LOS ANGELES — The analytics were screaming for it most of the season, but in the end the Arizona Wildcats couldn’t get Jaden Bradley enough minutes.
Rated the Wildcats’ most overall efficient player on both ends of the floor by basketball stat guru Evan Miyakawa despite playing off the bench, often with context-dependent plus-minus stats in his favor, Bradley willed the Wildcats past a second-round scare against Dayton and was Arizona’s best player in a 77-72 season-ending loss to Clemson on Thursday in the Sweet 16.
The sophomore guard had 18 points while shooting 4 for 9 from the field, driving inside and through the Tigers’ defense to get to the rim and foul line, where he hit 8 of 9 free throws. He also had four rebounds, three assists and two blocks.
Except he didn’t get in the game until Arizona had already missed its first seven shots and turned the ball over three times, losing a critical opportunity to jump on the equally ineffective Tigers early in the game.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley walks off the court as the Clemson Tigers celebrate their 77-72 upset win of the second-seeded Wildcats in their Sweet 16 game Thursday in Los Angeles.
“We got off to a little slow start in the beginning,” Bradley said. “So at halftime we harped on dig deep, get stops and do whatever it takes to help my team.”
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) pokes the ball away from Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) for a steal in the first half of the Wildcats' loss to the Tigers Thursday the NCAA Tournament's West Region semifinals.
It wasn’t enough. Not in a late-afternoon game in which Wildcats not named Jaden Bradley shot 36.2% from the field, including just 12.5% from 3-point range (3 of 24) while also making just 56.2% of their free throws.
Since fearless freshman guard KJ Lewis hit the only 3-pointer he tried, that meant Arizona’s five starters were a combined 2 for 23 from 3-point range (8.7%).
That’s “a lot to overcome,” UA coach Tommy Lloyd said. “I feel like some of them were good looks and shots we’ve made all season, and today they just didn’t go in.”
The trend line suggested it wasn’t just Thursday. The Wildcats hadn’t made a lot of them for the past several weeks.
Caleb Love, the Pac-12 Player of the Year, entered Thursday’s game shooting 24.3% from 3-point range since he went 0 for 6 in the Wildcats’ March 9 loss at USC. Then he missed all nine he took Thursday, encouraged to keep shooting but never managing to find any more success.
“It just didn’t fall for me tonight,” Love said. “It was obviously the worst time that it couldn’t fall. My teammates and my coach still trusted me to keep me out there. And I was just praying and hoping that I was going to make one for us to go up or get a stride but it’s just tough.”
Clemson center PJ Hall (24) ties up Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) and keeps him from getting a lob into the paint in the first half Thursday in Los Angeles.
Then there was point guard Kylan Boswell, who was 5 for 17 from 3 (29.4%) since the Wildcats’ loss at USC before he went 1 for 5 from 3-point range on Thursday.
“Just didn’t fall today,” Boswell said. “That’s about it.”
And Pelle Larsson, the Wildcats’ jack-of-all-trades who has been rated their second-most efficient player this season, was 1 for 6 from 3-point range.
All that left a hole too big for Bradley to fill all by himself. There was some help from center Oumar Ballo, who led the Wildcats overall with 15 points and 15 rebounds, but Ballo developed a case of the yips in a different area: He made only the last of seven free throws he took during the Clemson game.
“I’ve been playing basketball a long time,” Ballo said, “and I’ve never missed six free throws in a row.”
So after the Wildcats fell behind the Tigers by 13 points in the first half and trailed 39-31 at halftime, they could never really build enough momentum to get it done. They tied the game two times in the second half and led once, 46-45 with 14:40 left, but only led for 20 seconds of the 40-minute game.
The celebrating crowd and Clemson players surround Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) after the second-seeded Wildcats gave up a basket and a foul late in the second half of their loss to the sixth-seeded Tigers at Crypto.com Arena in Los Angeles.
By the time Love drove in for a floater with 15 seconds left — saying afterward he should have driven inside more often — to cut Clemson’s lead to 75-72, there was only a flicker of hope left. The Tigers’ Dillon Hunter then wiped that out when he drove inside for a layup and foul on the other end after a long pass to put Clemson up by the 77-72 final score.
The loss ended the second-seeded Wildcats’ season at 27-9 while sixth-seeded Clemson (24-11) moved into an Elite Eight game on Saturday against fourth-seeded Alabama, a winner over No. 1 seed North Carolina in Thursday’s other West Region semifinal game.
While Lloyd has led the Wildcats to two regular-season Pac-12 titles and two Pac-12 Tournament titles over his three seasons with them, the Wildcats’ loss also represented the third time they have lost to a lower-seeded team in three NCAA Tournament appearances.
Afterward, Lloyd talked about big-picture stuff like momentum and culture-building in his program, but also took a positive view of the short term.
That is, he noted that the Wildcats’ Sweet 16 appearance might have turned even more sour without Bradley.
“To have that sort of shooting night and get yourself in the game where you have a position to win, I think is incredible,” Lloyd said. “It just shows the resiliency and toughness of these guys.
“Especially without J.B. playing the way he did, maybe we lose by 14, 16 points. But J.B. got in there and we were down to the last minute and gave ourselves a chance.”
Clemson held off Arizona in the second half to advance to the Elite Eight of the 2024 men’s NCAA tournament. Watch the extended highlights from the Tiger’s Sweet 16 win here. (March Madness YouTube)
Photos: Arizona goes down 77-72 to Clemson, NCAA Tournament West Region Sweet 16
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) walks off the court as the Clemson Tigers celebrate their 77-72 upset win of the second-seeded Wildcats in their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell hugged Clemson guard Chase Hunter (1) after their Tigers upset Arizona 77-72 in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson center PJ Hall (24) gestures to the bench after slamming home a dunk late in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game against Arizona in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) thinks Clemson center PJ Hall (24) had a three second violation, but it ended up being a foul on Johnson in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) comes in to claw away a shot from Clemson center PJ Hall (24) in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell, right, and the bench can’t believe the call was against them in a tense second half against Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) draws a foul on his drive against Clemson forward RJ Godfrey (10) in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) stuffs a shot from Clemson forward RJ Godfrey (10) in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) gets blocked from behind by Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd pleads his case after a foul in the second half against Clemson in their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) surges above a trio of Clemson defenders in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson center PJ Hall (24) crashes down atop Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) trying to block his put-back attempt in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson center PJ Hall (24), left, and guard Joseph Girard III (11) swarm Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) in the paint in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley lets go a roar after drawing a foul on his basket against Clemson in the first half of their Sweet 16 game,
Arizona center Motiejus Krivas (14) gets away with hit on the arm stopping Clemson guard Chase Hunter’s (1)shot in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson center PJ Hall (24) ties up Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) and keeps him from getting a lob into the paint in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) charges past Clemson center PJ Hall (24) and to the basket in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson forward RJ Godfrey (10) strips Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) of the ball in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) is fraction late to keep Clemson forward Chauncey Wiggins (21) from gathering in a swing pass in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) scores on a dunk against Clemson in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) dunks against Clemson during a Wildcat flurry in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) pokes the ball away from Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) for a steal in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) stretches out to pressure Clemson forward Jack Clark (5) in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) scores on an unopposed dunk against Clemson in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona forward Keshad Johnson (16) tries to get the Wildcat crowd into the game during a run against Clemson in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) and forward Keshad Johnson (16) bat a loose ball out of the lane in the second half aginst Clemson during their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson forward Jack Clark (5) takes a swipe at Arizona guard Jaden Bradley (0) while trying to keep him from the basket in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) goes face-to-face with Clemson guard Chase Hunter (1) on a drive in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) throws an arm around Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) late in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd talks to the Wildcats during a timeout in the final minute and trailing Clemson in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Grant Weitman (15) and the Wildcat bench ride out the last few minutes of their 77-72 loss to Clemson in the NCAA Tournament on Thursday in Los Angeles.
Clemson guard Chase Hunter (1) picks the pass right out of the hands of Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard Pelle Larsson (3) gets stripped by Clemson guard Joseph Girard III (11) on a drive in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) gets fouled by Clemson guard Dillon Hunter (2) on his attempt to get into the lane in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona guard KJ Lewis (5) picks up a personal foul defending Clemson guard Dillon Hunter (2) in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcat bench and fans can’t believe the ball is called out on them on a Keshad Johnson (16) strip against Clemson in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Arizona center Oumar Ballo (11) gets tangled in the net going after a shot under the basket from Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) in the first half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
Clemson forward Ian Schieffelin (4) rises up to swat away a shot from Arizona guard Caleb Love (2) in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
The celebrating crowd and Clemson players surround Arizona guard Caleb Love after the Wildcats gave up a basket and a foul late in the second half of their Sweet 16 game in the NCAA Tournament in Los Angeles on March 28.
Clemson head coach Brad Brownell, his staff and bench try to get the defense set to face a Wildcat possession late in the second half of their Sweet Sixteen game against Arizona in the NCAA Tournament, Los Angeles, Calif., March 28, 2024.
