Arizona beats Purdue to make first Final Four since 2001
ESPN • • general
Key Points:
- The Arizona Wildcats secured a 79-64 victory over No. 2 Purdue, earning their first Final Four appearance since 2001 and setting a school record with 36 wins this season.
- Under coach Tommy Lloyd, Arizona has achieved a historic 148 wins in five seasons, the most ever by a coach in their first five years, with this being their first Final Four under his leadership.
- Freshmen Brayden Burries, Ivan Kharchenkov, and Koa Peat combined for 52 points, playing a crucial role in Arizona's win against a veteran Purdue team.
- Arizona will face the winner of the Michigan vs. Tennessee game in the Final Four, carrying a 13-game winning streak into the matchup in Indianapolis.
- Purdue's season ended at 30-9, with star player Smith concluding his college career after setting the career assist record, despite a challenging shooting performance in the loss.
