kind of a 180-degree turnaround,” she said. “What made this season different for me, was that after coming off that investigation, that self-imposed lockout of the tournament, I figure expectations are low. “We’re back in the game. “This is wonderful,” said Matthew Lewis, a manufacturing technician at Intel. Lewis said he is a UA grad who studied journalism before making the switch to the tech sector. “I always used to be kind of a casual observer; I’ll admit. And in the Valley, alumni clubs hosted watch parties.
Arizona Basketball's all-time leading scorer and 1999 NBA champion Sean Elliott was glowing with pride discussing this year's Wildcats.
“It’s not an easy thing to do, especially with that type of pressure,” Elliott said. “Really appreciate that the guys play for each other,” Elliott said. “They can play fast,” Elliott said. “I feel like that’s kind of what was missing over the last several years with Arizona Basketball. Now you have a team that plays like a team and they help each other out. I just want the young kids to be successful.” “I wish Coach [Olson] was around to see this team,” Elliott said.
Former Arizona star Sean Elliott says he's "really proud of the way Tommy Lloyd has taken the direction of the program."
And I would also take Dalen Terry. I think he’s a hell of a player. We gotta be ready to play.’ He wasn’t sugarcoating anything, he wasn’t pampering guys, he was straight-forward and honest. A: “I thought it was a good hire, to be honest with you. I just tried to keep it simple and just talk about the basics and to enjoy the moment. … I got a chance to watch them and the coaching staff in their film session, and I was just really impressed. Don’t listen to the criticism. A lot of people close to the program felt like it should’ve been a former player and an Arizona guy, but it’s worked out really, really well, and I think that speaks to the character of Coach Lloyd and his staff.” They’ve been in a lot of tight games and won a lot of close games. I just want the young kids to be successful.” … Again, I’m just happy that they’re back on the map and they’re doing it the way it’s supposed to be done.” Now you have a team that plays like a team and they help each other out, they’re unselfish, they’re a good defensive club and they’re exciting to watch.” I don’t care about anybody breaking our records to be honest with you.
A pair of 30-win teams face off in San Antonio on Thursday night in the Sweet 16 of the NCAA tournament as Houston takes on Arizona.
And then he wasn’t sure he was going to stay when the school made a coaching change. Lloyd said that shows just how important Kriisa is to the Wildcats. Kriisa’s more than just a showboating player with all those between-the-legs passes and the white headband that suggests a playful, playground spirit to his game. “Kerr’s a lot of bark and sometimes a little bite,” Lloyd said Wednesday. “Obviously, you guys see the personality and the antics. He later posted a photo on social media showing massive bruising with deep blue, and purple and yellow hues. Illinois. Arizona needed overtime to beat TCU, 85-80, on Sunday.
In the fall of 2017, a corruption scandal rocked the college basketball landscape with the University of Arizona being named as one of four schools involved ...
This year and this team (33-3) has been a culmination of sorts for the 2022 senior class as Arizona proves it is back to being a basketball power. Arizona has a long and rich history of being a basketball powerhouse, and it started when Lute Olson left Iowa and came to Arizona in 1983. “A big reason why I came to Arizona was how much success they’ve had in sports, especially basketball,” marketing student, Josh McCrae from Phoenix said.
Analyzing Thursday's Houston vs. Arizona odds and lines, with college basketball expert picks, predictions and best bets.
Add in Houston having an experience edge, and the COUGARS (+102) are a decent play. The Wildcats are 0-4 ATS in their last four NCAA Tournament games. The Wildcat defense has slipped a bit over recent weeks. Tipico has no influence over nor are any such revenues in any way dependent on or linked to the newsrooms or news coverage. Arizona advanced with wins over Wright State (87-70 Friday) and TCU (85-80 Sunday). The Wildcats needed overtime to get by TCU. The nation’s No. 2-ranked team plays at an ultra-fast pace, and they use those extra possessions to their advantage. Houston has done well versus expectations in high-possession games. Gannett may earn revenue from Tipico for audience referrals to betting services. The slow-tempo Cougars have held foes fewer than 60 points in six of those wins. Arizona odds and lines, and make our expert college basketball picks, predictions and bets. Houston has won five straight games against the spread and it is 12-3 ATS in its last 15 games as an underdog. A few prominent analytics sites peg Houston as a slight favorite in this game, and I’m inclined to agree. Houston’s first week in the tourney included wins over UAB (82-68 Friday) and nationally 16th-ranked Illinois (68-53 Sunday). The No. 15 team in the nation is 11-1 over its last 12 games.
It's game day, NCAA Tournament-style! The top-seeded Arizona Wildcats (33-3) take on the Houston Cougars (31-5) in the Sweet 16, hoping to advance to ...
- NCAA Tournament: By advancing to Sweet 16, Arizona men’s basketball also climbing school record book - Making the case for Arizona men’s basketball making (or missing) the Final Four - NCAA Tournament: What to watch for when Arizona men’s basketball faces Houston in Sweet 16
The Arizona Wildcats will need to improve their play in the NCAA Tournament to get by the Houston Cougars on Thursday.
The majority of the Wildcats’ ball-handlers were spooked, particularly against TCU’s aggression and size on the perimeter. It would be shocking to see Houston become fazed by the moment like the Wildcats have been so far. With him getting a couple more days to rest his injured right ankle, Kriisa should benefit the team even more in that aspect as well as the next one. To that point, sophomore point guard Kerr Kriisa was great on Sunday because he was one of the few to be cool, calm and collected. There will be no 14-0 run in four minutes that suffocates Arizona from there. The Wildcats center duo of 7-foot-1 Christian Koloko and 7-foot Oumar Ballo need to take care of business down there, and ditto for 6-foot-11 sophomore power forward Azuolas Tubelis. That’s where it’ll be crucial for Arizona to not only get the rebound but go once the ball is secured. Kriisa proved a lot in those crunch-time possessions with the game on the line by playing within himself and not forcing anything while still applying that aforementioned pressure. The Horned Frogs had 20 on Sunday against Arizona, and it’s not as simple as, “jUsT BoX oUt.” It’s more about a group mentality of gang rebounding, meaning players on the perimeter need to be racking up rebounds. He also was +24 in 27 minutes because he was the one guy consistently pushing the pace offensively and keeping the opposing defense on the back foot. It plays 6-foot-11 senior center Josh Carlton only 21.8 minutes per game and elsewhere in the rotation are players 6-foot-8 and shorter. Defensive rebounding, rim protection, finishing on the other end, etc.
SAN ANTONIO — The last time Houston made consecutive trips to the round of 8 in the N.C.A.A. tournament was in a vastly different era of college basketball ...
But the Wolverines had the size advantage they needed to be successful against the smaller Wildcats. Michigan went down low to its leading scorer and big man, Hunter Dickinson, early, and he found success there, finishing with 15 points and 15 rebounds despite being in foul trouble. Of 30 3-point attempts, Villanova made nine, while the Wolverines were 6 of 18 from deep. Gillespie hit four of 10 3-point attempts against Michigan, playing all but one minute and finishing with 12 points. After Texas Tech called a timeout, the Red Raiders fouled A.J. Griffin, who made both free throws with 12.9 seconds left. It didn’t exactly stop Texas Tech, but it slowed the Red Raiders down enough that Duke seized the lead when Roach drove the lane, scored and was fouled with just over 10 minutes left. In Duke’s scouting report, the 2-3 zone is listed as the No. 12 defense. In what seemed like an ironic wink — or a sign of desperation — Krzyzewski, the old Bob Knight disciple and man-to-man defense acolyte, turned to zone defense midway through the second half. Forward Paolo Banchero, who scored his 22 points from a variety of spots, and point guard Jeremy Roach, who added 15 points and 5 assists, repeatedly unsettled the Texas Tech defense, which was the toughest to score against in Division I. SAN FRANCISCO — For much of Thursday night, Mike Krzyzewski took his usual spot on the Duke bench — the third seat from the scorer’s table — and stayed there. He finished with just 3 points. The only remaining No. 1 is Kansas, which plays its round of 16 game against Providence on Friday. Their athletic blocks fired up their fans, who took up a sizable portion of the seats inside the AT&T Center in San Antonio, about a three-hour drive from the university’s campus.