PHOENIX— Former Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski had a message for Duke basketball on his SiriusXM show regarding the No. 1 Duke vs. No. 4 Arizona Sweet 16 matchup: “This is a different Arizona team.”
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!The last time the Blue Devils faced the Wildcats was Nov. 22 at the McKale Center in Tucson, where Duke secured a 69-55 victory. However, Krzyzewski emphasized that Arizona has evolved since that early-season meeting.
Nov 22, 2024; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd yells toward team during the first half against the Duke Blue Devils at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images
“They were having whatever problems in November and December, they’re not having now,” Krzyzewski said. “And Caleb Love, they have a five-year, top-notch player, just went for 29 in the last game, and they’re a really good offensive team. You want to make sure that the Duke team doesn’t remember… whatever they won by, that this is a different Arizona team.”
In their November matchup, Duke shot 42.6% from the field, while Arizona struggled at 39.6%. Turnovers plagued the Wildcats, with the Blue Devils capitalizing for 19 points off Arizona’s mistakes. That game was part of a rough stretch for Arizona, which lost five of seven games.
Since then, head coach Tommy Lloyd has turned things around, leading the Wildcats to seven consecutive wins. Arizona has gained momentum in the NCAA Tournament, defeating No. 13 Akron 93-65 in the first round and surviving a tight battle against No. 5 Oregon, winning 87-83.
Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) high-fives forward Carter Bryant (9) during a stop in play against the Oregon Ducks in the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images
Krzyzewski cautioned Duke against underestimating the Wildcats, noting that while the Blue Devils cruised to victory in their first two tournament games, other No. 1 seeds faced tougher challenges.
“Duke was the only one that wasn’t tested, and they played well,” Krzyzewski said. “That’s a concern.”
Arizona’s resurgence has been fueled in large part by Love, whose offensive prowess has made him a key contributor throughout the tournament. As the Wildcats prepare to face the Blue Devils, all eyes will be on how Love and his teammates respond to the challenge.
Tipoff for Arizona vs. Duke is set for Thursday at 6:39 p.m. MST.
Love’s 29 point burst sends Arizona Wildcats dancing to Sweet 16
*Get the BEST Phoenix sports insider information, exclusive content, and access to our seasonal magazines! SIGN UP HERE to unlock our premium content!*
Reporter Reyna Stanley covers the Phoenix Mercury and more for Burn City Sports. You can follow her on X @rey_stanley776.
