Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd orchestrated another March masterpiece as the Wildcats knocked off top-seeded Kansas 89-84 in a Phoenix shootout that lived up to every bit of hype surrounding college basketball’s blue-blood collision.
Kerr Kriisa buried seven three-pointers and finished with 28 points to lead Arizona (33-3) past the defending national champions in front of 19,000 at Footprint Center. The Estonian guard went 7-for-11 from beyond the arc and added six assists as the Wildcats advanced to their first Elite Eight since 2015.
Kriisa’s Long-Range Barrage Breaks Kansas Defense
Kansas (30-7) entered the Sweet 16 allowing just 29.4% shooting from three-point range, but Kriisa torched that defense from the opening tip. The 6-foot-3 senior hit his first four attempts from deep, staking Arizona to a 22-14 lead with 12:47 left in the first half.
“Tommy told us they couldn’t guard our spacing,” Kriisa said afterward. “I just had to trust my shot and let it fly.”
Arizona shot 15-for-28 from three-point range as a team, matching the most made threes Kansas has allowed in a single game this season. Pelle Larsson added 19 points and went 4-for-7 from deep, while Caleb Love chipped in 16 points despite going just 6-for-17 from the field.
Self’s Veterans Can’t Match Wildcat Depth
Bill Self’s squad rode the veteran leadership of Jalen Wilson and Kevin McCullar Jr. for most of the season, but both stars struggled with Arizona’s length and athleticism. Wilson, the Big 12 Player of the Year, managed just 14 points on 5-for-14 shooting while battling foul trouble throughout the second half.
McCullar finished with 18 points and eight rebounds but couldn’t find his three-point touch, going 2-for-8 from beyond the arc. The 6-foot-6 senior had averaged 21.3 points through Kansas’ first two NCAA Tournament games.
“They made us work for every shot,” Self said. “Arizona played with tremendous energy and their guards were just unconscious from three. You tip your hat to them.”
Gradey Dick provided the lone bright spot for Kansas, scoring 22 points on 8-for-13 shooting. The freshman guard hit four three-pointers and kept the Jayhawks within striking distance during Arizona’s second-half surge.
Lloyd’s System Shines Under Pressure
Arizona’s pace-and-space offense created constant mismatches against Kansas’ traditional halfcourt defense. The Wildcats assisted on 22 of their 32 field goals and committed just nine turnovers, executing Lloyd’s system to perfection when the stakes were highest.
Oumar Ballo controlled the paint with 12 points and 10 rebounds, his fifth double-double in six NCAA Tournament games. The 7-foot senior from Mali shot 6-for-8 from the field and blocked three shots while Kansas struggled to establish any interior presence.
Arizona built a 47-38 halftime lead behind 9-for-16 three-point shooting, then weathered multiple Kansas runs in the second half. The Jayhawks cut the deficit to 71-69 with 8:43 remaining, but Kriisa answered with back-to-back threes that effectively ended Kansas’ title defense.
Pac-12 Power Continues Tournament Surge
The victory extends Arizona’s remarkable postseason run and validates the Pac-12’s strength after years of March disappointments. Lloyd, in just his third season in Tucson, has now reached the Elite Eight twice while compiling a 95-15 overall record.
Arizona shot 56.1% from the field and dominated the boards 36-28, outrebounding the traditionally physical Jayhawks. The Wildcats also forced 14 Kansas turnovers while committing just nine of their own, a remarkable display of composure for a team many expected to fold under pressure.
Kansas finishes the season 30-7 after winning the Big 12 regular season and tournament titles. The Jayhawks lose Wilson, McCullar and several other key contributors to graduation, marking the end of an era in Lawrence.
Arizona advances to face either UConn or Gonzaga in the Elite Eight on Saturday night, needing two more victories to reach Lloyd’s first Final Four.
