Jaden Bradley Q&A: Leaving it on the Floor

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Arizona men’s basketball has navigated a demanding season with a young roster and hefty expectations for March. In nonconference play, five wins over top 15 opponents, including a pair of wins over teams ranked No. 3 in the country, set the tone for a challenging Big 12 slate.

Now in his third season in Tucson, point guard Jaden Bradley has emerged as a steady force for Arizona, guiding the team through conference play while balancing this season’s goals with preparations for the next phase of his basketball career.

In this conversation, Sarah Kezele ’11 spoke with Bradley about the team’s identity, the challenges of winning on the road, his development as a leader and the importance of giving back to Tucson.

Q: In the midst of your second Big 12 Conference slate, what do you see in the Big 12 this year?  

A: I think this is the best conference in college basketball this year. The Big 12 is a very physical league. We have a difficult opponent every night, and we have to win away from home, so we have to stack wins on the road.

Q: You’ve been part of some incredibly talented teams in your three seasons at Arizona. What makes this year’s squad different from your first two years here?

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A: Everybody comes in and wants to get better every day. We’ve got that learning mindset, and nobody has a big ego. We don’t care who scores all the points in any given game. We just care about winning at the end of the day. So, no matter whose night it is — whether it’s Brayden Burries, Koa Peat, Ivan Kharchenkov, Mo Krivas — we just care about winning. We also hang our hat on the defensive end, getting points in transition, so it really starts on defense for us.  

Q: What’s something about this team that doesn’t necessarily show up in the box score, but helps you win games?  

A: Our attention to detail on our scouting reports. Our coaches do a great job of getting a good scout. We try to blow up some of the stuff that the other teams are doing well.  

Ball pressure is not going to show up in the stats. Help defense and blocking out, we’re doing a great job of that right now. Teams are not able to get a second-chance effort on the offensive glass because we’ve got Tobe Awaka and Mo Krivas, two great rebounders.

Q: Focusing on yourself for a moment: What has been your favorite performance of the season?  

A: Our win at UConn. I’m from Rochester, New York, so I had a lot of family members from up that way come see me play. Plus, I like being on the road, and at UConn is a true road test. I’m glad we could be in that atmosphere because championships are won on the road, and being able to win there was a great experience for us.

Q: “Championships are won on the road.” Tell me more about this mentality.

A: Coach Lloyd preaches that a lot. For March Madness, depending on how you’re seeded and where they send you, you might be in your opponent’s area. The Big 12 tournament is played in Kansas City. So, for these big games, you might not have your home crowd with you. It really shows how connected and locked-in your team is.

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Q: After your season-opening win over Florida, last season’s national champs, the Final Four chatter started immediately. How does your team talk about that internally?

A: We don’t talk about it that much. We know it’s a long season and anything can happen. Obviously, that’s the goal for our team. We want to get to the Final Four. But we know it’s a long journey, so we’re going to keep our heads down and keep working.

Q: What would your team have to improve upon to get there?

A: Throwing the first punch and not getting down in tough games. On the road, that can be hard to come back from, because you have to create your own energy. You don’t have a crowd to help you with that. Also, cleaning up turnovers and free throws. The little stuff is what creates separation at the end of games.

Q: Despite being left off the preseason watch list for the nation’s best point guard, your game cannot be ignored this year. What’s elevated you to that point?

A: I’ve been patient and put in the work behind the scenes, and now it’s showing this season. I’ve had a more aggressive mindset as a scorer this year, trying to be a scoring threat for my team. I’m a pass-first guy, but if teams can see me as a scoring threat as well, that’s going to help create my passing windows.

Q: There are seven freshmen on this roster. As a team leader, what do you try to teach your younger teammates?

A: Do your homework on your opponent. That definitely gives you a big edge. And, at the end of the day, you only get four years to be in college, so really go for it when you’re on the court. Have no regrets and give every game your all. 

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Q: Who on this roster pushes you the hardest in practice?

A: I’m going to say Sidi Gueye, one of our big guys. He’s a great shot blocker. I like to drive and get downhill, so when I do, I have to be creative because he blocks everybody’s shot. He hasn’t blocked mine yet, but he always challenges me and helps me get better. 

Q: You spend a lot of time giving back in Tucson. Just in the past few months, you helped build kids’ bikes with Subaru, hosted a basketball camp for the Pasqua Yaqui Tribe, packed backpacks with the Boys & Girls Club of Tucson, and hosted 20 young fans at a home game in December. Why is community engagement a high priority for you?

A: Growing up in Rochester, I spent a lot of time at my Boys & Girls Club. Everything started there. I played basketball there. I was in a reading program. I was there for a lot of different events, so a lot of people gave back to me when I was coming up. Now that I have this platform, I’m glad I can use it here in Tucson to give back to the community. I like showing kids that it’s bigger than basketball. Any one of them can get to this level, and when they do, they’ll have the opportunity to give back, too.

Q: This is your final season with U of A. What’s next for you?

A: I definitely have dreams and aspirations of going to the NBA. I know my path is going to be a little bit harder than it is for the young talent and one-and-dones. It’s going to be different, so I’m trying to do everything I can right now to help my dreams and aspirations fill out later. I’m working on my assist/turnover ratio, finishing at the basket, and making my outside shot more consistent. At the next level, it’s all about spacing and helping your team hit shots and win games. 

On Jan. 31, Arizona beat Arizona State to set a record of 22 straight wins to start the season, beating the 21-0 record set in 2013-’14. As of Feb. 1, the team also remained the unanimous No. 1 in the Associated Press poll.