Jordan Hamm
Even before Caleb Love launched a half-court shot that would send their game against No. 3 Iowa State, the Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team showed this team has a grit to it that can hang with any team in the country.
The message grew louder, as did the McKale crowd, when Love hit the improbable shot to fuel an overtime win over the Cyclones.
CALEB LOVE JUST LAUNCHED IT FROM BEYOND HALF COURT TO SEND IT TO OT 😱
📺: ESPN pic.twitter.com/PaL8fC6SxQ
— ESPN (@espn) January 28, 2025
The ‘Cats ran away with the game in overtime and took down the NO. 3 team in the land 86-75.
Here are a few takeaways from the night…
‘Cats Clawing out Turnovers
The Arizona defense was scrappy throughout the night. Tobe Awaka presents challenges inside the paint, and Love and Jade Bradley forced multiple turnovers throughout the night. Iowa State’s 71 points in regulation was the second-lowest total of the season for them.
More talented Arizona teams have stumbled in the postseason in Lloyd’s tenure and toward the end of the Sean Miller era. If Arizona continues to play defense like they did on Monday night, they could make a deep run in March.
Shooters Shoot
Funny that prior to the big shot, Caleb Love was only 1/11 from three-point land. After that? He hit two more in overtime and Carter Bryant tacked on one more for good measure.
Tobe Awaka
The Arizona big was a tank in the middle and has rattled off back-to-back impressive performances. He did not miss from the field on Monday and tallied 17 points and 12 boards against the Cyclones.
I’m looking forward to seeing Awaka battle in the paint on Saturday against Arizona State’s Jayden Quaintance. Awaka is in his third college basketball season while Quaintance is the youngest player in college basketball. But both are gamechangers in the paint and have high motors to match.
Freshman Phenom
Carter Bryant matched a career-high with 14 points and continues to see his role expand. In a program that has had uber-athletic and defensive-minded wings like Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Dalen Terry and Keshad Johnson, Bryant is the next in line. He also might be the most talented among them.
