The No. 3 seed University of Arizona men’s basketball team secured a dominant 93-65 win over the No. 13 seed University of Akron on March 21, 2025, in the first round of the NCAA March Madness tournament in the Climate Pledge Arena, Seattle, Wash. The team will face the University of Oregon on Sunday, March 23 at 6:40 p.m. PST in Climate Pledge Arena.
As the Wildcats advance into the second round, there are several key moments from their first match to watch for throughout the rest of their March season:
Rebounds can decide the game
Arizona was effective on the board both offensively and defensively. Their rebound count combined reached 53 compared to Akron’s 22. Grabbing these boards earned them twice as many possessions during the game.
“I think that’s the biggest thing for us is just trying to turn effort plays into points. Whether that’s defensively or offensively, understanding it’s offensive rebounding, blocking the shots, being in the gaps, being in the right spots defensively, because for us, that turns us up to a whole nother level,” Carter Bryant, freshman guard/forward said.
The Wildcats had 15 offensive rebounds and 38 defensive rebounds. Tobe Awaka and Trey Townsend led the team with 8 rebounds each, turning defense into possessions.
Decreasing turnovers
Arizona struggled with 12 turnovers in the first half of the game. However, they flipped a switch in the second half, reducing the errors to only four.
“We pride ourselves on taking care of the ball and I think the second half we really locked in on the little mistakes that we were making in the first [half],” KJ Lewis, a sophomore guard, said.
Against higher competition, like the Ducks, it will be much harder for the Wildcats to come back from easy slip-ups like the ones they made in this game. Oregon will capitalize off of turnovers and turn them into points, something Arizona can’t afford to give up.
Shoot, shoot, shoot
The Wildcats utilized their three-point shooters, with seven players finding points from around the arc. Jaden Bradley went 3-for-5 from the three-point line and 8-for-13 from inside, leading the game with 19 points. These were major points to increase the gap against Akron as well.
Additionally, from inside, the Wildcats scored several step-back jumpers and floaters. There were several big plays created off of missed shots and followed by offensive put-back dunks.
These shots amped up the energy on the court and resulted in more offensive opportunities for Arizona.
Utilize our size
Arizona towered over several of Akron’s players, an advantage as much as a disadvantage. Akron was able to use speed to break through and back door our defense, scoring easy lay-ups.
However, the Wildcats corrected this mistake. They tapped into their size and used wingspan to cover places their body couldn’t reach in time. Fortunately, they stayed out of any bad foul trouble throughout the match as well.
“I think the biggest thing is using my length to my advantage. I mean, being 6 foot 8 is a gift and curse,” Bryant said, “I don’t have to be as much into their body, because they’re so much faster and quicker than me, but understand I can still contest shots.”
Stay hungry
One of the biggest aspects of March Madness is the desire to win and put in the work. The energy in the arena during March is arguably unmatched. Keeping up the energy on the court and not letting a number falter effort is crucial to the Wildcat’s success.
In Arizona’s upcoming game against Oregon, maintaining their calm mixed with a hunger for the ball and points on the board will be a big part of them finding success.
“It’s March Madness everyones playing with their season on the line,” Trey Townsend, fifth-year forward, said.
