No. 9 Arizona moved again to the highest of the Pac-12 on Saturday with a 87-78 victory vs. Oregon behind Caleb Love’s huge day. The Wildcats have been coming off a loss to Oregon State on the highway and responded days later by profitable their first recreation in Eugene, Oregon, since 2015.
Love scored a career-high 36 factors on 12-of-18 capturing for the Wildcats (15-5, 6-3 Pac-12). The North Carolina switch has 10 video games of at the least 20 factors this season. Love’s backcourt mate — Kylan Boswell — scored 14 factors after recording solely 14 factors in his earlier 4 video games mixed.
The Wildcats had misplaced their final 9 video games at Oregon earlier than snapping that streak with an announcement win. Arizona has but to lose back-to-back video games below coach Tommy Lloyd and it improved to 16-0 when coming off a loss.
Oregon (14-6, 6-3) began convention play 5-0 earlier than dropping three of its final 4 video games in opposition to Colorado, Utah and Arizona and is now tied with the Wildcats for first place within the Pac-12 standings. Jermaine Couisnard scored a team-high 20 factors and large man N’Faly Dante chipped in 19. Dante missed 14 straight video games due to damage and is now again to his regular workload after taking part in below 20 minutes in his first two video games again.
Arizona handed the Geese their first loss at dwelling this season after they began 10-0 in video games at Matthew Knight Enviornment.
There’s lots to love about Arizona’s Love
The Caleb Love expertise is like no different. He’s the final word microwave that may warmth up at a given second to offer a spark. Love might very effectively be the lacking piece that helps the Wildcats get again to the Ultimate 4 and Saturday definitely provided a glimpse of what they will accomplish with him within the fold. Arizona has been up-and-down the final month with blowout wins and questionable losses in opposition to unranked opponents.
On one evening, the Wildcats appear like the undisputed finest group within the Pac-12 and the very subsequent, appear like a group heading towards one other early exit within the NCAA Match. Remarkably, Arizona hasn’t misplaced consecutive video games below Lloyd. If the Wildcats can keep constant, they are going to be one of many hardest outs come March due to the depth within the beginning lineup. All of it begins and ends with Love.
Oregon’s NCAA Match hopes take successful
In CBS Sports activities’ newest Bracketology replace by Jerry Palm, Oregon was a No. 11 seed. The loss to Arizona dropped them to 1-4 in opposition to Quad 1 opponents and there is no assure the Geese make the sphere until they end the season sturdy. After one month of convention play, Arizona is the one group from the Pac-12 that may be considered as a “lock” to make the NCAA Match.
Oregon, Utah, Colorado and Washington State are at the moment within the combine and this loss was a missed alternative to separate themselves from the pack. Oregon now has losses to Utah, Colorado and Arizona and can have an opportunity to play all three groups later to finish the season. The Geese have the expertise to make a run within the match, however they should shut the second half of convention play sturdy to make sure a spot.
