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Arizona Wildcats’ Caleb Love Gets Real About Mission After March Madness Benching

Originally posted on Hardwood Heroics | By Rex Villas | Last updated 3/28/24

Caleb Love is arguably the best player on the roster of the Arizona Wildcats. However, he was nowhere to be seen on the floor during a crucial stretch in the Wildcats’ second-round matchup in the 2024 NCAA Tournament against the Daytona Flyers last Saturday, as he got sent to the bench after making some bad decisions.

With Love on the bench, the Wildcats were able to go on a 10-0 run to silence Dayton, which was trying to stage a comeback at the time.

Arizona Wildcats Star Caleb Love Shows Maturity Amid Benching

Love didn’t seem all that bothered about the benching, though. He was only focused on one thing, and that’s doing whatever he can to help Arizona win, whether he is on or off the floor.

Via Brendan Quinn of The Athletic:

“At this point, all I care about is winning,” said afterward. “I don’t care if I’m on the court, on the bench, or in the stands. I play Arizona basketball, and Arizona basketball ain’t about me.”

Nevertheless, Love played a key role in the Wildcats’ victory over the dangerous and upset-seeking No. 7 Flyers, as he finished with 19 points on 6/15 shooting and added three rebounds and five assists in 35 minutes of floor duty.

“That’s key, staying calm in those moments when they’re making a run,” Love shared after the contest, per the Associated Press (h/t ESPN). “Not panicking. We stuck to the plan, and we got the job done.”

Arizona Looking to Take Down Clemson Tigers in Sweet 16 Showdown

After wins over the Long Beach State Beach (85-65) in the first round and against the Flyers, the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats will be taking on the No.6 Clemson Tigers this Thursday night in the Sweet 16 round.

This article first appeared on Hardwood Heroics and was syndicated with permission.

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