The Arizona Wildcats entered March Madness with national title hopes and started their tournament off with a twenty-point win. They defeated the Long Beach State Beach 85-65. The game was close for the better part of the first half, but Long Beach simply couldn’t keep up for the whole game. Quickly into the second half, the Wildcats pulled away and never looked back. Star senior guard Caleb Love had a double-double for the Wildcats. Fans will remember Love from his time with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Love helped them to a national championship game appearance in 2022 against the Kansas Jayhawks. 

North Carolina entered last season with title aspirations but failed to even make the tournament. Fans pinned Love as the scapegoat for the season’s failures and he transferred in the offseason. Love ended up in Arizona, determined to prove his abilities. This game was only a continuation of his stellar performances in March Madness.

What’s Next For Arizona and Caleb Love?

Arizona will face the winner of seven-seed Dayton Flyers and 10-seed Nevada Wolfpack. Neither team is entering the tournament in the strongest form, and the two-seed Arizona Wildcats will be favored against either.

While the team needs to focus on the opponent before them, fans will be circling the potential regional championship matchup. If both teams reach it, we could see a matchup of Caleb Love, facing his former team, the North Carolina Tar Heels. This anticipation for this game would be incredible, as two national title contenders clash. There will be no shortage of bad blood if this game happens, as Love and the Tar Heels did not leave on good terms.

The team still has work to do before they can think about that, but with a win today, Love and the Wildcats are well on their way.

Next: Michigan State Defeats Mississippi State in March Madness