Arizona Wildcats Headed to Final Four After Dominant Second Half

Coach Tommy Lloyd praises team's resilience and Lute Olson's legacy after victory over Purdue

Mar. 29, 2026 at 12:03pm

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The Arizona Wildcats are headed to the Final Four after a dominant second-half performance led them to a 79-64 victory over Purdue. Coach Tommy Lloyd praised his team's resilience and the lasting legacy of former coach Lute Olson, who he says is looking down on the team 'happy' with their success. The Wildcats, led by strong performances from Koa Peat, Brayden Burries, Jaden Bradley, and Ivan Kharchenkov, are now headed to Indianapolis, the site of their first NCAA title 25 years ago.

Why it matters

Arizona's return to the Final Four marks a significant milestone for the storied basketball program, which has won four national championships in its history. Under coach Tommy Lloyd, the Wildcats have emerged as one of the top teams in the country, carrying on the legacy established by legendary coach Lute Olson. This run to the Final Four showcases the program's continued excellence and its ability to compete at the highest level of college basketball.

The details

After a close first half, Arizona dominated the second half, outscoring Purdue 47-29 to secure the victory. Coach Lloyd praised his team's resilience, saying he left the coaching staff to the players at halftime to 'figure this deal out' and 'go kick their ass in the second half.' The Wildcats' balanced scoring attack, with four players scoring in double figures, overwhelmed Purdue, who struggled to contain Arizona's ability to get to the paint and create second-chance opportunities.

  • Arizona will be making its 5th Final Four appearance in school history (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001, 2026).
  • This will be Tommy Lloyd's first Final Four appearance as a head coach, matching the number of Final Four appearances Lute Olson had in his first five seasons at Arizona.

The players

Koa Peat

A key contributor for the Wildcats, scoring 20 points with 7 rebounds and 3 assists.

Brayden Burries

Scored 14 points and had 3 steals for Arizona.

Jaden Bradley

Added 14 points and 6 assists for the Wildcats.

Ivan Kharchenkov

Recorded a double-double with 18 points and 8 rebounds.

Tommy Lloyd

In his second season as head coach, Lloyd has led the Wildcats to the Final Four, matching the success of legendary coach Lute Olson in his first five seasons.

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What they’re saying

“These dudes have been unbelievable. This is when we're at our best. I said, guys, the coaching staff and I are going to leave right now. You guys got a few minutes to talk amongst yourselves and kind of figure this deal out, and let's go kick their ass in the second half.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats

“Lute has given me a great life. His legacy in Tucson is so powerful. He's the guy. There (are) others before him, but he's the main catalyst to make our program the center of the community.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats

“Their ability to get the ball in the paint. Whether that's getting an offensive rebound, whether that's driving the basketball. So, if you look how they play, they don't shoot and really make a lot of 3s, but their ability to get by you, their ability — they have such good positional size and quickness.”

— Matt Painter, Head Coach, Purdue Boilermakers

What’s next

The Arizona Wildcats will face the winner of the West Regional final between UCLA and Gonzaga in the Final Four in Indianapolis on April 5th.

The takeaway

Arizona's return to the Final Four under Tommy Lloyd continues the program's storied legacy and showcases the team's resilience, balanced scoring, and commitment to Lute Olson's defensive-minded, up-tempo style of play. The Wildcats are poised to compete for their second national championship in the same city where they won their first 25 years ago.