No. 1 Arizona sets NCAA Tourney record en route to Elite Eight in San Jose

SAN JOSE, Calif. – Steve Kerr flashed an approving smile on the SAP Center video boards Thursday night.

The Golden State Warriors’ coach was sitting behind his alma mater Arizona’s bench. The Wildcats were pulling away like a clear-cut No. 1-seed in a Sweet 16 showcase. They were heading for a season-high 109 points.

One more win and they’re in the Final Four, where Arizona first ventured in 1988 with Kerr & Co. playing under Lute Olson.

By virtue of a 109-88 rout of fourth-seeded Arkansas, Arizona advanced to Saturday’s West Regional final against No. 2-seed Purdue. Tipoff is set for 5:49 p.m.

For the first time in NCAA Tournament history, six players scored at least 14 points for Arizona: Brayden Burries (23), Koa Peat (21), Ivan Kharchenkov (15), Jaden Bradley (14), Tobe Awaka (14), and, Motiejus Krivas (14).

“It’s always good to share the wealth and you’re not worried about scoring and who gets the shine,” Bradley said. “This group of guys doesn’t care. We just care about winning at the end of the day. Off the court, we love each other.”

“Arizona is really good and if they shoot the ball that way and do the things they did, wow,” Arkansas coach John Calipari said. “… That was a hard one. They got us right from the beginning.”

An offensive shootout certainly was anticipated, seeing how Arkansas ranked second in the nation in scoring (90.3 points per game); Arizona was 13th (86.1 ppg.).

Arizona has eclipsed the 100-point mark four times this season, and this masterpiece saw them shoot 63.8% from the floor (37-of-58) — the best percentage in a Sweet 16 game since 2005 (66%, also by Arizona, vs. Oklahoma State).

“That’s the highest percentage I can remember someone shooting,” Calipari added. “You have to remember some of them bounced around and went in. It was one of those kind of days. They were on all cylinders and we weren’t quite what we’ve been. That’s why you get a 20-point bulge.”

Arizona attempted only eight shots from 3-point range – making five – but coach Tommy Lloyd insisted he not once advised his players to avoid long-range targets.

Bradley, who made his lone 3-pointer, said: “We always talk about taking advantage of our big fellas down there. I feel we have some of the best bigs in the country. We put a big emphasis of passing it into the post. … It makes it easier for the guards to get open shots, as well.”

Razorbacks freshman guard Darius Acuff Jr. looked the part of a future NBA star with a game-high 28 points. But even his shooting was off, going 8-of-19 from the field. When he bricked a 3-point attempt atop the arc, that dropped Arkansas to 1-of-9 from deep as they trailed by 10.

Even after Acuff drove in for a layup and accompanying free throw, Arkansas was still a distant 20 points back, at 95-75 with six minutes to go.

Asked to memorialize a season in which he registered the most points and assists in Arkansas history, Acuff replied: “Brotherhood, for sure with the team. Great support from the fans. A lot of good stuff. It was a great year for sure.”

Calipari made sure to give Acuff a handshake on his way off the podium — and likely onward to the NBA.

The Razorbacks quickly fell off the pace Thursday night, making only 2-of-12 from 3-point range en route to a 54-43 halftime deficit. They finished 5-of-23 beyond the arc, 31-of-65 overall.

Still, there were back-and-forth fireworks, especially when it came to thunderous dunks, as multiple ones got jammed home from Awaka and Krivas to offset those of Arkansas’ Nick Pringle.

An Awaka baseline slam, four minutes before halftime, sparked the first of many “U-of-A! U-of-A!” chants that echoed throughout SAP Center, which had a jam-packed lower bowl but half-filled upper deck.

Before leaving in the final minutes, Kerr calmly sat two rows behind the Wildcats’ bench next to fellow alumni Tom Tolbert and Craig Bergman. They weren’t the only familiar faces amid March Madness’ return to San Jose for the first time since 2019.

Warriors star Draymond Green settled into the lower-level seats with his family among Arkansas fans across the court. Also among the 15,341 in attendance was 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan, and sitting right behind Kerr was general manager John Lynch with his wife, Linda, and their son, Jake.

The Razorbacks never truly threatened – other than with some hard fouls in the closing minutes. Billy Richmond got ejected with 7:14 remaining, after committing back-to-back hard fouls on Bradley and Kharchenkov. Only 14 seconds later, Pringle landed hard on Kharchenkov under the basket.

Next comes another physical matchup with Purdue, which edged No. 11 Texas 79-77 on Trey Kaufman-Renn’s tip-in at the buzzer to cap Thursday night’s thrilling opener here. Arizona and Purdue last met in the NCAA Tournament in 2007, a 72-63 first-round win by Purdue in New Orleans.

The Wildcats opened the tournament with a 92-58 win over 16th-seed Long Island and 78-66 victory against No. 9 Utah State. If Arizona holds serve Saturday night, they’ll secure a fifth trip to the Final Four, those previously coming in 1988, ’94, ’97 and 2001.

The Wildcats got eliminated in its two previous San Jose appearances in the Sweet 16: 2002 to Oklahoma, 2017 to Xavier.

Arkansas can relate. It’s now lost in the Sweet 16 in the Bay Area for the second time in as many seasons under Calipari, having fallen to Texas Tech in overtime last March 27 up the road at Chase Center.

Lloyd isn’t banking on momentum to carry them through Saturday’s Elite Eight, saying: “You let it go. This game tonight is not going to win us Saturday night’s game. You start the process over again. … And you don’t have hubris. You understand how hard this is.”

Added Peat: “This is the most fun I’ve had playing basketball, honestly. I love my teammates. Just seeing them be successful, it just makes me happy. We went out there and played our Arizona brand of basketball. And I thought everything fell in place.”

Peat said he paid no attention to Purdue’s last-second heroics in Thrusday’s preceding game. But he’s aware of the upcoming challenge.

“I know they’re traditionally always a really good team. I know they’ve got a lot of good seniors over there and veteran guys and they’ve got a really good coach,” Peat said. “I’m excited for the challenge.”

Added Bradley: “Purdue’s a great team, very poised, an older team. It’s going to be a battle, and we’re going to go scout, get ready and prepare.”