Arizona’s poison was just too much for Houston – again.
For 32 games it’s been Arizona’s elixir against opponents and Saturday it was Houston that passed out as Arizona defeated the Cougars for the second time this season, 79-74. Arizona defeated the preseason conference favorites twice – once to win the regular-season title and now the postseason crown.
UA is the 13th school to win the regular-season title and tournament title in the same year. Maybe there will be a third title in three weeks?
At least UA is prepared for what’s ahead in part because of who they are and how they are built.
“They are resilient,” said Tommy Lloyd in a post-game celebration from T-Mobile Center. “They have this unbreakable spirit we talk about being relentless. These guys have a way of figuring it out in tough moments.”
Indeed. Arizona found a way again – getting out early, then holding on late in between Tobe Awaka, Koa Peat and Mo Krivas all getting into foul trouble.
But, Arizona found its heat in different spots.
UA is now the hottest thing since, um, summer – or last week. They have now won six consecutive games.
What does it all mean?
Arizona is without a doubt the best team in the Big 12 with a chance – a very good one – to show it’s the very best in the country. It’ll be a No. 1 seed in the all-important NCAA tournament which begins this week with a road that seems built for the Wildcats: San Diego, San Jose and Indianapolis.
Still, stranger things have happened over the years so beware.
Until then, enjoy the moment(s) from a team that was picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 but has ended up 32-2 and most everyone saying this team is special.
Of course it is, teams don’t have that record without being special.
Lloyd said they were a bunch “of humbled warriors.”
“Arizona’s really good; they’re really good,” Houston coach Kelvin Sampson said. “They’ve got a really good team. If Arizona had lost to Houston, I’d say the same thing. Arizona lost to a really good team. There’s no shame in Arizona losing to Houston. And I’ll say the same thing, the other way, you know, Arizona’s really good.”
Saturday afternoon continued that trend with Houston not being able to handle some of Arizona’s poison, the same that wasn’t there the day before vs. Iowa State.
Jaden Bradley and Anthony Dell’Orso was the drip, drip, drip on Friday.
Freshman Koa Peat and Brayden Burries were the fatal doses for the Cougars on Saturday.
The last two were active ingredients in Arizona’s big prize. Peat and Burries each had 21 points to lead Arizona. It was Burries’ 10-straight that kept up afloat and ahead of Houston in a pivotal time to end the first half.
UA led 44-36 at halftime, but given UA’s past of giving up a big lead was always there. Still, the freshman duo combined for 11 for 25 from the floor and looked the part of future NBA stars. Enjoy them while you can.
In talking about who can and does step up, they explained anybody could and usually does, it Just depends on the game.
“We have a great group of guys want everybody to be successful,” said Peat. “Just making the right plays, making the right reads every time down the court. It’s not going to be perfect but just playing off each other and we’re just flowing. And coach put a great offense in for us. So, we just played together and hit the open man.”
Throw in the critical heroics of Ivan Kharchenkov who had 12 points and seven rebounds and once again the triple dosed freshman were too much for Houston. He also hit a 3-pointer late that banked and gave Arizona some wiggle room with about three minutes left.
“I thought a key play was when they hit the 22-foot bank shot,” said Houston coach Kelvin Sampson. “That was a big possession, for both teams. Shot clock was running down. We were playing great defense. Then they bank a ball in from 20 feet.”
And Arizona was able to hang on thanks to its freshman.
“Crazy Ivan. He’s really come on,” Lloyd said. “He’s been a good player for us all year. But this last, I don’t know, eight or 10 games, we’ve counted on a little bit more playmaking for him.
“He’s fearless. He really is fearless. Sometimes it’s gotten him in a little bit of trouble. But you love that attribute in a player. You love a guy who is not afraid of the moment.”
Well, a team that hasn’t been afraid of the moment(s) all year, especially the last three days in the Big 12 Tournament.
“It was quite a ride the last three days,” Lloyd said.
