Arizona advances to men's Final Four for first time since 2001

The Arizona Wildcats snapped their Final Four drought connected Saturday nighttime pinch an Elite Eight triumph complete Purdue successful nan NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.

The Wildcats had gone 25 years without being successful nan Final Four. The past clip nan Wildcats sewage this acold was successful 2001 erstwhile they mislaid to nan Duke Blue Devils successful nan nationalist championship. They are now 1 triumph distant from getting backmost there.

Arizona freshman Koa Peat scored 20 points arsenic they defeated Purdue, 79-64. He was named nan Most Outstanding Player of nan West Region.

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Arizona guardant Koa Peat (10) dunks during nan 2nd half successful nan Elite Eight of nan NCAA assemblage hoops tourney against Purdue, Saturday, March 28, 2026, successful San Jose, California. (AP Photo/Kelley L Cox)

"Just being a kid from Arizona, to return this squad to a Final Four, man, it’s a blessing," Peat said. "I’m proud of these guys. We worked for this. We’re not done yet."

The Wildcats’ defense was capable to do capable to frustrate Purdue star Braden Smith, who is nan NCAA record-holder successful assists. Smith had 13 points, 7 assists, 5 rebounds and turned nan shot complete 3 times.

Oscar Cluff added 14 points and Trey Kaufman-Renn was held to 10 points.

Peat became nan sixth freshman to people astatine slightest 20 points to thief his squad triumph nan Sweet 16 and Elite Eight matchups.

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Arizona players clasp a trophy aft a triumph complete Purdue successful nan Elite Eight of nan NCAA assemblage hoops tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, successful San Jose, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

"They telephone him Mr. Arizona," Arizona caput coach Tommy Lloyd said. "Koa is special, and I cognize you guys perceive it, but you sewage to perceive it again. Four authorities championships astatine nan aforesaid precocious school. Didn’t spell to a prep school. Four golden medals pinch USA Basketball. No 1 successful FIBA history has ever done that. And helped lead Arizona to a Final Four."

Arizona moved to 36-2 pinch nan win. The Wildcats’ 36 wins are a single-season grounds for wins successful programme history.

Lloyd is successful his 5th play arsenic caput coach. He took complete for Sean Miller earlier nan 2021-22 season. Miller was nan 3rd coach that took complete aft legendary coach Lute Olson stepped down.

"Without Lute — without Sean doing what he did for those 12 years he was here, I wouldn’t beryllium capable to do what we did today. I afloat understand that," Lloyd said. "Those guys, this is for them too. You know, I person nary problem sharing nan occurrence of this squad pinch nan coaches that came earlier me."

Arizona caput coach Tommy Lloyd waves arsenic he cuts down nan nett aft a triumph complete Purdue successful nan Elite Eight of nan NCAA assemblage hoops tournament, Saturday, March 28, 2026, successful San Jose, California. (AP Photo/Godofredo A. Vásquez)

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Arizona will play nan victor betwixt Michigan and Tennessee.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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