In his debut season with the Wildcats, Caleb Love of Arizona claims both the AP Pac-12 Player and Newcomer of the Year awards.
Love was honored as both the Associated Press Pac-12 Men’s College Basketball Player and Newcomer of the Year on Tuesday, as selected by a panel of conference-covering media members. Kyle Smith of Washington State received the Coach of the Year accolade.
After spending his initial three collegiate seasons at North Carolina, where he gained recognition for his clutch performances during the Tar Heels’ journey to the 2022 national championship game, Love sought a fresh challenge. His decision to transfer to Arizona was fueled by a desire for growth, as he specifically requested tough coaching from head coach Tommy Lloyd and his staff. Love seamlessly integrated into Lloyd’s team-oriented approach, adeptly blending into the offense while also establishing himself as the Wildcats’ primary scoring option.
Standing at 6-foot-4, Love played an instrumental role in guiding the No. 6 ranked Arizona to the Pac-12 regular-season championship, positioning them for a potential top seed in the NCAA Tournament. Leading the Wildcats in scoring with a career-high average of 18.7 points per game, Love also showcased his improved shooting abilities, hitting 43% of his shots. Additionally, he contributed significantly across various facets of the game, averaging 4.9 rebounds, 3.4 assists, and 1.9 steals per game.
Smith’s leadership at Washington State propelled the team to a remarkable season. Despite preseason predictions placing them at 10th, the Cougars emerged as one of college basketball’s surprise packages. Notably, they secured victories over Arizona, including a notable win at the McKale Center. Climbing into the AP Top 25 for the first time in 16 years and currently ranked at No. 18, Washington State concluded the regular season with a commendable 23-7 record, matching the program’s highest number of conference wins with 14.
