Freshman Koa Peat scores 20 points at SAP Center in San Jose to lead Wildcat to first Final Four appearance since 2001.
The Arizona Wildcats celebrate after winning against Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Playing against a team that is loaded with NBA draft prospects, the Boilermakers scrapped for rebounds, dived for loose balls and did all the little things to make up for the talent gap.
Their offense got clean looks and the Indiana school even held a lead early in the game.After a slow start, Arizona found its rhythm and never let go of the rope as the Wildcats punched their ticket to the Final Four with a 79-64 win over No. 2 Purdue. Arizona will play the winner of tomorrow’s Michigan-Tennesse game in Houston next Saturday.Arizona Wildcats’ Brayden Burries cuts the net after Arizona Wildcats win against Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Freshman Koa Peat led Arizona with 20 points and seven rebounds. Freshman Ivan Kharchenkov had 18 and senior point guard Jaden Bradley had 14. Freshman star Brayden Burries struggled from the field, scoring 14 points on 4-of-10 shooting, but played 33 minutes in a solid defensive showing.“I woke up this morning and I thought, ‘Are we in the Sweet 16 or the Elite 8?’ And that’s the moment I knew we were alright because I knew we weren’t making too big a deal out of this,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “I know externally there was a lot of pressure and this and that, but to be honest with you we we just wanted to get in a ball game.” Lloyd will be going to his first Final Four as a head coach. He credited past Arizona figures for his growth as a coach. “I love those guys, and they’ve given me a better life because they helped build this program to what it is now,” Lloyd said. “The legacy is so strong, and those guys have been so cool and so welcoming to me.” Arizona Wildcats’ Brayden Burries and Purdue Boilermakers’ Fletcher Loyer reach for the ball in the second half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. After trailing by seven at halftime, Arizona found its groove early in the second half. The Wildcats outscored the Boilermakers 19-7 through the first eight minutes led by senior point guard Bradley. Bradley was a catalyst on both ends of the floor, controlling the pace for the Wildcats as their main playmaker. On defense, Bradley drew the assignment of containing Smith, who torched Arizona in the first half.The Wildcats outscored Purdue 48-26 in the second half. With every bucket and every stop, the Wildcats could feel the win getting closer. Arizona Wildcats’ Dwayne Aristode cuts the net after Arizona Wildcats wins against Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Kharchenkov celebrated each basket. Burries was high-fiving and chest bumping teammates during each timeout. After 37 minutes of standing and controlling play calls, Lloyd went from an intense coach to a spectator watching from the bench. The Wildcats notched the biggest lead of the night when Burries threw up a 3-pointer at the end of the shot clock with 22 seconds left that pushed the lead to 18. “They’re very talented. They’re the No. 3 defense in the country,” Smith said. “They rebound at a high level and I think that’s where they got us. We would make a couple of plays, get a couple of blocks and they would just get it right back and would be able to score.” Arizona Wildcats’ Ivan Kharchenkov celebrates against Purdue Boilermakers in the second half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Warriors’ Podziemski addresses his bold comments: ‘I probably shouldn’t have said it’ Meet Denise Long Rife, the 1960s women’s basketball phenom who once averaged 45 points as a teenage Warriors draft pickWarriors provide update on Steph Curry’s sore knee, slew of injured teammates Purdue shut down Burries through the first 20 minutes. After the freshman star knocked in a 3-pointer to open Saturday’s scoring, he was held scoreless for the rest of the first half as he shot 1-for-5 and turned the ball over twice.“Arizona is a great athletic school,” Bradley said. “To make it to the Final Four is big.” Arizona Wildcats’ Anthony Dell’Orso wears a piece of net behind his ear after Arizona Wildcats wins against Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Jaden Bradley takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers’ Trey Kaufman-Renn and Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff in the second half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Koa Peat takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff in the second half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Motiejus Krivas is elbowed in the face by Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff while fighting for the ball in the second half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats cheerleaders celebrate by taking pictures with the confetti after Arizona Wildcats win against Purdue Boilermakers during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Purdue Boilermakers’ Gicarri Harris takes a shot against Arizona Wildcats’ Anthony Dell’Orso in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Tobe Awaka takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Purdue Boilermakers’ Braden Smith and Arizona Wildcats’ Ivan Kharchenkov fight for the ball in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Purdue Boilermakers’ Braden Smith reaches for the ball against Arizona Wildcats’ Ivan Kharchenkov in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Purdue Boilermakers’ Braden Smith and Arizona Wildcats’ Ivan Kharchenkov fight for the ball in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Motiejus Krivas and Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff jump for the ball in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Anthony Dell’Orso takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers’ Fletcher Loyer in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Brayden Burries takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. An Arizona Wildcats cheerleader does a flip in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Motiejus Krivas and Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff jump for the ball in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Arizona Wildcats’ Jaden Bradley takes a shot against Purdue Boilermakers in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Purdue Boilermakers’ Oscar Cluff takes a shot against Arizona Wildcats’ Koa Peat and Arizona Wildcats’ Motiejus Krivas in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. Purdue Boilermakers’ Braden Smith takes a shot against Arizona Wildcats’ Ivan Kharchenkov in the first half during the NCAA Tournament West Regional final at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Saturday, March 28, 2026. 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