Arizona Scouting Report

The Arizona Wildcats is the number one ranked team in the nation after big wins against Duke at Cameron Indoor, Wisconsin at home, and Michigan State on a neutral floor. An elite transfer class was brought in to mesh with the returning talent of Kylan Boswell, Oumar Ballo, and Pelle Larson who all played major roles for the Wildcasts last season. Tommy Lloyd has gotten the Arizona cruising at a high level in his first three season, but this years team may be his best.

Scorching Hot Offense

Arizona under Tommy Lloyd has been elite offensively, touting an adjusted offensive efficiency ranked seventh in 2022 and tenth in 2023 with a blistering tempo around 72 possessions per a game according to Kenpom. This combination of efficiency and speed has made the Wildcats a regular season machine that has not stopped this season. The current Wildcats are ranked sixth in adjusted offensive efficiency this year at an absurd tempo of 76 possessions per a game.

Arizona's Offensive Tendencies

Transition Offense

Arizona is extremely opportunistic in transition when opposing defenders are caught behind the play. Boswell especially is aggressive throwing the ball ahead to the plethora of Arizona guards. Arizona spaces the floor very well, if they have the numbers advantage they are going to stretch the defense out and open up shots from the perimeter. If Ballo gets the rebound, Arizona looks for a early drag screen in transition. Otherwise, Ballo is looking to sprint ahead and seal his defender in the post.

Offensive Motions

Common actions that Arizona runs revolves around the bigs in the middle. The high low connection between the forwards such as Larson and Johnson to Ballo and Krivvas has been lethal to oppsing frontcourts. In the halfcourt, Arizona is going to use Ballo and Johnson to set screens for Love and Larson with the surrounding pieces playing out of advantages very well to create good offense.

Offensive Rebounding

The offensive rebounding ability is crushing to teams struggling to get stops. It starts with Ballo's physicality pushing his defender under the basket before exploding to the ball. But the auxillary pieces around Ballo do a great job of crashing hard for rebounds. Johnson is an elite athlete that will punish teams that are not able to stop him from crashing from the perimeter. In addition to the two bigs, another wing will crash to the nail to collect long rebounds or tipped balls, normally this is Caleb Love but on Love's shot attempts another Wildcat will crash hard.

Arizona's Offensive Sets

The Arizona offense uses a lot of different sets after game stoppages and do a great job of attacking opposing team's weaknesses. Against Wisconsin, Tommy Lloyd ruthlessly exposed Wisconsin's pick and roll coverages with Ballo dominating the game physically and Larson making decisions as a ball handler. Opposing teams have to be ready for the Wildcats to consistently attack the weakest part of their defense.

Video Clips of Arizona's Offensive Sets

Ballscreen High Low:

DHO into a Ballscreen:

Zoom Flex:

Fake Ballscreen Pindown:

Middle Spain:

Horns Zoom:

Double Pindown Slip:

Player Profiles

#2 - Caleb Love

• Pick and Roll

  • Pull up if the defender goes under the screen

  • WIll be aggressive with his floater in the mid range

  • Looks to pass the ball to the weakside

• Driving

  • Will drive to which side he thinks he has the space advantage

  • In neutral situations, he will probably drive to his left

• Finishing

  • Good at jumping into his defender to create space

  • Not trying to draw fouls but finish over defenders

  • Very good with his floater (55% on twos)

• Crashes the offensive glass

To defend Caleb Love, it starts with making him a jump shooter. When Caleb Love is aggressive getting to the rim and finding teammates, he is one of the best guards in the country. To guard Love in ball screen situations, look for the on ball defender to vary how they are navigating the ball screens but often going under screens allowing Love to shoot from the perimeter. Off ball, Love is not an active cutter, so his defender can be active helping while still staying close enough to contest catch and shoot threes. In neutral situations, on ball defender needs to apply ball pressure and takeaway his left hand drive first, with help defense ready to help in the gap.

#3 - Larson

• Primarily used as a distributor for the bigs in pick and roll situations

• Spot of shooter in the halfcourt (60% from three)

• Aggressive going to the rim in transition

  • WIll also be aggressive trying to draw a foul if guarded by a smaller player

Larson is going to be used as a on ball decision maker a ton. He is a good decision maker but is not proven to be a reliable ball handler. It will be vital to apply pressure on Larson when he has the ball, be up in his jersey and making his passes more difficult. Make him consistently score by putting the ball on the floor and finishing over a solid contest. In ball screen situations, on ball defender goes under the screen to limit the rollers ability.

#4 - Boswell

• Very aggressive shooting the ball from three this season (53% from three)

• On drives, he is looking to pull up in the mid range

• Will use his eyes to disguise his passes

• Used a screener for Arizona's sets

It is vital to force Boswell inside the arc where his percentages have dropped to 47% on two points shots. He is not an elite athlete in terms of quickness, a lot of his two point shots are in the midrange. On ball defender needs to stay connected with him off ball, looking to disrupt his movements and take away any catch and shoot threes. Ballscreens should be trailing over the top, trying to funnel him into the paint. Boswell gives away his drives with how he loads before starting his drive, he likes to "hopping" into his drive.

#11 - Ballo

• Devestating sealing defenders allowing for the lob over the top

  • His touches tend to come in bunches

  • Gets a lot of seals after ballscreens

• In the post, likes his right hand push shot

• Not a great passer out of double teams and won't pass in one on one situations

• Gets a hand on a ton of rebounds and uses his frame very well

The game starts early with Ballo, really focusing on beating Ballo down the floor to avoid bad getting sealed early. Post defenders, he thrives when he players try to work around him. Stay solid and physical, do not give him an edge that he can exploit.

#16 - Johnson

• A solid driver, wanting to rip through

  • Favors his right hand because he likes to finish with his right hand

• Solid as a short roller looking to score

• He has struggled to shoot consistently as a career 26% three point shooter

  • Misses short on his three often

• Will use him in the post if he has a smaller player guarding him

• Aggressive crashing from the perimeter for offensive rebounds

The most important thing with Johnson is over adjusting to his strengths and being okay giving up things to him. On ball defenders offering a light closeout with the focus on stepping in front of his drive. In the short roll, the bigs need to be ready to switch with the low big stepping up to meet Johnson, and the other big rotating to cover the low big. Keep Johnson out of the paint and his offensive value is greatly reduced.

#5 - Lewis

• Incredible finisher at the rim

• Looking to cut off ball

Lewis has thrived in his roll as a cutter and spot of shooter for the Wildcats. Defenders need to be careful helping off of him, looking to stay low in gaps to not allow Lewis to cut behind help. Make sure to tag him if he crashes for rebounds.

#0 - Bradley

• Athletic secondary guard

• Looking to drive the ball

He is a solid offensive player but is best when attacking downhill. On ball defender is playing his drive, he has not shot from the perimeter (5 threes this season), and Arizona has used him in the mid range.

#14 - Krivas

• Plays a lot like Ballo though slightily less physically imposing

Similar to Ballo, getting down the floor ahead of him and focusing on maintaining good positioning is vital against Krivas.

Defensive Keys Against Arizona

• Best transition defense is a good offense. Bigs have to be really active getting back in transition.

  • Less than 8 fastbreak points

• Keep the Arizona out of the paint

  • Holding Ballo and Krivas to less than 60% from the field

• Pressure the Arizona ball handlers to disrupt their offensive flow

  • Force 12+ turnovers

• Limit the threes for Boswell and Larson

  • Holding those players to less than 5 threes combined

• Keeping Arizona to only one possession

  • Less than 6 offensive rebounds

Desert Dawgs

The most surprising development for this Wildcats team has been the development of an elite defense. Players like Boswell and Larson have stepped up the perimeter defense, with transfer Keshad Johnson adding defensive flexibility that Arizona did not have last year.

Defensive Style

• Man to man non-switching

  • Pick and Roll Defense

    • Deep drop with the on ball defender trailing over the top

    • Hedge with the defender going under the screen

  • post defense

    • One on One no middle with help baseline

    • Double from the passer, shifting from the weakside (Called "green")

  • Switching backscreens 1-4

  • Disciplined contesting shots without fouling

Predicted Matchups

Braden Smith - Pelle Larson

Lance Jones - Kylan Boswell

Fletcher Loyer - Caleb Love

Kauffman-Renn - Keshad Johnson

Zach Edey - Oumar Ballo

Purdue Offensive Keys

• Force Arizona's perimter defenders to navigate a lot of screens

  • Be aggressive attacking Ballo at the rim.

• With Arizona not having an elite shot blocker it is vital to stay patient inside and finish at the rim

  • Shoot above 65% at the rim

• Cutting and flare screens on the weakside to create confusion

  • Get layups off of cuts

  • Create offensive rebounding lanes by moving the defense around

• Win the possession battle

  • Less than 12 turnovers

  • 10+ offensive rebounds