Inside Arizona’s Final Four Push: The Crucial Moves Each Player Must Make to Secure a Spot in the Championship Game

In reaching its first Final Four since 2001, Arizona has regularly used eight players who have each made significant contributions to this historic season. All eight have led the Wildcats in scoring at least once, and seven have topped the 20-point mark.

On any given night, one of those eight could be the key to victory for the UA. But as the games get harder, it’s also necessary for each to play their part if surviving and advancing.

Here’s what each mention of Arizona’s 8-man rotation must do in Saturday’s national semifinal against Michigan in order to reach the NCAA title game:

Jaden Bradley

Be the floor leader

The Big 12 Player of the Year is averaging 13.3 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.8 assists during the NCAA tourney, more or less on part with his regular season numbers. But raw stats weren’t what got him the conference POY award and a spot on both the Big 12 All-Tournament Team and West All-Region Team.

It’s Bradley’s ability to control how Arizona’s offense is run, not make mistakes on defense and, when the Wildcats need a big shot, drain it. Whether it’s the buzzer beater to knock off Iowa State in the Big 12 semifinals or a late bucket to hold off a surging opponent, Bradley always manages to come up in the clutch and he made need to do so again.