Arizona Basketball

Arizona advances to Sweet 16 after Bradley rescues Wildcats from potential disaster

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Jaden Bradley weaves through Utah State’s defense for a basket in Arizona’s 78-66 win over Utah State in the NCAA tournament second-round game at San Diego (Arizona Athletics photo)

SAN DIEGO – Go ahead and admit it, you were scared — so concerned, only your laundry service would know how scared you truly were.

The ghosts of Arizona’s NCAA tournaments past were lingering. The “Oh no, not agains” were starting to roll off your tongue.

Then, in came senior leaderJaden Bradley, Arizona’s golden parachute in some parts of the season, most importantly Sunday evening when Arizona had to have him if it hoped to move on and not be the fodder for more NCAA lore.

If it wasn’t a dipsy-do drive under the basket, it was a drive that had no chance but found a way to get in. Then there was another basket — of course, a jumper.

Boom, Boom. And Boom.

Arizona was able to stay on top and eventually beat upset-minded Utah State, 78-66, here at Viejas Arena.

“It’s always good to keep a lead,” said Bradley, who led Arizona with 18 points, 12 in the second half. “I was able to see some shots go in and get to the line, hit some midranges. I had to keep it going for my team, They kept going to me and I tried to kept delivering.”

And he did. He had no choice being the senior leader.

“Just kind of feeding – I wouldn’t say the high hand – but whoever had it going, whether it’s me, Brayden (Burries), or Mo (Krivas)m it was like whoever scored a couple baskets in a row, most likely you’re probably gonna go back to that guy. I just happened to be me in that stretch.”

Now, Arizona moves on to the Sweet 16, making it 22 times the program has reached it and the fourth time under Tommy Lloyd in his five seasons.

A relief to have this one done and able to get through.

“I’ve been in a lot of these,” Bradley said. “I haven’t been able to get over the hump just yet in the Sweet 16. I’m blessed to be in this situation and be in the moment with these guys. Not everybody gets to advance.”

There was a time or two or three, Arizona could have folded. Looked like it was getting to that point as Utah State closed a few times in the latter moments. But, Burries hit a deep 3-pointer with seconds left on the shot clock with about 2:18 left in the game.

Utah State coach Jerrod Calhoun called it the “dagger.”

“When he had the ball in his hands at the end, I was trying to figure out ways, obvsiously, I wanted it in JB’s hands, but when Brayden had that possession that ended at the deep clock, I felt pretty good about it,” Lloyd said.

So did Burries.

“That’s my spot … shot it with a lot of confidence and thankful it went in,” said Burries, who finished with 16 points.

It was deeply needed, even after Arizona had a 51-33 lead in the early part of the second half. It used a 9-0 run to make that happen.

It was then Utah State rallying back.

“Basketball is a game of runs,” Burries said. “We’re going to go on runs, they’re going to go on runs. When you go through adversity, that’s when you show your character.”

It’ll come from Bradley, more than likely.

“If they are going to get to the Final Four, Bradley is going to get them there,” Calhoun said.

How does he stay so calm under all that pressure? And, surely, Arizona felt that pressure.

“Just trusting my work, and I know my teammates believe in me,” Bradley said. “… Just trusting in my work and trying to get to my spots and make plays.”

With that working on Sunday, Arizona lives to play another day.

“Really proud of our guys,” Lloyd said. “Excited we get another opportunity to play next week.”

Next challenge is playing Arkansas and John Calipari, with freshman sensation Darius Acuff Jr., on Thursday at approximately 6:45 p.m. at San Jose.

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