Arizona guard Caleb Love said he is not intimidated by playing Duke in an NCAA Tournament Sweet 16 game. Love had success against the Blue Devils when he played for North Carolina. (Photo by Spencer Barnes/Cronkite News)
NEWARK, N.J. – The NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament took Caleb Love to New Jersey, but the big stage of Thursday’s Sweet 16 matchup also took Love to his roots.
Missouri.
“Me being from St. Louis, I’m not afraid of anything, anybody,” the Arizona guard said Wednesday. “I think just me channeling that, my inner St. Louis in me.”
The Wildcats arrived at the Prudential Center this week for the East Regionals, prepping for their Thursday night showdown against No. 1 seed Duke.
“I’m loving the guys that I’m going into battle with,” Wildcats guard Love said. “We’ve been so locked in since we got here, since we found out we’ve got to play Duke. We’re not shying away from anything, and we’re not running away from the fact that this is another game and that this is a game that we have to win.”
The Wildcats faced Duke in November, losing 69-55.
“Obviously we’re a different team than when we played them, and we didn’t play good that game,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “I’m sure they would say they’re a different team, and I don’t think Duke played that great a game. It’s going to be interesting to see how it looks when we get out there.”
All eyes will be on Love for a number of reasons.
Love helped Arizona to a win last week against Oregon, putting up 29 points and nine rebounds.
The guard has a deep-rooted history with Duke. He played for North Carolina in 2022 when he hit a 3-pointer with 25 seconds left to finalize a classic Final Four victory over Duke. It was the last game of Hall of Fame coach Mike Krzyzewski’s 42-season career coaching for the Blue Devils.
When asked what was going through his mind in that moment three years ago, Love was direct.
“I made the shot,” he said smiling.. “I mean, it really has no relevance to this game coming up. I just want to focus on the game plan that we have set. I want my focus to be with this group.”
Love’s confidence on the court can be divisive. After finding out that the Wildcats would be facing Duke, reporters flocked to the guard to see what his thoughts were. Love took a breath before responding.
“I didn’t want to give them no fuel or bulletin board material,” Love said. “I just wanted to focus on what this group (has) got to do and not give them anything that they can feed off of.”
The Wildcats continue to refine their game plan ahead of Thursday night’s meeting. The team has reflected on its bumpy beginning to the season, starting off 4-5. Arizona forward Trey Townsend pointed to hard work and determination as the solution to overcoming the slow start.
Although Arizona has a tough mentality, it is up against a top-seeded team and top NBA draft pick.
Duke forward Cooper Flagg is projected to be the draft’s number one pick this year. Although Flagg said early this season he would like to return – and some have speculated about big NIL money – Duke coach Jon Scheyer and others have downplayed the possibility recently.
Arizona, meanwhile, is just focused on trying to slow Flagg.
“I think we’ve grown in that area throughout the whole year, and I think that’s going to separate us,” Wildcats guard KJ Lewis said. “I think just executing the game plan on both sides of the ball. Also being physical and matching their physicality and their rebounding is going to be a big key for the victory. And then obviously taking care of the ball.”
Blue Devils guard Tyrese Proctor has seen a lot of Love.
“I think just the intensity,” Proctor said about what he expects from the meeting. “It’s always a high-level matchup. It’s always a great game, and that’s really it.”
Duke and Arizona fans remember the 2001 title game that saw the Blue Devils win 82-72. The passionate Wildcats loyalists hope for a different outcome and Love believes it’s possible.
“I just think that me not being afraid of the moment and me trying to impose my will, kind of like St. Louis swagger to the game,” Love said.
