Arizona dominates Long Island 92-58, looks every bit the part in NCAA Tournament opener

SAN DIEGO, Calif. (KYMA, KECY) - From the opening tip to the final buzzer, there was no doubt who controlled this one.

The Arizona Wildcats wasted no time asserting themselves Friday inside Viejas Arena, rolling past the LIU Sharks 92-58 in the first round of the NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament.

In a tournament known for chaos and close calls especially for No. 1 seeds Arizona delivered something much different: a complete, composed, and dominant performance that looked like a team built for a deep March run.

From the moment the ball went up, Arizona made its intentions clear.

The Wildcats pushed tempo offensively, attacked the paint, and suffocated LIU defensively—jumping out to a double-digit lead within the opening minutes. By the midpoint of the first half, the game already felt out of reach.

Head coach Tommy Lloyd emphasized afterward that the fast start wasn’t accidental— t was the result of preparation and respect for the opponent.

“These games are never easy. You never take them for granted,” Lloyd said. “I have a lot of respect for our opponents… you just don’t know in these 1-16 games.”

Arizona didn’t let it become one of those games.

The Wildcats led by as many as 27 in the first half, fueled by efficient shooting and a defense that allowed just six LIU points in the first six minutes.

A major storyline entering the tournament was how Arizona’s freshman-heavy core would respond to the pressure of March Madness.

They answered immediately.

Freshman guard Brayden Burries led all scorers with 18 points, knocking down four three-pointers and providing an early offensive spark.

“Just being in the right place at the right time,” Burries said. “My teammates finding me… and just making shots.”

Fellow freshman Koa Peat added 15 points and played with the poise of a veteran, helping Arizona maintain its edge throughout the game.

“It’s special,” Peat said of playing on this stage. “Everybody’s watching… but I’ve played in a lot of big games. I feel like I’m ready for the moment.”

That confidence showed. Arizona never looked rattled, never played tight, and never allowed LIU to gain any real momentum.

Lloyd, for his part, made it clear after the game that the “freshman” label doesn’t really apply to this group.

“I don’t look at them as freshmen,” he said. “I just look at them as really good basketball players.”

While the offense impressed, Arizona’s defense was just as dominant—and arguably more important.

The Wildcats executed their game plan to near perfection, limiting LIU’s ability to attack the paint and forcing difficult looks throughout the night.

“I think it’s our preparation,” Peat said. “We were just sitting on LIU’s tendencies… and we were together on defense.”

Forward Tobe Awaka echoed that sentiment, pointing to film study and discipline.

“Knowing their key guys like to play in the paint… just sitting on those moves,” Awaka said.

Arizona’s defensive discipline showed up in the numbers: LIU didn’t attempt a free throw until the second half, while the Wildcats committed just three fouls before halftime.

That level of control allowed Arizona to dictate pace—and ultimately, the outcome.

Another sign of Arizona’s championship potential: balance.

Six Wildcats scored at least eight points, and the team shot efficiently throughout, particularly in the first half when they connected on 57 percent of their attempts.

Even more notable no player logged more than 28 minutes.

That kind of distribution not only highlights Arizona’s depth, but also puts them in a strong position physically with a quick turnaround ahead.

Senior guard Jaden Bradley pointed to the team’s culture as a key factor.

“Energy is contagious,” Bradley said. “When everybody’s engaged… it wins.”

That energy was visible all night—on the floor, on the bench, and even in the stands, where a pro-Arizona crowd made the neutral-site game feel close to a home environment.

Even with a comfortable margin, Lloyd stressed the importance of maintaining focus and intensity.

“You shouldn’t even worry what the score is,” he said. “You should be playing possession by possession.”

There were brief stretches in the second half where Arizona slowed its pace, but Lloyd quickly addressed it, emphasizing tempo and flow.

“Getting the ball up the court with the right pace… affects something two or three passes later,” he said.

The Wildcats responded, continuing to execute and avoiding the kind of lapses that can turn comfortable wins into tense finishes in March.

While the scoreboard told one story, there was plenty of respect on both sides.

The LIU Sharks, led by head coach Rod Strickland, completed a remarkable turnaround this season going from a three-win program to a 24-win conference champion and NCAA Tournament team.

“That’s pretty special,” Lloyd said. “It’s just as hard or harder to win there than it is at Arizona.”

Strickland acknowledged the challenge of facing a team like Arizona but remained proud of his group.

“We knew what we were up against,” he said. “That’s a great team… big, physical.”

He also noted that early nerves played a role, though LIU showed more fight in the second half.

In the final minute, the loudest cheer of the night may not have been for Arizona.

LIU guard Eddie Munyak, who had barely played all season, banked in a three-pointer for his first collegiate points, an emotional moment that resonated across the arena.

Lloyd didn’t miss the significance.

“That’s an awesome moment in his life that he’ll never forget,” he said. “That’s what makes this tournament special.”

With the win, Arizona advances to face the Utah State Aggies in the second round Sunday in San Diego.

Utah State is coming off a win over Villanova, setting up a much tougher test for the Wildcats.

But if Friday’s performance is any indication, Arizona is trending in the right direction.

The Wildcats have now put together a resume that includes a dominant regular season, a Big 12 Tournament title, and a convincing NCAA Tournament opener—all while showcasing depth, defense, and elite young talent.

Still, inside the locker room, the message remains simple.

“Just taking one game at a time,” Burries said.

And after a performance like this, Arizona looks ready for whatever comes next.