Arizona Wildcats Defeat Florida Gators in Season Opener, Coach Highlights Jaden Bradley’s Performance
The Arizona Wildcats defeated the defending champion Florida Gators yesterday, November 4, 2024, with a dominant performance fueled by both Koa Peat’s 30 points and a career-high 27 points from Jaden Bradley.
While Peat garnered attention for his scoring, Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd emphasized Bradley’s crucial role in the victory. “How about Jaden Bradley tonight?” Lloyd said in a post-game interview. “That dude gets no love. And he doesn’t need any love. But he came out and he kicked some ass today.” Bradley shot 9-for-14 from the field and was instrumental in overcoming two 12-point deficits in the first half. This win marks an important early-season victory for the Wildcats as they aim for another deep run in the NCAA Men’s Basketball Tournament.
Bradley, recently named to the Oscar Robertson Trophy preseason watch list, expressed the team’s composure during the game. “We just knew Florida was a great team, so we tried not to panic when we got down,” Bradley stated. “We trusted in each other, trusted in the system, two, three ball screens, and we just took what they gave us.” The Wildcats’ offensive strategy also notably involved a low volume of three-point attempts, with only five shots made from beyond the arc – the fewest in over a decade for the program. Lloyd explained this was partially dictated by Florida’s defense, leading to 38 free throw attempts.
Lloyd praised Bradley’s experience and leadership, stating, “He’s an experienced player. He’s a winner. And we trust him.” Arizona officials indicated they expect to increase their three-point attempts in future games, but acknowledged the effectiveness of their current approach.
