LOS ANGELES — By the time Clemson held off Baylor’s frantic comeback attempt Sunday evening in Memphis, the Arizona Wildcats had already been home for about 24 hours, literally kicking back to enjoy the show.
“We just went to a friend’s house, watched the game, played video games and some things like that,” guard Kylan Boswell said. “I was just kind of chilled, relaxed, making sure my feet were rested.”
Several Wildcats said they spent Sunday in much the same way.
“Just chilled out,” guard Jaden Bradley said.
At the same time, the Tigers had reason to freak out. About six hours after expending all that energy hanging on to a 72-64 win over the third-seeded Baylor, while the Wildcats were likely drifting off to sleep, a sense of urgency suddenly hit Clemson coach Brad Brownell.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell works with his Tigers as they go through the first few minutes of practice Wednesday, the day before they face Arizona in the Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.
It was about 3:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Monday when his Tigers arrived home.
“We kind of realized we play on Thursday, so we'd better get back out to California,” Brownell said. “We chartered a plane, and we had to drive an hour to Greenville. So we left campus at 4.”
That is, 4 p.m. on Monday. After just 12 hours at home in Clemson. On the day that classes were resuming after spring break, too.
“I literally went home, washed my clothes and went to bed,” Clemson forward RJ Godfrey said. “Woke right back up, had tutoring and then got on the plane here.”
The day blurred past Clemson forward Chauncey Wiggins, too.
“Monday was a traveling day, a recovery day,” Wiggins said. “It was a crazy experience.”
If Clemson's rest deficit against the Wildcats isn't enough, there’s also this: The Wildcats have been enjoying “Pac-12 style” weekends so far in the NCAA Tournament, with Thursday-Saturday games scheduled to be played in Pac-12 cities where they have visited within the past two months.
Familiar turf and travel.
“It was good to get back, catch our breath a little bit, and have kind of a normal week of preparation for us because we're used to playing on Thursday and Saturday in our conference,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said. “All in all, I'd say we feel like we're in a pretty good place.”
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) puts up a quick jumper while running drills with the Wildcats the day before they face Clemson in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in Los Angeles.
Guard KJ Lewis said Lloyd told the Wildcats to get rested Sunday and be ready to practice Monday and Tuesday, before Arizona traveled to Los Angeles.
“We had a great few days of preparation,” Lewis said. “I think we're all rested. I can't wait to get out there tomorrow.”
For Clemson, the turf and travel have been unfamiliar. Located in the middle of the ACC footprint, the Tigers rarely need to take a charter flight for more than an hour or two to play an away game and they didn’t play a single game outside the Central or Eastern Time Zones all season.
But to reach Thursday's game, the Tigers needed a five-hour flight to reach Southern California, not far from future ACC schools Stanford and Cal but worlds away from Virginia Tech, Syracuse or Notre Dame.
They tried to make the best of it.
“I had a chance to sleep in and we were out at 2 or 3” Monday, Clemson guard Chase Hunter said. “There really wasn’t much time but I got a lot of time to sleep on the plane. We got here and got chance to rest. We’re good now.”
Clemson center PJ Hall finishes off a dunk as the Tigers run through drills Wednesday while getting ready to face Arizona in the NCAA Tournament's Sweet 16 in Los Angeles. The game is at 4:09 p.m. Thursday, with the winner advancing to Saturday's Elite Eight against either Alabama or North Carolina.
That was Brownell’s plan. Even though the turnaround time was rough, the Tigers actually arrived a day earlier in Los Angeles than they were required to. After settling in Monday night, they practiced at USC on Tuesday before working out at Crypto.com Arena on Wednesday.
Tuesday “was a little challenging,” Brownell said. “We practiced, but it wasn't easy. Just trying to get our legs back, just get used to the time change and all of that. I'm optimistic we'll be ready to go (Thursday). But it's been a quick turnaround, that's for sure. A lot of sleepless nights for the staff trying to get ready.”
Because they played at 9:45 a.m. Arizona time on Saturday, the Wildcats had landed in Tucson by 6 p.m., before Clemson and, really, the majority of second-round teams had yet to even play.
Maybe it was a make-up schedule for two seasons ago, when the Wildcats played a late Sunday second-round game in San Diego and then had to transition to San Antonio for a Thursday game in which Houston rolled over the Wildcats.
“I think any time you can try to find an advantage, you try to wrap your arms around it,” Lloyd said. “I feel like, for this time of the year, we're pretty healthy, we're pretty rested, which is a little bit of a luxury.
“But just because you had an extra day or a few extra hours doesn't mean you have a significant advantage this time of year because the other team's really good. I mean, they're really, really good. They're playing for something as well.”
Clemson held on to defeat Baylor 72-64 in the second round of the NCAA tournament, led by 20 points from Chase Hunter. Watch the full game highlights here. (March Madness YouTube)
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)
The Star's Justin Spears and Michael Lev look back on Arizona's win over Dayton in the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament to reach the Sweet 16, and the challenge Clemson presents; plus, a recap of the entire opening weekend of the tournament. Also, Arizona women's basketball beat reporter PJ Brown joins the pod to discuss the Wildcats' memorable season and coaching job by Adia Barnes, and how the UA is set up for next season.
Photos: The Wildcats prepare for the Tigers, a battle of cats in the Sweet Sixteen
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) and the Wildcats get stretched out before their workout on the day before facing Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) puts up a stop-and-shot while running drills with the Wildcats the day before they face Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Arizona guard Kylan Boswell (4) drives to the basket during a Wildcats’ lay up drill as the team works out on the day before they face Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16), left, and guard Pelle Larsson (3) mull over a question from reporters during a press conference on the day before their Sweet Sixteen game against Clemson in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd answers a question during a press conference, part of the team’s scheduled activities on the day before the Wildcats were to face Clemson in the Sweet 16.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) draws a bead from the corner, working on his long range shots as the team prepares for the Clemson Tigers and the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd watches the Wildcats put some long range shots in the opening moments of the team’s practice session, the day before tipping off against Clemson in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Clemson center PJ Hall (24) finishes off a dunk as the Tigers run through a few drills getting ready to face Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Clemson guard Chase Hunter (1) works on a dribbling drill while the Tigers get ready to face Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell works with his Tigers as they go through the first few minutes of an open work out on the day before facing Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) slams a bucket during the Tigers workout the day before facing Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
Clemson guard Joseph Girard III (11) dribbles in against a teammate on the day before the Tigers face Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen, Los Angeles, Calif., March 27, 2024.
