No. 17 Arizona suffered a 69-55 loss to No. 12 Duke in a crucial lesson for the Wildcats, who struggled with their offense in the game. Arizona’s reliance on high-low post play faltered against Duke’s defense, leading to a poor shooting performance from beyond the arc. Head coach Tommy Lloyd recognized the need for adjustments and is open to tweaking the team’s strategy moving forward.
Despite the loss, guard Jaden Bradley stood out with 18 points, showcasing the team’s potential for offensive success. However, Duke’s freshman phenom Cooper Flagg dominated the game with 24 points, highlighting the Wildcats’ defensive struggles.
The Wildcats’ inability to adapt to aggressive defense and lack of dynamic playmaking proved costly in the low-scoring loss. Arizona’s Big 12 opponents will present similar challenges, emphasizing the need for improvement in all areas of the game.
Arizona’s performance against Duke exposed areas for growth, particularly in handling pressure defense and making smarter offensive decisions. While the loss was a setback for the Wildcats, it serves as a valuable learning experience as they prepare for upcoming conference competition.
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Photo credit arizonasports.com
