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Arizona Wins, But Offensive Struggles Loom

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Wednesday, March 11th 2026 at 11:46 GMT by Arizona Daily Star
      Locales: Arizona, UNITED STATES

LAS VEGAS, NV - Wednesday, March 11th, 2026 - The Arizona Wildcats secured a hard-fought 78-68 victory over the Colorado Buffaloes in the first round of the Pac-12 Tournament at the MGM Grand Garden Arena. However, the win was far from convincing, with Arizona's offensive woes continuing to cast a shadow over their tournament aspirations. The Wildcats (21-10) will advance to face Utah in the quarterfinals on Thursday, but coach Tommy Lloyd made it clear: significant improvement is needed if Arizona hopes to make a deep run.

Despite the win, Lloyd didn't hold back his criticism of his team's offensive performance. "We weren't great offensively," he stated bluntly after the game. While Arizona's defense consistently delivered, holding Colorado (19-13) to just 38.8% shooting and forcing 15 turnovers, the offense repeatedly stalled, allowing the Buffaloes to remain within striking distance for much of the contest.

The Wildcats shot a mere 42.9% from the field and a dismal 30% from beyond the arc. Leading scorer Pelle Larsson, usually a reliable offensive force, struggled, finishing with 14 points on a frustrating 5-of-14 shooting performance. Oumar Ballo provided a strong interior presence, notching 14 points and a dominant 12 rebounds, but even his contributions weren't enough to consistently unlock Colorado's defense.

Arizona's offensive inefficiency was the key to Colorado's ability to stay competitive. The Buffaloes battled back from a 10-point halftime deficit, narrowing the gap to just four points with 12:33 remaining in the second half. A timely 12-4 run, punctuated by a powerful dunk from Ballo, pushed Arizona's lead back to double digits, but Colorado refused to fold.

Colorado's head coach, Tad Boyle, acknowledged the challenge of facing a team like Arizona but highlighted areas where his team competed effectively. "They're a really good team, and we gave them too many easy baskets early," Boyle commented. However, he also pointed to his team's rebounding effort (40-34) as a positive. Arizona committed 10 turnovers, further exacerbating their offensive struggles.

The Wildcats ultimately closed out the game with a strong performance at the free-throw line, converting 8 of 10 attempts. However, this late-game efficiency couldn't mask the underlying offensive concerns. Guard Caleb Jones, who scored 13 points, admitted the team's execution wasn't up to par. "We didn't execute as well as we needed to," he said. "We had some open looks that we missed."

Beyond the Box Score: A Deeper Look at Arizona's Offensive Struggles

This isn't an isolated incident. Arizona has shown a worrying trend of offensive inconsistency in recent games. While their defense remains a stalwart, relying solely on defensive prowess is a precarious strategy in tournament play. Opponents will increasingly focus on disrupting Arizona's offensive flow, knowing that it's currently the team's weakest link.

Lloyd recognizes the need for immediate improvement. He emphasized the importance of "better shots, better ball movement, and better player movement." This suggests a need for a renewed focus on fundamental basketball principles - crisp passing, intelligent off-ball cuts, and creating high-percentage scoring opportunities. It also implies a potential need to adjust the offensive scheme to better utilize the team's strengths and minimize the impact of players struggling with their shot.

The Road Ahead: Can Arizona Solve its Offensive Puzzle?

The quarterfinal matchup against Utah presents a critical test for Arizona. Utah is a well-coached team with a solid defensive identity. If Arizona fails to address its offensive shortcomings, the Wildcats risk another challenging game and potentially an early exit from the tournament. The coaching staff will likely spend considerable time reviewing game film, implementing adjustments, and working with players to regain their offensive rhythm.

For Arizona to realistically contend for a Pac-12 championship - and secure a favorable seed in the NCAA tournament - the offense must become more reliable. The defense can only carry the team so far. Larsson and other key offensive players need to rediscover their scoring touch, and the team as a whole needs to exhibit greater offensive cohesion. The pressure is on Arizona to unlock its offensive potential before it's too late.