LOS ANGELES — On the rainy January day after the Arizona Wildcats suffered their most damaging loss of the season, at Oregon State, coach Tommy Lloyd gathered his four senior starters and asked them to look out more often for their sophomore point guard.
“In that Duke game there were stretches when he was the best player on the floor,” Lloyd said he told them, referring to Kylan Boswell’s play in UA’s 78-73 win over the then-No. 2 Blue Devils back on Nov. 10. “So we know what his ceiling is. Now we just have to help him. … Help him hit it.’ ”
That worked out pretty well for the Wildcats, who won 10 of their next 11 games to clinch the Pac-12 regular-season title by getting strong, mostly consistent performances from center Oumar Ballo, forward Keshad Johnson, wing Pelle Larsson and guard Caleb Love.
But this is the NCAA Tournament. The Sweet 16. Where reputation has it that you need excellent guard play to reach Final Fours and win national championships.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell throws down an unopposed dunk late in the second half against Long Beach State in the first round last week.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Boswell may be that guy. In Arizona’s 27 wins leading up to its Sweet 16 game with Clemson on Thursday, he’s averaging 11.3 points while hitting 44.1% of his 3-pointers and averaging 4.0 assists with better than a 2-1 assist-turnover ratio.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley right, slams into Long Beach State forward Lassina Traore, picking up the foul on his shot attempt in the first half last week.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley right, slams into Long Beach State forward Lassina Traore, picking up the foul on his shot attempt in the first half last week.
Boswell also may not be that guy. In Arizona’s eight losses, he’s averaging 4.8 points while shooting 20.9% from the field and just 15.2% from 3-point range while averaging 2.6 assists and a 1.61 assist-turnover ratio.
Of Arizona’s five starters, nobody is a bigger X-factor than the Wildcats’ point guard.
That could be a scary thought for an Arizona team trying to reach its first Final Four in 23 years this weekend in Los Angeles.
“Guards are really important in the tournament for sure but I also think they’re important all the time,” says college basketball analyst Matt Muehlebach, the former UA standout.
“Because here’s what happens especially in in big games: The ball’s in the guards hands and so they have to make decisions, especially with the shot clock coming down. So it’s important that not only they play well, but also that they make good decisions.”
But as the Wildcats showed in their Pac-12 tournament quarterfinal win over USC, and in their second-round NCAA Tournament win over Dayton, Boswell doesn’t have to do it alone.
Boswell had just two points in each of those games, while shooting a combined 2 for 19 from the field.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) tries to bounce the ball off Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) while falling out of bounds in the first half of Saturday’s second-round game.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
But freshman KJ Lewis had 15 points against USC, while Jaden Bradley had another 12. In UA’s 78-68 win over Dayton, Bradley had 12 points, four rebounds and two assists — without a single turnover against the Flyers’ pressure defense.
“It was awesome,” wing Pelle Larsson said of Bradley after that game. “He was getting a lot of those steals, 50-50 balls down the stretch. We kind of just trusted him with the ball living on an island with their small guards, which is not easy. But he got the job done in the second half.”
While mostly playing off the bench behind Boswell all season, Bradley said he and Boswell communicate about what the opponent is throwing at them. When they’re on the floor together, Bradley said, they can complement each other’s skillsets well.
“He’s a great ball handler, great shooter, moves well without the ball, and I feel like I get downhill good,” Bradley said. “I can finish up at the rim, and I like finding my teammates, so when I’m in there with him, we play well off each other.
Long Beach State guard Jadon Jones takes a swipe but can’t stop the shot form Arizona guard Caleb Love in the first half of the teams’ matchup in first round in Salt Lake City.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
In addition to Boswell, Bradley and Larsson, who is actually the Wildcats’ leader in assists per game as something of a “point forward,” Arizona has two other supporting actors in the backcourt: Shooting guards Caleb Love and Lewis.
Love has led the Wildcats in scoring with an average of 18.1 points a game, and he’s also third in assists per game (3.46) behind Larsson (3.71) and Boswell (3.68). Lewis, meanwhile, adds a power game on both ends of the court while adding another 1.94 assists per game.
Together, they have shown lately they can take the pressure off Boswell.
“It’s important for any team in the tournament the guards play well, but it’s not important that one guy has to do it,” Muehelbach said. “They’ve got four guys that can play the guard position, with Boswell, Love, Bradley, and KJ.It’s important that those four guys contribute. I don’t think every one of them has to have an 18-point night, but I think you’re going to have at least a couple of them play well, to advance.”
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Playing well, Muehlebach says, it isn’t just shooting well, either. It can be defense, rebounding, taking care of the ball, initiating the offense — things that don’t even get in the box score.
Though the players themselves can have a hard time separating scoring success from the other stuff.
“Most basketball players, when you don’t shoot well, it does affect you a little bit,” Muehlebach said. “We all like to shoot well and score points. It’s a huge measurement.”
Muehlebach said he was guilty of that thought process initially in what became the only triple-double in Pac-10/12 Tournament history: He had 10 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists against USC in the 1990 Pac-10 Tournament.
“I was 0 for 5 from 3 in the first half and I remember pouting somewhat on the way off the court,” Muehlebach said. “Then we get into halftime and coach (Lute) Olson was reading off the stats and I had seven rebounds. I was like `OK, stop worrying about your shot.’ “
Muehlebach was a 22-year-old senior when that happened.
Boswell, as Arizona fans have been endlessly told, is only 18, still a few weeks away from his 19th birthday.
That’s why Ballo defends Boswell through his struggles.
“Kylan is a young guard, 18, so he’s gonna have ups and downs,” Ballo said. “The most important thing is having the love and support of your teammates. We believe in Kylan 100%.”
The external support can vary. Boswell, no matter what his age, happens to be starting at what has traditionally been UA’s highest-profile position.
If the Wildcats don’t win and he struggles, Boswell is talked about.
“It’s hard because you media make it hard… when you’re always posting stuff about 18 years old kid,” Ballo said. “It’s not easy to read all this stuff. But he gets the love from us. That’s the most important thing.”
Boswell has a support system outside the program, too, saying he has two uncles on his mother’s side of the family that stay particularly close, while he speaks with his dad before every game.
Then, when he’s alone, Boswell uses his mind to help prepare.
“I like to like visualize the game night before,” Boswell said. “Before I go to sleep, I’m thinking about what’s gonna happen in the game, how I kind of want the game to go, how I can dictate it.
“Then prior to the game, I just close my eyes and see it again before I go on the court.”
If things don’t play out exactly like Boswell envisions it this weekend, his teammates will try to make it happen anyway.
“There’s not just one or two players,” Love said. “We got a whole squad that can go get theirs. … it’s tough to guard every single one of us, so if one of us don’t got it going, we’re gonna pick each other up.”
Breaking down Arizona's four true guards How analyst and former Wildcat guard Matt Muehlebach breaks down Arizona’s four true guards:
Caleb Love, senior shooting guard: “What I love about Caleb is he's got guts. He lets it rip and in the tournament, you need guys that are not afraid. At all. Caleb has some games where he's gonna miss some shots. It's just it's the way it goes with guards. But what I like about Caleb is for the most part this year, he's done a really good job getting to the rim and getting to the foul line. I thought the guards last year played really well at times. They did some good things, but they didn't attack the paint and they didn't get to the free throw line. With Caleb, if the shot's not falling, in a big game — and he has shown it in big games — he's gotten to the rim, he's gotten to the foul line and that offsets not having your best stuff from outside.”
Kylan Boswell, sophomore point guard: “Kylan is just a great talent. He's a really talented player. He's kind of a scoring point guard who can do some really good things and when he plays well Arizona is really difficult to beat. They're almost unbeatable. Kylan’s a really good defender too. He can really defend. I don’t think people give him credit for that.”
Jaden Bradley, sophomore combo guard: "I hesitate to make this comp but he's got a little Jason Terry in him, when J.T. was coming off the bench (on UA’s 1997 national championship team). He's just a terrific ballhandler. He's a great finisher in transition. I think he's got potential as a shooter though he didn't take a ton of 3s. I think he kind of knows who he is. He's an unbelievable finisher in transition and in the lane. And he brings great defense.”
KJ Lewis, freshman combo guard: “He’s the ultimate young guy who's athletic as all heck. He’s is a really high IQ player as well. You look at Jaden and KJ’s statistics, they're almost identical. The funny thing is they do it a little differently. Jaden has unbelievable instincts and quickness, and great hands and KJ does it in kind of the same way, but he does it above the rim.”
SWEET 16 Who: (2) Arizona (27-8) vs. (6) Clemson (23-11)
When: 4:09 p.m. Thursday
Where: Crypto.com Arena; Los Angeles
TV: CBS
Radio: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM
After a late push in the second half to solidify their lead, Arizona defeated Dayton, 78-68, to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. (March Madness YouTube)
No. 2 Arizona defeated No. 15 Long Beach State, 85-65, in the first round of the 2024 NCAA tournament, led by a 20 point performance from Kylan Boswell. (March Madness YouTube)
Photos: Arizona edges Dayton 78-68, NCAA Men's Tournament 2nd Round, Salt Lake City
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, left, reacts after the ball was called out on the Wildcats as assistant coach Riccardo Fois calls out to the court late in the second half against Dayton in the second round on March 23.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gets really fouled in a drive around Dayton guard Kobe Elvis (24) in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Fans stand for the national anthem just before the tip-off of the NCAA West Regional game between Arizona and Dayton in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024. The game began at 10:45 a.m. local time.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
The Pride of Arizona pep band harasses a Dayton player during the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson celebrates after nailing a 3 from the top of the key in the second half.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) heads over to congratulate teammate forward Keshad Johnson (16) as the clock ticks down on their round of 32 game against Dayton in the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell outjumps Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15), left, and guard Enoch Cheeks (6) but can’t quite grab the rebound in the second half.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) flies in to deflect the pass out of the hands of Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) in the second half of their round-of-32 game in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
An Arizona fan cheers from the stands as the Wildcats make a run against Dayton in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) makes his way past Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) and guard Enoch Cheeks (6) on a baseline drive in their round-of-32 game in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson scoops his way past Dayton guard Koby Brea (4) for bucket.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) draws a bead on the basket Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) on a dunk attempt in the first half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) elbows his way to a score over against Dayton forward Petras Padegimas (12) during the first half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) looks for contact trying to shoot past Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) in the first half of their round-of-32 game in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Paulius Murauskas (23) reaches up to stretch the net before the Wildcats take on Dayton in the first half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024. During the ‘Cats first game, the ball got stuck in the tight nets following several baskets.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley, left, forces Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks into a traveling turnover in the first half Saturday in Salt Lake City.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) gets fouled between Dayton forward Nate Santos (2), left, and Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks (6) while pulling down a rebound in the first half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona bench reacts after the Wildcats forces a Dayton turnover in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) gets a few minutes to cut off his tape and get into his phone as some of the other Wildcats draw the reporters for post-game interviews after their win over Dayton in their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) attracts a lot of microphones as he answers questions in front of his locker following the Wildcats’ second-round win against Dayton in the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) has clean run to the bucket, scoring a tomahawk dunk against Dayton early in the first half in their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) scores two on a dunk over the Dayton defense in their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) cleans up a Dayton turnover under the Wildcat basket with a dunk in the first half in the west region game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
/a against /d in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
/a against /d in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Oumar Ballo, center, tries to navigate a crowded lane between Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15), left, and forward Nate Santos (2) in the first half.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love gestures after nailing a deep 3 against Dayton on Saturday. The Wildcats won by 10, setting up a Sweet 16 showdown against either Baylor or Clemson in Los Angeles on Thursday.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson gets to the rebound ahead of Dayton forward Nate Santos in the first half Saturday.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) has to muscle his way around Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) to get off a shot in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) fights his way into the lane through Dayton guard Koby Brea (4), left, and guard Enoch Cheeks (6) in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson, left, and guard KJ Lewis come together to fight Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks (6) for a loose ball in the second half.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona bench celebrates as the Wildcats finally start building some daylight against Dayton in the second half Saturday. The UA bench outscored Dayton’s 23-2.
Kelly Presnell photos, Arizona Daily Star
Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks (6) tries to slow down Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) and the Wildcat fastbreak in the second half of their round-of-32 game in the West Region of the NCAA Tournament in Salt Lake City on Saturday, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell photos, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) uses every inch to get a block on a shot from Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) in the second half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) sweeps past Dayton guard Kobe Elvis (24) in the first half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) tries to bounce the ball off Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) while falling out of bounds in the first half of their round of 32 game in the west region of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 23, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Photos: (2) Arizona Wildcats dispatch (15) Long Beach State 85-65, NCAA West Region
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gestures for noise as the Wildcats start pulling away from Long Beach State in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) cuts through the Long Beach State defense in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell throws down an unopposed dunk late in the second half against Long Beach State.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) pays the price for his drive to the basket against Long Beach State forward Aboubacar Traore (25) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets hacked by Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) is squeezed out of a rebound by Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1), left, and forward Aboubacar Traore (25) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
The Arizona bench celebrates guard Kylan Boswell’s (4) dunk late against Long Beach State in the first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Thursday in Salt Lake City.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) swims his way to a score over Long Beach State forward Aboubacar Traore (25) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) talks with one of the game officials during a break in play against Long Beach State their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gets table-topped by Long Beach State guard AJ George (10) while hauling down a rebound in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Oumar Ballo goes airborne to defend Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud, who is trying to drive into the lane, in the second half.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1) drives between Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0), left, and center Oumar Ballo (11) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) intercepts the inlet pass intended for Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) gets interviewed in the locker room following their 85-65 win over Long Beach State in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) talks to reporters from the Wildcats’ locker room following their 85-65 win over Long Beach State in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) and Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1) scramble for the ball in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) takes a blow from Long Beach State guard Jadon Jones (12), but no foul was called, in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) slams into Long Beach State forward Lassina Traore (23) picking up the foul on his shot attempt in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) keeps Long Beach State guard Marcus Tsohonis (0) from getting cleanly into the lane in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) threads the needle between Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1), left, and guard AJ George (10) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Long Beach State guard Messiah Thompson (4) waits in the spotlight for his introduction before taking the court against Arizona in their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) snatches the pass right out of the hands of Long Beach State guard Marcus Tsohonis (0) trying to make a pass from the seat of his pants in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Long Beach State guard Jadon Jones takes a swipe but can’t stop the shot form Arizona guard Caleb Love in the first half of the teams’ matchup in first round of the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) gets a whole lot of Long Beach State forward Lassina Traore (23) in pursuit of a rebound in the first half of the teams' matchup in first round of the 2024 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament Thursday at the Delta Center in Salt Lake City.
Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14), left, and guard Jaden Bradley (0) swarm over Long Beach State forward Lassina Traore (23) trying to win the rebound in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) questions the call against him in the first half of their game with Long Beach State in the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) slips past Long Beach State guard AJ George (10), left, and guard Jadon Jones (12) in the first half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Long Beach State guard Marcus Tsohonis (0) loses the footrace to the ball to Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Assistant coach Riccardo Fois gives Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) a pep talk before he subs in against Long Beach State in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to one of the game officials during a time out in the game against Long Beach State during the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Nevada guard Kenan Blackshear (13) gets hit by Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) trying to get out of the backcourt during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024. Dayton came back from a double digit deficit to upset the Wolf Pack 63-60, setting up a second round match against Arizona.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) gets off the pass between forward Jeriah Coleman (12), left, and Nevada forward Tre Coleman (4) during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton forward Isaac Jack (13) takes a shot to the chin trying to back down Nevada forward K.J. Hymes (42) during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks (6) streaks in to knock the ball away from Nevada guard Kenan Blackshear (13) creating a turnover during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks (6) scrapes the ball out of reach of Nevada forward Tre Coleman (4) during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Nevada guard Jarod Lucas (2) flings himself on the ball ahead of the rush from Dayton guard Enoch Cheeks (6), top and Dayton forward Nate Santos (2) during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton head coach Anthony Grant can’t believe the Flyers didn’t get the jump ball during a scramble late in the second half of their game against Nevada in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton players rush the court celebrating their come from behind 63-60 win at the buzzer over Nevada during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Dayton forward DaRon Holmes II (15) takes a bow to the Nevada band and booster after the Flyers held on to slip by the Wolf Pack 63-60 during the second half of their game in the west regional of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Conrad Martinez (55), left, guard Kylan Boswell (4) and guard KJ Lewis (5) line up for the national anthem before the Wildcats take the court against Long Beach State for a west regional game in the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) looks for the bucket over Long Beach State guard Marcus Tsohonis (0) in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) takes a shot to the face from Long Beach State forward Aboubacar Traore (25) on his shot in the first half their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd gives Long Beach State head coach Don Monson a hug after the Wildcats defeated LBS in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) comes up a few inches short for a rebound against Long Beach State forward Amari Stroud (1) in the second half of their west regional game of the NCAA Basketball Championship, Delta Center, Salt Lake City, Utah, March 21, 2024.
Kelly Presnell / Arizona Daily Star