In a season filled with compelling narratives, the basketball world turns its attention to Friday’s highly anticipated matchup between Duke and Arizona. The game marks another chapter in a storied rivalry that has seen just ten meetings, with Arizona holding a slight 6-4 edge in the series.
At the heart of this year’s contest is Caleb Love, whose basketball journey has taken exciting turns in recent months. The former North Carolina Tar Heel, now donning Arizona’s colors, has already made his presence felt in his new home. Love’s history against Duke is particularly noteworthy, including his memorable 28-point performance that eliminated the Blue Devils in the 2022 Final Four.
The 2023-24 season has seen Love adapting to his new role with the Wildcats. He averaged 11.0 points, 3.0 assists, and 3.0 rebounds through his first three games. His shooting efficiency is 35.1% from the floor, with performances ranging from stellar to struggling. His season opener against Canisius showed promise with 17 points on 46.7% shooting, but a recent challenging outing against Wisconsin saw him shoot just 15.4% from the field.
Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, another Caleb – Caleb Martin of the 76ers – has been making headlines for different reasons. The 29-year-old forward recently scared fans during a game against the Brooklyn Nets, leaving for the locker room with back issues. However, Martin’s resilience showed as he returned to contribute 10 points in a commanding 113-98 victory, proving his value to Coach Nick Nurse’s system.
The timing of Friday’s Duke-Arizona matchup adds extra intrigue as both teams enter the contest looking to bounce back from recent setbacks. Duke is coming off a loss to Kentucky, while Arizona fell to Wisconsin. This mirrors the historical pattern of their matchups, which have consistently carried national implications.
The rivalry’s history is rich with memorable moments. Their first meeting 1987 saw Arizona triumph 91-85 in the Fiesta Bowl Classic. The most recent encounter in 2023 resulted in a 78-73 Arizona victory at Cameron Indoor Stadium, where Keshad Johnson’s crucial three-point play in the final minute sealed the win.
Looking ahead to Friday’s game, all eyes will be on Love as he faces his former Atlantic Coast Conference rivals. His previous success against Duke, combined with his current role in Arizona’s system, makes him a key figure in this latest installment of the rivalry.
The matchup also represents a unique distinction in college basketball history – Arizona joins Kentucky and North Carolina as the only programs to have played Duke at least 10 times while maintaining a winning record. The competitiveness of the series is reflected in the remarkably close total scoring: Duke has scored 805 points across all meetings, while Arizona has notched 796.
As the teams prepare for their Friday showdown, both programs are burdened by recent disappointments and the desire to maintain their positions among college basketball’s elite. It’s another opportunity for Love to add to his legacy against Duke, this time in Arizona’s McKale Center.
This game promises to be more than just another regular-season matchup—it’s a continuation of a rivalry that has consistently delivered high-stakes basketball and memorable moments for over thirty years. With both teams looking to regain momentum and Love seeking to maintain his impressive record against Duke, Friday’s contest has all the ingredients for another classic in this storied series.