The University of Arizona men’s basketball team enters the 2024-25 season with some returning talent and new key additions, hoping to build on last season’s success.
The Wildcats had a strong 2023-24 season, finishing 27-9 and making it to the Sweet 16 of the NCAA March Madness tournament. Key players who contributed to that season’s success included Caleb Love, Oumar Ballo, Pelle Larsson and Keshad Johnson.
Returning this season for the Wildcats is fifth-year Love who was named the Pac-12 Player of the Year last season and is projected to have a notable season this year as well.
Although Love struggled during the NCAA tournament, going 5 of 28 (17.9%) against Clemson in the Sweet 16, he had a crucial role in Arizona’s success up to that point. Love averaged 18.0 points per game and was the team’s leader in three categories, draining 92 three-pointers, hitting 218 field goals and making 120 free throws.
Another guard rejoining the roster is junior Jaden Bradley, who played in 36 games and averaged 20.2 minutes per game.
Sophomore Motiejus Krivas is returning to the court for the Wildcats and is projected to be Arizona’s starting center after Ballo’s departure to the University of Indiana via the transfer portal in the offseason.
Head coach Tommy Lloyd said the three returning guards for Arizona are important to the team as Love, Bradley and KJ Lewis’ experience is what the team needs.
As coach Lloyd goes into his fourth season at Arizona, his proven track record and the program’s positive momentum create a promising outlook. Lloyd has an 88-20 record at Arizona and is the first power conference coach to win the conference tournament in their first two seasons (2022 and 2023 Pac-12 tournament titles).
New talent has emerged in the off-season like forward Carter Bryant, a four-star recruit out of Riverside, California. The 6-foot-8 freshman was ranked as a Top 20 recruit in the country according to every recruiting service.
Anthony Dell’Orso, a highly efficient scorer, transferred to Arizona in the offseason from Campbell University. The Aussie had a very impressive offensive season with Campbell last year, shooting 49.25% overall, 38.0% from the 3-point line and 80.9% on 157 attempts at the free throw line on his way to averaging 19.5 points per game.
Another addition to the team is forward Trey Townsend, who previously played at Oakland University. Townsend was named the 2024 Horizon League Player of the Year after helping Oakland deliver a massive upset to Kentucky in the first round of the NCAA tournament last year.
The Wildcats will start Big 12 play by hosting TCU on Dec. 30, kicking off their first season in the conference. The last time Arizona faced TCU was during the Sweet 16 in 2022 where Arizona beat the Horned Frogs in overtime 85-80.
Arizona will also rematch the University of Houston, their opponent in the 2022 NCAA tournament Elite Eight, who they lost to 72-60. The Wildcats will host the Cougars Saturday, Feb. 15.
Some other opponents the Wildcats will face this season are the University of Cincinnati, West Virginia University, University of Central Florida, Baylor University, Texas Tech University and Oklahoma State University.
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