Arizona advances to first Final Four in 25 years after running down Purdue in second half of Elite Eight

After coming up short throughout the last two decades in getting back to the Final Four, the Wildcats are going back to college basketball's biggest stage. A matchup ahead against either No. 6 seed Tennessee or No. 1 seed Michigan awaits. If chalk prevails and Arizona faces Michigan, it would be an incredible matchup because of how good both team's frontcourts are. We are in store for an epic Final Four regardless, but Arizona getting back to the big stage is a moment its fans have been waiting for.

Peat has routinely shown up in big moments this season for Arizona. Still, Peat came up very clutch in the opening minutes of the second half to get his team back in it. After an early scare, Arizona was able to pull away by doing what it does best: dominating in the paint. Peat attempted 18 shots and made half of them. He also added seven rebounds and three assists. Just an all-around outstanding performance from Peat.

FINAL: (1) Arizona 79, (2) Purdue 64

Saturday marked the end of an era for Purdue basketball. With the loss, this is the end of the line for Purdue's three-star seniors: Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, and Trey Kaufman-Renn. That trio played 147 games together and reached the national title game in 2024 before losing to UConn. From losing in the first round to No. 16 seed FDU as a No. 1 seed, to looking in control through the first 20 minutes against top-seed Arizona, it's been an incredible ride for one of the most accomplished trios in college basketball history.

FINAL: (1) Arizona 79, (2) Purdue 64

No. 1 seed Arizona is going to the Final Four for the first time since 2001 after defeating No. 2 seed Purdue 79-64 on Saturday in San Jose. The Wildcats will make their long-awaited return to the biggest stage in college basketball and will face either No. 1 seed Michigan or No. 6 seed Tennessee next weekend in Indianapolis.

Through the first 20 minutes of the Elite Eight, the top-seed in the West Region was on the wrong side of a hot start. Purdue led by seven points at halftime against Arizona before it flipped the switch in the second half.

Arizona star freshman Koa Peat finished with 20 points and seven rebounds, while Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley scored 14. Despite knocking down just five 3-pointers, Arizona mounted a comeback by playing its style of play down the stretch.

The loss marks the end of an era for Purdue's three seniors: Fletcher Loyer, Braden Smith, and Trey Kaufman-Renn. The trio played 147 games together at Purdue. No active trio in college basketball has more than 100 games played with each other.

Purdue knocked down seven 3-pointers in the first half and zero in the second half. That was one of the biggest turning points in this game. It's why Arizona is moving on.

With 3:28 remaining, Arizona leads 68-57. The Wildcats are on the verge of their first Final Four appearance in 25 years if they can close this game out.

MID 2H: (1) Arizona 59, (2) Purdue 51

It's been all Arizona in the second half. Purdue doesn't have any answers. Arizona star freshman Koa Peat has eight points and five rebounds in the second half. Most importantly, Arizona is winning the battle on the offensive glass in the second half. Arizona has five offensive rebounds compared to just three for Purdue.

EARLY 2H: (1) Arizona 51, (2) Purdue 45

Arizona has flipped the switch in the second half. The Wildcats have extended their lead to six after trailing by seven points at halftime. Arizona already has the same number of free throw attempts (8) as it did in the first half. Also, Arizona has knocked down two 3-pointers in the first eight minutes after only converting one in the first 20 minutes.

16-3 run for Arizona.

EARLY 2H: (2) Purdue 42, (1) Arizona 42

After trailing by seven at halftime, we are all level at 42 after a quick 7-0 run by the Wildcats. Arizona has knocked down its last four shots, and the Purdue scoring drought is up to two minutes. 

HALF: (2) Purdue 38, (1) Arizona 31

Arizona entered the Elite Eight without very much resistance during its first three NCAA Tournament games. That has changed during the first half against No. 2 seed Purdue. No. 1 seed Arizona trails Purdue 38-31 at halftime. The winner of this game advances to the Final Four next weekend in Indianapolis.

What is the difference in this game? The 3-point shooting. Purdue is 7 of 14, while Arizona is 1 of 6. The Wildcats haven't had to rely on the 3-ball much this season, but they might have to attempt more shots from beyond the arc in the second half. Purdue also pulled down more offensive rebounds (8-4) than Arizona. Still, Arizona is winning the battle in the paint 18-8.

The final 20 minutes should be very interesting. Per CBS Sports research, Arizona is 1-11 in the NCAA Tournament when trailing by at least six points at halftime. The lone win came against Duke in the Sweet 16 (2011).

LATE 1H: (2) Purdue 27, (1) Arizona 27

Through the first 16 minutes, we have seen six ties and four lead changes. Arizona is winning the battle inside (16 paint points vs. 8 for Purdue), but Purdue is getting more second-chance attempts (7-4 on the offensive glass. It's been a pretty evenly matched game so far. Fun to watch.

MID 1H: (2) Purdue 23, (1) Arizona 21

How about the spark Gicarri Harris is providing off the bench for Purdue? Harris has knocked down both of his shot attempts from beyond the arc and also had a key steal a few minutes ago. Purdue has eight bench points early.

EARLY 1H: (1) Arizona 19, (2) Purdue 13

Arizona has started hot from the floor. The Wildcats have knocked down 8 of their first 13 shots from the floor. Arizona doesn't take a ton of 3-pointers. The Wildcats have only attempted two shots from beyond the arc. Notably, Purdue star Trey Kaufman-Renn just went to the bench after picking up his second foul.

EARLY 1H: (2) Purdue 10, (1) Arizona 9

In Purdue's win over Texas on Thursday, its 3-point offense came from Fletcher Loyer. Well, through the first four minutes of play, it's been Braden Smith who has provided the shooting his team needs to pull off an upset. Smith has knocked his first two triples. Purdue leads 10-9 early.

Only one team can advance to Indianapolis. Who will it be?

Tommy Lloyd is one of the best coaches in the country. It makes sense why UNC would be interested. Since arriving at Arizona after being an assistant at Gonzaga for two decades, he has helped the Wildcats reach the NCAA Tournament in his first five seasons at the helm of the program.

This year's Arizona team might just be Lloyd's best yet. The Wildcats have their best roster since the early 2000s and also have a ton of momentum on the high school recruiting trail. It's hard to see Lloyd leaving, but North Carolina should do everything they can to make it happen.

Ahead of Arizona's matchup against Arkansas, Lloyd was asked about his name being connected to the UNC opening. He gave a long and vague answer to reporters in response.

"I already have one of the best jobs in the country," Lloyd said. "One thing we talk about in our program all the time, and I think I've gotten better at, and I think our team has been crushing it this year, is just the ability to have full focus and be present in the moment. I think we have a great team. I think we have a chance to advance in this tournament game by game. But I'm not delusional. I know we could lose tomorrow. But this team deserves my full focus, so there's not one thing that is going to knock me off my path. I'm 100 percent focused on Arizona basketball and this program, and I can't wait until the ball gets thrown up tomorrow, and then I can't wait to try to figure out a way to come out on top."

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For 39 minutes and 49 seconds, No. 2 seed Purdue and No. 11 Texas battled and bruised and fought through (quite literally) broken bones to put on a sizzling Sweet 16 battle. When the time came for a decider, college basketball's most prolific assister in history wanted the winner for himself.

But Braden Smith didn't quite have it. 

Purdue ran an action that gave Smith the space he wanted to drive down the right side of the lane. He tried to touch the ball off the backboard, but he shot it just a touch awry. Fortunately, he let go with three seconds on the clock, leaving just enough time for his fellow fourth-year Boilermaker, Trey Kaufman-Renn, to muscle in over Texas' Dailyn Swain and gently tip the ball back through the hoop with 0.7 seconds remaining to give Purdue the 79-77 win. The man nicknamed TKR delivered more than a TKO -- this was an outright knockout shot for Texas in the tournament.

It was also the least amount of time left of any Purdue winning shot in NCAA Tournament history and the first of Kaufman-Renn's college career.

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No. 2 seed Purdue is moving on to the Elite Eight after pulling off a dramatic 79-77 win over No. 11 seed Texas on Thursday after star forward Trey Kaufman-Rennconverted a tip-in with 0.7 seconds left. Kaufman-Renn's heroics came moments after Texas star Daylin Swain converted an and-1 to tie the game at 77 with 11 seconds left.

"That's what we drew up," Kaufman-Renn told the CBS Sports broadcast. "We have so much experience with these guys. ... It's our job to make big plays."

With the win, Purdue will be making its third Elite Eight appearance since 2019.

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Tommy Lloyd hasn't followed trends or strayed from his style, showing the rest of college basketball that a team doesn't need a heavy reliance on 3-point shooting to contend for a national championship. 

Over the past 10 games, Arizona ranks second nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency while sitting 360th in 3-point rate. Even without a high volume of 3s, the Wildcats are averaging 86.8 points per game since the start of the Big 12 Tournament, a sign of an offense operating at a high level. 

Purdue has not been an elite defensive team this season, and there were concerning signs in its win over Texas that may not be explained solely by the Longhorns' performance. The Boilermakers allowed both Dailyn Swain and Matas Vokietaitis to be efficient around the rim -- an issue against an Arizona team with multiple players capable of creating problems in the paint. Pick: Arizona -6.5

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Arizona's only real weakness is a lack of 3-point shooting. Still, the Wildcats have found ways to advance in the NCAA Tournament -- and win throughout the regular season -- because of their size and physicality down low. Arizona, as a team, scored more points in the paint (58) than Houston did total points (55) during its loss to Illinois in the Sweet 16.

Purdue will have a tall task -- literally and figuratively -- going up against Arizona's stout frontcourt of Koa Peat, Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas. Purdue, as a team, has the highest adjusted offensive efficiency rating in college basketball, according to KenPom. 

The Boilermakers also force turnovers and create second chances on the glass. Purdue is also a better 3-point shooting team than Arizona. Still, this game will come down to which team is the more physical. On paper, Arizona appears to have the advantage.

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When Tommy Lloyd's top-seeded Arizona Wildcats tip off Saturday night against Matt Painter's No. 2 Boilermakers, it will initiate 40 minutes of trial by basketball that will be caked in anxiety for both schools and fan bases. 

There is a Final Four trip to Indianapolis on the line, and with it, generational droughts looking to be quenched.

Sure, Purdue made the Final Four just two years ago with back-to-back national player of the year Zach Edey, but that was then and this is now; there's still some overall atonement for past March misses for Painter's program.

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