Caleb Love Finds Redemption in Arizona

Caleb Love has a different name on the front of his jersey, but he's back in a familiar setting. Love has led Arizona to the Sweet 16 less than a year after he found himself in the wilderness. He was the centerpiece of a North Carolina squad that flopped and missed the 2023 NCAA Tournament, now his new team is marching on.

Love was a key player on North Carolina's national runner-up team in 2022. He was the Tar Heels' second-leading scorer (15.9 points per game), as they wound up three points short of a national title. Kansas emerged victorious in that championship game, 72-69, and North Carolina entered the 2022-23 season as a title favorite. Things didn't go as planned.

With Love leading the way, North Carolina was a massive disappointment last season. The Tar Heels finished the campaign 20-13 (11-9 in the ACC) and missed the NCAA Tournament. They also declined an invite to the NIT. Given his prominent position and how often he had the ball, Love faced intense scrutiny for North Carolina's season going awry. It made sense when he decided to enter the transfer portal and seek greener pastures.

Love initially committed to Michigan as a transfer, but wound up re-opening his recruitment after an admissions issue. Considering how the Wolverines 2023-24 season unfolded, he may have dodged a bullet. Then he found a home in Tucson.

The lure to Arizona was obvious. When Love committed to Roy Williams at North Carolina, his lead recruiter was Steve Robinson. Robinson joined Tommy Lloyd's staff at Arizona in September of 2021. With the Wildcats' fast-paced, guard-friendly system matching Love's strengths, it seemed a perfect fit.

The senior has led from the front for Arizona this season. Love is leading the team with a career-high 18.1 points per game, while notching career-bests in field goal percentage (41.8), and three-point percentage (34.8). He has also stepped up during the early rounds of the NCAA Tournament.

In Arizona's 85-65 First Round win over Long Beach State, Love scored 18 points, grabbed a season-high 11 rebounds and dished out five assists, while adding a steal and a block. During Saturday's comfortable 78-68 win over No. 7 seed Dayton, Love led the Wildcats with 19 points, but again filled up the box score. He had five assists, three rebounds, two steals and a block. He has always been a high-volume shooter, and that hasn't changed in the tournament. Love is 12-of-32 from the field and 6-of-20 from three-point range through the first two rounds. While he hasn't been efficient with his shot, he has been steady with the ball. Love has played 69 minutes so far and has committed only four turnovers.

More than anything, Love provides Arizona with a leader who has tasted a deep run in the tournament. While Lloyd's squads have been wildly successful during his three regular seasons in charge, they have yet to make it past the Sweet 16. The Wildcats have gotten back there again in 2024, and seem capable of reaching the Final Four -- which happens to be in Arizona.

Love's career took a detour after a tumultuous junior season. He found a new home and is back marching through the NCAA Tournament.

Ryan Phillips is a senior writer at The Big Lead.