{"id":238787,"date":"2026-03-27T06:06:09","date_gmt":"2026-03-27T06:06:09","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/238787\/"},"modified":"2026-03-27T06:06:09","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T06:06:09","slug":"no-1-arizona-routs-arkansas-to-reach-elite-eight","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/238787\/","title":{"rendered":"No. 1 Arizona routs Arkansas to reach Elite Eight"},"content":{"rendered":"

SAN JOSE \u2013 Steve Kerr flashed an approving smile on the SAP Center<\/a> video boards Thursday night.<\/p>\n

The Warriors\u2019 coach was sitting behind his alma mater Arizona\u2019s bench<\/a>. 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.<\/p>\n

One more win and they\u2019re in the Final Four, where Arizona first ventured in 1988 with Kerr & Co. playing under Lute Olson.<\/p>\n

By virtue of a 109-88 rout of fourth-seeded Arkansas, Arizona advanced to Saturday\u2019s West Regional final<\/a> against No. 2-seed Purdue<\/a>. Tipoff is set for 5:49 p.m.<\/p>\n

\"GoldenGolden State Warriors head coach Steve Kerr stands during a break in action during the Arkansas Razorbacks game against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half at the 2026 NCAA Division I West Regional Semifinal game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

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).<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s always good to share the wealth and you\u2019re not worried about scoring and who gets the shine,\u201d Bradley said. \u201cThis group of guys doesn\u2019t care. We just care about winning at the end of the day. Off the court, we love each other.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cArizona is really good and if they shoot the ball that way and do the things they did, wow,\u201d Arkansas coach John Calipari said. \u201c\u2026 That was a hard one. They got us right from the beginning.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ArizonaArizona Wildcats\u2019 Brayden Burries (5) celebrates a basket and a foul by a teammate against the Arkansas Razorbacks in the first half at the 2026 NCAA Division I West Regional Semifinal game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

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.).<\/p>\n

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) \u2014 the best percentage in a Sweet 16 game since 2005 (66%, also by Arizona, vs. Oklahoma State).<\/p>\n

\u201cThat\u2019s the highest percentage I can remember someone shooting,\u201d Calipari added. \u201cYou 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\u2019t quite what we\u2019ve been. That\u2019s why you get a 20-point bulge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Arizona attempted only eight shots from 3-point range \u2013 making five \u2013 but coach Tommy Lloyd insisted he not once advised his players to avoid long-range targets.<\/p>\n

\"ArizonaArizona Wildcats\u2019 Jaden Bradley (0) takes a shot against Arkansas Razorbacks\u2019 Trevon Brazile (7) in the second half at the 2026 NCAA Division I West Regional Semifinal game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

Bradley, who made his lone 3-pointer, said: \u201cWe 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. \u2026 It makes it easier for the guards to get open shots, as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Asked to memorialize a season in which he registered the most points and assists in Arkansas history, Acuff replied: \u201cBrotherhood, for sure with the team. Great support from the fans. A lot of good stuff. It was a great year for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calipari made sure to give Acuff a handshake on his way off the podium \u2014 and likely onward to the NBA.<\/p>\n

\"ArkansasArkansas Razorbacks\u2019 Nick Pringle (23) fouls Arizona Wildcats\u2019 Ivan Kharchenkov (8) in the second half at the 2026 NCAA Division I West Regional Semifinal game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019 Nick Pringle.<\/p>\n

An Awaka baseline slam, four minutes before halftime, sparked the first of many \u201cU-of-A! U-of-A!\u201d chants that echoed throughout SAP Center, which had a jam-packed lower bowl but half-filled upper deck.<\/p>\n

Before leaving in the final minutes, Kerr calmly sat two rows behind the Wildcats\u2019 bench next to fellow alumni Tom Tolbert and Craig Bergman. They weren\u2019t the only familiar faces amid March Madness\u2019 return to San Jose for the first time since 2019.<\/p>\n

\"GoldenGolden State Warriors\u2019 Draymond Green, center, watches the Arkansas Razorbacks game against the Arizona Wildcats in the first half at the 2026 NCAA Division I West Regional Semifinal game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Razorbacks never truly threatened \u2013 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.<\/p>\n

Next comes another physical matchup with Purdue, which edged No. 11 Texas 79-77 on Trey Kaufman-Renn\u2019s tip-in at the buzzer to cap Thursday night\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019ll secure a fifth trip to the Final Four, those previously coming in 1988, \u201994, \u201997 and 2001.<\/p>\n

The Wildcats got eliminated in its two previous San Jose appearances in the Sweet 16: 2002 to Oklahoma, 2017 to Xavier.<\/p>\n

Arkansas can relate. It\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

Lloyd isn\u2019t banking on momentum to carry them through Saturday\u2019s Elite Eight, saying: \u201cYou let it go. This game tonight is not going to win us Saturday night\u2019s game. You start the process over again. \u2026 And you don\u2019t have hubris. You understand how hard this is.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Peat: \u201cThis is the most fun I\u2019ve 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.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"ArizonaArizona Wildcats\u2019 Motiejus Krivas (13) takes a shot against Arkansas Razorbacks\u2019 Malique Ewin (12) in the second half at the 2026 NCAA Division I West Regional Semifinal game at the SAP Center in San Jose, Calif., on Thursday, March 26, 2026. (Nhat V. Meyer\/Bay Area News Group)<\/p>\n

Peat said he paid no attention to Purdue\u2019s last-second heroics in Thrusday\u2019s preceding game. But he\u2019s aware of the upcoming challenge.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know they\u2019re traditionally always a really good team. I know they\u2019ve got a lot of good seniors over there and veteran guys and they\u2019ve got a really good coach,\u201d Peat said. \u201cI\u2019m excited for the challenge.\u201d<\/p>\n

Added Bradley:\u00a0\u201cPurdue\u2019s a great team, very poised, an older team. It\u2019s going to be a battle, and we\u2019re going to go scout, get ready and prepare.\u201d<\/p>\n

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