Seen and heard in San Jose: Brotherly love, Bradley's free hand, Purdue's Cochise connection

It was the least he could do.

Benson said his brother, UA assistant coach T.J. Benson, used to show up for all his Oregon tournament games when TJ was an assistant coach at GCU. So Casey went to San Diego last weekend for the Wildcats' first two tournament games and is now in San Jose.

“Now I’m enjoying the ride for him,” Casey said. “He did it for me and for me to do that for him is pretty special.”

For once, Casey also had the time available. After spending a final college season playing for GCU in 2017-18, Casey Benson played seven years professionally, including a final season in 2024-25 in Belgium.

This season, Benson said he’s been working as an assistant coach at Glendale’s Dream City Academy, where former UA center Emmanuel Stephen graduated from.

JB ditches wrap

Playing barehanded for the first time in nearly two weeks, Arizona point guard Jaden Bradley didn’t even blink.

Bradley had worn a wrap around his left index finger and wrist since spraining his index finger joint in a collision with Houston’s Emanuel Sharp on March 14 in the Big 12 Tournament final.

“I wasn’t even thinking about it,” Bradley said. “I didn’t even know I didn’t have it on.”

UA trainer Justin Kokoskie said the key was getting Bradley to have four days in a row without any bandage, which he was finally able to do after UA beat Utah State in the second round on Sunday.

Cluff’s many lives

A late-blooming big man from Australia's Sunshine Coast, Oscar Cluff keeps making himself known around Southern Arizona.

After playing two seasons as an unknown prospect in 2021-22 and 2022-23 for Cochise College, Cluff went on to Washington State in 2023-24 — and he helped the Cougars beat Arizona twice that season.

Now, after spending last season at South Dakota State, he'll get another crack at the Wildcats as Purdue's starting center.

That he's with the Boilermakers now is a testament both to Cluff’s improvement and the “Diego Pavia” rule that allowed non-Division I college athletes an extra year in 2025-26. (There’s reportedly a chance the rule could allow Cluff to return for a sixth year in 2026-27, too.)

“Once I knew I got it, I was pretty happy,” Cluff said. “I’m just taking what I can get.”

Having said Cochise coach Jerry Carrillo once received texts that Cluff “kind of sucks" as a freshman in 2021-22, Cluff grew into a key role for the Cougars in 2023-24, then played a more featured role at South Dakota State last season, when he averaged 17.6 points and 12.3 rebounds.

This season, Cluff is averaging 10.5 points and 7.5 points for Purdue while starting all 37 games he’s played in.

"The whole journey since junior college has been fun, and this year more so because, it's such a high level," Cluff said. "I think from that first year at Washington State, it's been a lot of using my experience and growing my confidence from then."

Legal advice 

Sometimes, pregame press conferences can go in directions far away from the game.

Before Thursday’s game, Lloyd was asked his reaction to the 32-year-old news that Wilbur blew out his ACL when Arkansas’ mascot tackled him during the 1994 Final Four matchup between Arizona and the Razorbacks.

“Was he able to play through the ACL tear?” Lloyd asked.

Told no, Lloyd came up with an idea, apparently from having seen a few billboards.

“Is there a statute of limitations or can we get a lawsuit on that?” Lloyd said. "I think he should get a good lawyer. Call Rafi, maybe? That's a name I see a lot in Arizona. I don't know.”

Pregame party zone

While UA fans dominated the Old Wagon Saloon & Grill during the school’s official pregame gathering, they did have some company.

Just down the street at San Jose’s San Pedro Square, a TV crew was filming a large Arkansas fan gathering, while Texas fans gathered around the corner in another bar decorated with burnt orange balloons.

Arizona's gathering appeared to have the biggest crowd, however, with the UA band and mascots making appearances. 

Kerr sighting

Thanks to perfect timing in the NBA schedule, Warriors coach and former UA star Steve Kerr was among the attendees at Thursday’s game.

The Warriors beat Brooklyn at home on Thursday and were scheduled to host Washington on Friday, leaving Thursday night free.

Kerr, who has developed a strong friendship with Lloyd, has attended UA games over the past years when possible, even watching the Wildcats take on the Lebanon national team in an August 2023 exhibition game at Abu Dhabi.

The big number

6: Arizona players scoring in double figures against Arkansas on Thursday, the first time they have had as many do so since their 1997 Elite Eight overtime win over Providence.

Quotable

"It's the most fun I've been having in my life playing basketball. I'm happy to do it with these special teammates, special people off the court, and special coaches. I just love the whole Arizona program." — UA freshman Koa Peat, after Thursday's game