Arizona gets rematch with Duke in NCAA Tournament Sweet 16

The Wildcats won a thriller Sunday night over Oregon

Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) dribbles the ball against Oregon Ducks guard TJ Bamba (5) in the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. | Steven Bisig-Imagn Images

SEATTLE — Arizona played Duke so long ago, it might as well have been last season.

The Blue Devils visited Tucson way back on Nov. 22 — exactly four months ago — and left town with a 69-55 victory.

The Wildcats (24-12) will get their shot at revenge on Thursday when they face Duke (33-3) in the Sweet 16 of the 2025 NCAA Tournament.

Duke, the No. 1 seed in the East Region, hammered Baylor 89-66 on Sunday afternoon to advance to the round of 16. Arizona, the No. 4 seed in the East, held off Oregon 87-83 on Sunday night to earn a trip to Newark, New Jersey.

The Duke vs. Arizona game time has been set for 6:39 p.m. PT/MST Thursday. The trip from Duke's campus in Durham, North Carolina to Newark is about a seven-hour drive or a 90-minute flight. Expect Prudential Center to be packed with Duke fans.

Arizona guard Caleb Love, who scored 29 points in Arizona's win over Oregon, has a long history against Duke. Love played the first three seasons of his career at North Carolina, and famously dropped 28 on the Blue Devils in the 2022 Final Four.

"It's a big matchup because it's the next game. It's the only game that matters," Love said after Arizona's win over Oregon. "Obviously, our mind was focused on Oregon and we got it done and now we're going to get in the film room and lock in on Duke and what they do. Obviously, they're a great team, they're well coached, and we'll be ready for 'em when the time comes."

With a healthy Cooper Flagg back in the fold, Duke has opened as 8.5-point favorites.

Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd has now been to the Sweet 16 in three of his four seasons as Arizona's head coach. He has never been to the Elite Eight as a head coach.