The Arizona Wildcats live the candy life.
On Saturday, the West Area’s 2nd-seed defeated the Seventh-seeded Dayton Flyers, 78-68, to advance to its second Candy 16 in three seasons below head coach Tommy Lloyd.
Lloyd, who took over for Sean Miller within the 2021-22 season, beforehand reached the Candy 16 in his first season as head coach.
Final yr, the Wildcats misplaced because the 2nd-seed in opposition to Fifteenth-seeded Princeton within the opening spherical.
Arizona confirmed why it is a official title contender with the win. The Wildcats are recognized for his or her offense, which ranks third within the nation in factors per sport (87.9), however their defensive acumen largely went unnoticed.
Not anymore.
Arizona entered the day seventeenth in defensive score (96.3) however 185th in factors allowed per sport (72), principally because of its tempo. Per KenPom, the Wildcats are sixteenth within the nation in adjusted tempo.
Dayton entered Saturday’s sport averaging 74.4 factors per sport and with the nation’s third-best three-point capturing proportion (40.2). The Flyers had been solely 7-of-24 (29.2 p.c) from deep in opposition to the Wildcats.
Guard KJ Lewis confirmed glorious effort when blocking Dayton guard Kobe Elvis’ three-point try from behind within the second half.
