The Arizona Wildcats reside the candy life.
On Saturday, the West Area’s 2nd-seed defeated the Seventh-seeded Dayton Flyers, 78-68, to advance to its second Candy 16 in three seasons below head coach Tommy Lloyd.
Lloyd, who took over for Sean Miller within the 2021-22 season, beforehand reached the Candy 16 in his first season as head coach.
Final 12 months, the Wildcats misplaced because the 2nd-seed towards Fifteenth-seeded Princeton within the opening spherical.
Arizona confirmed why it is a legit title contender with the win. The Wildcats are identified for his or her offense, which ranks third within the nation in factors per recreation (87.9), however their defensive acumen largely went unnoticed.
Not anymore.
Arizona entered the day seventeenth in defensive score (96.3) however 185th in factors allowed per recreation (72), largely on account of its tempo. Per KenPom, the Wildcats are sixteenth within the nation in adjusted tempo.
Dayton entered Saturday’s recreation averaging 74.4 factors per recreation and with the nation’s third-best three-point capturing share (40.2). The Flyers have been solely 7-of-24 (29.2 %) from deep towards the Wildcats.
Guard KJ Lewis confirmed wonderful effort when blocking Dayton guard Kobe Elvis’ three-point try from behind within the second half.
