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Gronk's Antics and Burries' Buckets Ignite Arizona's 2025 Red-Blue Game

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team ignited McKale Center with a star-studded spectacle Friday night, as the annual Red-Blue Showcase lived up to its hype in a razor-thin 45-44 victory for the Red squad. In an exhibition that blended competitive intensity with fan-friendly flair, freshman guard Brayden Burries emerged as the breakout star, erupting for a game-high 22 points on 7-of-11 shooting to lead his team to the dramatic win. The event, which unofficially ushers in the 2025-26 season under fifth-year head coach Tommy Lloyd, drew a packed house buzzing with anticipation for the Big 12 contenders.

The night kicked off with a series of skills competitions that set a festive tone, highlighted by guard Anthony Dell'Orso's clutch performance in the three-point contest and forward Dwayne Aristode's gravity-defying dunks. NFL legend and Arizona alum Rob Gronkowski—rechristened "Rocky Gronkstone" for the occasion—stole the show with his oversized enthusiasm, even drawing a playful technical foul and ejection that had the crowd roaring. On the court, Blue jumped out to a 25-15 halftime lead, powered by senior guard Jaden Bradley's efficient nine points on 4-of-6 shooting, three steals, and four assists—including highlight-reel alley-oops to top in-state recruit Koa Peat. But Red mounted a furious comeback, outscoring Blue 30-19 in the second half behind Burries' poise and a game-sealing steal-and-score in the final seconds. Overall, Red shot 44.1% from the field (15-of-34) with 23 rebounds, while Blue edged efficiency at 51.4% (18-of-35) but faltered on the boards with just 15.

"It's all about the energy and getting the guys to gel this early," Lloyd said postgame, emphasizing the scrimmage's role in team-building. "No matter the score, this is about our journey—no single night defines us, but nights like this remind us why we play." Burries, the smooth-shooting newcomer drawing NBA scout eyes, echoed the sentiment: "It felt amazing to contribute like that, but it's team basketball. We fought back as a unit, and that's what Arizona's about." As the Wildcats eye exhibitions against Saint Mary's on Oct. 18 and a season opener against reigning champ Florida on Nov. 3, Friday's showcase affirmed Lloyd's reloaded roster is primed for another deep tournament run.

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Watch the full game replay below
https://youtu.be/eHR4yLRC7tk

Hard to believe players didn't even get minutes in this exhibition unless they were hurt.

No one should have shot poorly and been overrated either. We will see what Tommy decides the rotations will be. All I can say is Krivas should truly be a 20min per game player, off the bench, until proven otherwise.

If we start that way, the rest of the team will be much better off. If we start with moonball lobs to Krivas I will be skeptical.