No. 2 Purdue vs. No. 1 Arizona

Saturday, March 28
5:49 pm PT, TBS
San Jose, CA

There are only a handful of opportunities that a program ever gets to reach a Final Four.

One of those moments is here and now for the Arizona Wildcats.

The fanbase has too many traumatic memories of losing in the Elite 8.

2003, 2005, 2011, 2014, and 2015.

The City of Tucson can’t handle another one. This has to be the team that finally breaks through.

Standing in the way is the Purdue Boilermakers, a new-age blue blood built on elite coaching and loyalty.

Trey Kaufman-Renn, Fletcher Loyer, and Braden Smith were all on that 2023-24 squad that beat Arizona in Indianapolis and went on to the Final Four later that season.

They know what it takes to get there because they’ve done it before.

On the other hand, none of the Arizona players were even born the last time the Wildcats made it beyond this game.

The Final Four drought is the only thorn in the side of the fanbase’s psyche.

It’s the only chirp that hits home. Because it’s true.

Arizona hasn’t been to the Final Four in 25 years. A 25-year dry spell for one of the most storied programs in college basketball. Five consecutive losses. Five missed Final Fours.

But that streak ends tonight. It ends with this team.

Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, and Ivan Kharchenkov. The three freshmen who have put together one of the best seasons in program history have a chance to cement their legacy.

And it’s not just the freshmen. The Cats are led by a senior point guard, upperclassmen bigs, and a coaching staff that has found its sweet spot.

It’s a storybook synergy that deserves to break the drought.

So, how do they get it done?

You guessed it: defense and rebounding. Arizona is No. 9 in field goal percentage defense and No. 4 in rebounding margin.

KenPom has UA at No. 3 overall in defensive efficiency.

How can they take advantage of that? By pushing the tempo.

Purdue operates at a much slower pace than Arizona. Get them into a high-possession game, and empty trips down the court will happen.

The Boilermakers are awful in the fastbreak, coming into the matchup No. 303 nationally in fastbreak points per game. Speed them up, don’t allow them to grind the game down into the halfcourt, and play efficient on offense.

And for the love of God, do not let Loyer get hot from three. The senior can change the game and single-handedly beat Arizona if he gets going from deep.

The X-Factor, though, is Koa Peat.

Known as “Mr. Arizona,” Peat understands what this game means. He knows the weight that comes along with playing for UofA.

From the first game of his career, he has willed Arizona to this moment. Without him, this team wouldn’t be in this position.

If Peat can finish around the rim with efficiency and knock down his free throws, Arizona will be in a good position.

Go win it for the City, Koa.

Lord knows we deserve it.

Redemption? Or Am I Wrong About Purdue Again?

Opinion: Dane Miller

This one is personal.

Flashback to December 16, 2023.

Arizona is the No. 1 team in the country, matched up against No. 3 Purdue in downtown Indianapolis.

Trusted sources had informed me that the Boilermaker guards were not very good, and I sent a provocative pre-game tweet claiming they were outclassed.

Suffice it to say that the take was a major whiff.

I’ll do the honors: @OldTakesExposed

— Dane Miller (@DaneMiller_SWS) December 16, 2023

Fletcher Loyer and Braden Smith combined for 53 points on 20-for-33 from the field, leading the Boilermakers to victory.

After the game, Purdue Twitter made it go viral and the Big Ten Network even posted a graphic of the tweet to troll me. A total of 270,000 views for what was easily the worst take of my career.

But this Arizona squad is nothing like that 2023-24 team. And the Boilermakers don’t have Zach Edey.

Am I supposed to be afraid of Trey Kaufman-Renn? Or should I be more worried about the dirty play reputation that the Boilermakers have?

But wait, I know what it is.

Arizona fans should be concerned about Oscar Cluff.

You know, the guy who went to junior college just outside of Tucson in an attempt to catch the attention of the Arizona staff.

The same guy that Tommy Lloyd refused to recruit because he wasn’t good enough.

The same guy who was held to three points on 1-for-5 shooting in his lone game at McKale Center.

Yes, that’s the guy that I should be worried about.

Please.

This Arizona team is destined for the Final Four. I don’t even need to get into the analytics, or the metrics, or any of the blah, blah, blah.

This team wants it more. This city needs it more.

F*#%k Purdue.

Another rare opportunity to reach a Final Four is within reach for the Arizona Wildcats, and this is their time.

With all the noise surrounding Tommy Lloyd, driven primarily by has-been North Carolina fans desperate to stay relevant, this is the time to take advantage.

You want more real analysis for how Arizona will win? Defense, rebounding, and forcing turnovers. All while keeping Loyer from killing you from three.

Play physical against Smith, keep elbows out against Kaufman-Renn, and bully Cluff whenever he gets the ball.

Arizona has the better players. Arizona has the better system. Arizona is deeper.

Go bring a Final Four banner back to McKale.

And send a message to Purdue while you’re at it.