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arizona wildcats

Michigan, UConn Advance to NCAA Title Game

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Indianapolis, IN – The Final Four of the NCAA Tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium delivered everything college basketball fans could hope for — intensity, star performances, and the promise of a heavyweight National Championship matchup. UConn and Michigan emerged victorious, each showcasing the balance, depth, and poise that define championship-caliber teams.

In the opener UConn’s pursuit of another national title continued with a hard-fought 71–62 win over Illinois. The Huskies, appearing in their third Final Four in four years, once again demonstrated why they’ve become the standard of consistency in college basketball. From the opening tip, UConn dictated the tempo, using its size and defensive discipline to limit Illinois’ transition opportunities. Tarris Reed Jr. was the anchor for the Huskies, delivering a commanding performance inside with 17 points and 11 rebounds. His presence on both ends of the floor set the tone, as he controlled the glass and provided timely scoring in the paint. Braylon Mullins, the sharpshooting guard, gave UConn a crucial perimeter boost, knocking down four three-pointers and finishing with 15 points. His ability to stretch the floor opened driving lanes for teammates and forced Illinois to adjust defensively. Solo Ball added 13 points, attacking the rim with confidence and providing steady playmaking throughout the game.

Despite UConn’s control, Illinois refused to fold. The Illini, led by freshman sensation Keaton Wagler, battled back multiple times to keep the game within reach. Wagler showcased his versatility and composure, scoring a team-high 20 points while grabbing 8 rebounds. His ability to create his own shot against UConn’s tough defense was impressive for a first-year player on such a big stage. Tomislav Ivisic added 16 points and 7 rebounds, using his size and touch around the basket to challenge UConn’s frontcourt. Andrej Stojakovic contributed 9 points and 8 rebounds, providing hustle plays and defensive effort that kept Illinois competitive. UConn’s defense, however, proved to be the difference. The Huskies held Illinois to under 40% shooting and limited the Ilini to only three assists in the game. They also forced key turnovers late in the second half. Every time Illinois threatened to close the gap, UConn responded with timely baskets or defensive stops. The Huskies’ experience in high-pressure moments showed, as they maintained composure and executed down the stretch. The win sends UConn back to the National Championship game for the third time in four years — a remarkable feat that underscores the program’s sustained excellence.

The second semifinal featured a surprising but emphatic result, as Michigan dominated Arizona 91–73 to earn its spot in the title game. From the opening minutes, the Wolverines played with confidence and precision, jumping out to an early lead and never relinquishing control. Aday Mara was the star of the night, delivering a near-perfect performance with 26 points and 9 rebounds. The 7-foot center was unstoppable in the paint, finishing through contact and controlling the boards. His footwork and touch around the rim gave Arizona’s defense fits all game long. Point guard Elliot Cadeau orchestrated the offense masterfully, finishing with 13 points and 10 assists. His court vision and pace kept Michigan’s offense flowing, and his ability to push the tempo created easy scoring opportunities in transition. All-American forward Yaxel Lendeborg, limited to 15 minutes due to an ankle injury, added 11 points, providing energy and defensive versatility that helped Michigan maintain its edge. Michigan’s offensive execution was nearly flawless. The Wolverines shot efficiently from the field, shared the ball unselfishly, and punished Arizona for every defensive lapse. Their spacing and ball movement created open looks, and their bench contributed valuable minutes to sustain the momentum.

For Arizona, the loss was a disappointing end to an otherwise strong season. Koa Peat led the Wildcats with 16 points and 11 rebounds but shot only 6-of-18 from the field. Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley each scored 13 points, trying to keep Arizona within striking distance but Burries was an inefficient 4-of-16 from the field. Tobe Awaka added 8 points and 9 rebounds.

However, Arizona struggled to contain Michigan’s interior attack and couldn’t match the Wolverines’ pace. Michigan’s defense also deserves credit. The Wolverines limited Arizona’s perimeter shooting and forced them into contested mid-range attempts. Their ability to switch defensively and protect the rim disrupted Arizona’s rhythm, allowing Michigan to control the game from start to finish.

**Looking Ahead: UConn vs. Michigan – The National Championship**

The stage is now set for a thrilling National Championship matchup between UConn and Michigan — two programs with rich histories and elite talent. UConn brings experience, balance, and championship pedigree, while Michigan arrives with momentum and confidence after dismantling Arizona. The battle inside between Tarris Reed Jr. and Aday Mara promises to be a focal point, as both big men have been dominant throughout the tournament. The perimeter play — Mullins and Ball for UConn, Cadeau and Lendeborg for Michigan — will likely determine the tempo and flow of the game. With both teams peaking at the right time, the championship clash at Lucas Oil Stadium has all the makings of a classic — a fitting conclusion to a memorable college basketball season.

This article was written by Andrew Keeling, a correspondent and scout for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Arizona Comes Back to Win at Colorado

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Boulder, CO – In their last home game of the season before the Big 12 Conference Tournament next week Colorado hosted the Arizona Wildcats, who already had the first seed in Big 12 locked. Tad Boyle’s team was missing one of their main players, Sebastian Rancik, who has been on a concussion protocol. Rancik, a 6-11 forward, ranks second on the team in rebounding, steals and blocks and third in scoring and assists. His absence was easily felt against the No. 5 team in the country in points in the paint per game.

Arizona started the game slow, being eleven points down, which turned out to be the biggest lead for Colorado in the game. 6’8 Koa Peat, a projected first rounder in the upcoming NBA Draft, was  carried the Wildcats in the first half, dominating in the paint thanks to his advantageous athleticism and physicality which couldn’t be matched by Colorado’s frontcourt players. Peat had 19 points in the half, shooting 9-of-12 from the field to eventually finish the game with 25 points, three assists and four dimes. His shooting capabilities raise questions (a 60-percent shooter from the charity line) but a few mid-range shots in the game give some hope that with time and reps he could improve that aspect of his game. That might be crucial for how successful his NBA career would be.

Colorado’s backcourt duo of Isaiah Johnson and Barrington Hargress had a very efficient game which was the key to Colorado’s good performance in the first half. They took care of the ball, shot the ball very well (combined for 6-of-12 from the field), attacked the rim fearlessly, getting to the free throw line often (4-of-4 each). Hargress, a 6-foot-1, 190-pound junior guard showed his craftiness finishing in the paint using a good combination of understanding how to use his solid and tough upper body and a two-foot stop. Hargress is among the better playmakers in the NCAA, rarely turning the ball over, finishing the regular season with 4.4/1.2 assist to turnover ratio. On top of that he shoots the ball extremely well being close to 50% for the season.

Isaiah Johnson, the scoring leader for Colorado, had an impressive showing, finishing with 28 points and five assists, shooting 7-of-14 from the field. The 6-foot-1 speedy freshman displayed very good change of speeds and directions with tight handles as Arizona’s guards couldn’t stay in front of him. He was able to get to the charity stripe at ease (10-of-11 FT). Shooting wise, Johnson shows a pretty quick lefty release from outside, being able to hit threes off the dribble, on spot-ups and movement.


After a 36-36 first half in which Arizona couldn’t hit a three pointer (0-of-6), the Wildcats shot 4-of-5 in the second half and kept dominating in the paint. Arizona’s second-half comeback 89-79 win didn’t come easy though. It was led by Brayden Burries, a potential lottery draft pick in the upcoming NBA Draft. The 6-foot-4 freshman guard picked his game in the second half scoring 22 of his career-high 31 points. Burries, a talented and confident scoring guard with promising two-way potential has good positional size and an athletic body to go along with a good ability to get to the lane with crafty finishes around the rim. A confident 3-point shooter (2-of-5 in the game) Burries’ shooting form from outside looks pretty good with nice rotation and spin.

Arizona destroyed Colorado in the paint, outscoring them 54 to 26. The combination of Peat, Motiejus Krivas (10 points and 7 rebounds) and Tobe Awaka (10 points and 7 rebounds) was too much to handle for a Buffaloes’ frontcourt without Rancik.

Next week Colorado is are heading to Kansas City to face Oklahoma State on March 10 in the Big 12 Tournament, while Arizona  will start in the quarterfinals on March 12.

This article was written by Simeon Marinov, Director of European Scouting for NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Instagram, or on twitter.

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Maryland, Arizona Advance to Sweet Sixteen from Seattle

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Seattle, WA –The second round of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle featured matchups betweenNo. 4-seed Maryland vs. No. 12-seed Colorado State followed by No. 5-seed Oregon vs. No. 4-seed Arizona.

In the first game Derik Queen scored on a bank shot from the side of the basket to give Maryland a thrilling 72-71 win over Colorado State. His shot came right after Jalen Lake had given the Rams a one-point lead with four seconds remaining. In the nightcap, Arizona came back from a 15-point first half deficit to beat Oregon 87-83. Caleb Love was outstanding for the Wildcats, finishing with 29 points (5-of-7 3’s) and added nine rebounds and four assists. Jackson Shelstad led the Ducks with 25 points.

Colorado State got off to a good start in the opening game, going on a 16-2 run to pull out to a 22-10 lead. The Rams’ Lake hit his first three shots, including two three-pointers. Queen kept the Terrapins in it, scoring 10 of their first 14 points, including two 3’s. Colorado State maintained the lead through the half led by Nique Clifford’s 12 points, four rebounds and three assists. They went into halftime with a 37-30 lead. Queen had 12 points for Maryland but didn’t see the ball much after he scored his 10 early points. Julian Reese grabbed seven rebounds for the Terrapins.

Maryland came back quickly in the second half and took a 57-54 lead on five quick points from Selton Miquel, a long three-pointer and a basket after a steal. The Rams came right back with six straight points, with a Bowen Born basket on a drive giving them a 60-57 lead. The Terrapins tied the game at 64 after a Rodney Rice lay-in after a nice Queen block at the rim. They then took the lead on two Resse free throws. Maryland extended the run to 9-0 after a short Resse jumper. Clifford ended that run with two free throws, cutting the margin to 68-66 with 1:36 left.  Lake then tied the game at 68 on a jumper. Reese was then fouled after pulling down an offensive rebound, making both free throws to give Maryland a 70-68 lead with 22 seconds remaining. That set the stage for Lake’s three-pointer and then Queen‘s winning shot.

Queen led the Terrapins with 17 points while Reese added 15 points and 11 rebounds. Clifford led the way for Colorado State with 21 points, seven rebounds and six assists. Lake added 13 points, making 3-of-6 3’s.  Maryland advances to face Florida in the Sweet Sixten on Thursday evening.

In the second game Oregon got off to a hot start, running out to a 19-4 lead and led 24-10, helped by 10 points by Shelstad before Arizona came roaring back.  They were helped by strong offensive rebounding from Tobe Awaka, who had a double-double at halftime. The Wildcats went on a 32-14 run to end the half to take a 42-38 lead into the break.

Arizona extended their lead to 11 points (56-45) before Oregon battled back. A Shelstad jumper cut the lead to 72-70. The Ducks had a chance to tie the game late, but TJ Bamba missed on a shot after penetration. Oregon got within 81-80 on a lay-up by Shelstad but Arizona was perfect at the free throw line, making six in a row to end the game.

The Ducks came into the game with their best free throw shooting team in the past 11 years but that wasn’t the case tonight. They shot only 12-of-22, leaving ten points at the line. That, combined with their poor first half rebounding, was the difference in the game.  Awake finished with 12 points and 14 rebounds for Arizona. Arizona moves on to face Duke on Thursday in the East Regional in New Jersey.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner ofr NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

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Oregon and Arizona Head to Showdown on Sunday in Seattle

by Carl Berman
written by Carl Berman

Seattle, WA – The second session of the first round of the NCAA Tournament in Seattle featured matchups between No. 4-seed Arizona vs. No. 13-seed Akron followed by No. 5-seed Oregon vs. No. 12-seed Liberty. Neither game was competitive. Arizona romped over Akron 93-65.  Oregon followed that with an easy 81-52 win over Liberty.  The two teams will face off on Sunday in an anticipated game to determine who gets to the Sweet Sixteen at the East Regional in New Jersey.

In the opening game Arizona scored the first nine points of the game and led 41-31 at halftime. They gradually pulled away in the second half, outscoring the Zips by 52-34 to get the 28-point win. Jalen Bradley led the Wildcats with 19 points, connecting on 3-of-5 3’s, and added six rebounds and three assists. Trey Townsend added 16 points on 7-of-8 from the field with eight rebounds.

Arizona enjoyed a large size disparity of took advantage of it throughout the game. They used Townsend on pick and rolls as Akron didn’t have the size to defend him at his position. Arizona out rebounded Akron 53-22, including 15-4 on the offensive glass. They dominated the paint to a tune of a 48-20 point advantage The Wildcats had 21 assists compared to only six for the Zips. They also shot 12-of-25 on 3’s.  The game would have been even worse for Akron if it weren’t for Arizona’s 17 turnovers.

The second game was similar.  Oregon has had rough starts in quite a few games this season but that wasn’t the case today. The Ducks came out focused and raced out to an 18-2 lead over the Flames.  Jackson Shelstad connected on his first four shots, scoring ten early points. This game was similar in height disparity as well, with Liberty’s tallest starter being 6’8.  That gave Nate Bittle a big advantage in the post. The 7’0 Bittle scored nine points and eight rebounds at the break, as the Ducks took a 44-20 lead into the locker room. Shelstad led Oregon with 15 points, making 3-of-4 3’s, one on the final shot of the half.  The Ducks had a 22-13 rebounding edge at the half.

Liberty came out with a little fire at the start if the second half, scoring the first four points but Oregon came right back, scoring the next six points and the rout was on. The only question was the margin of victory, with the lead being around 30 points for much of the rest of the game. Oregon was able to use their bench more than usual as they were able to get their starters some rest leading into the Arizona game on Sunday.

Shelstad led the Ducks with 17 points, making 3-of-4 3’s, and added four rebounds and three assists. The Ducks enjoyed a 43-27 rebounding edge and shot 10-of-21 on three-pointers.

Oregon has been a very good team in defending the three-point shot this year. They are holding their opponents to 31.7% and are ranked 61st in the country. Liberty came in as the 5th best three-point shooting team in the nation at 39.1%. The Ducks’ defense dominated, holding Liberty to 8-of-37 (21.6%) from deep.

This article was written by Carl Berman, Managing Partner ofr NetScouts Basketball. You can follow us on Facebook, or on twitter.

We are looking for those interested in our basketball scout apprenticeship program. For information contact us and forward your resume.