The energy inside McKale Center on a Tuesday night in January usually hums with a predictable intensity. But lately, something else is vibrating through the floorboards. It’s the sound of a 17-0 start. Honestly, being a fan of the Arizona Wildcats basketball team has always been a bit of a rollercoaster, but this 2025-2026 season is hitting different notes.
They just gutted out an 89-82 win over Arizona State. It wasn't pretty for the first twenty minutes. They looked sluggish. Then the second half happened, and they shot a blistering 66.7% from the field. That’s the thing about Tommy Lloyd’s current squad—they don’t just beat you; they eventually overwhelm you with depth that feels unfair.
The Koa Peat Factor and a New Era of Depth
If you haven't seen Koa Peat play yet, you’re missing out on a future lottery pick doing "grown man" things in a college jersey. The freshman forward just dropped 24 points and 10 rebounds on the Sun Devils. He struggled early, shooting 2-for-8. Most kids would've checked out mentally. Peat? He just kept attacking.
But it’s not a one-man show. Not even close. You've got Tobe Awaka coming off the bench and basically treating the paint like his private property. He put up a career-high 25 points in that same rivalry game. When your "bench guy" is a 6-foot-8, 250-pound rebounding machine who can score at will, the opposing coach is going to have a long night.
Then there’s Jaden Bradley. He’s the "closer." Period. He might have a quiet three quarters, but when there are two minutes left and the lead is shrinking, he’s the one taking—and making—the mid-range jumper to ice the game.
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Why the Big 12 Move Changed Everything
Transitioning to the Big 12 was supposed to be the "welcome to the jungle" moment for the Arizona Wildcats basketball team. Instead, they’ve treated it like a victory lap so far.
- They are currently 4-0 in conference play.
- They’ve already handled a brutal road test at TCU.
- They are sitting at No. 1 in the AP Poll for a reason.
The Big 12 is a meat grinder. You play Houston, Kansas, and Baylor. There are no "off" nights. Many experts thought the Wildcats’ fast-paced, West Coast style might struggle against the physical, grind-it-out defense of the Midwest. Tommy Lloyd basically said, "Hold my coffee." Arizona is currently averaging 91 points per game. They are 12th in the nation in scoring and 7th in field goal percentage.
They didn't just join the Big 12; they brought a flamethrower to a fistfight.
The Tommy Lloyd Philosophy
It's been five seasons now. Five years of Tommy Lloyd building something that feels remarkably stable in the chaos of the transfer portal era. He has a .800+ winning percentage at Arizona, which is territory usually reserved for legends like Lute Olson.
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Lloyd’s recruiting has been surgical. He’s mixing high-level international talent like Motiejus Krivas (the 7-foot-2 Lithuanian center) with elite domestic freshmen like Peat and Brayden Burries. It's a blend of old-school size and modern-day versatility. Krivas is a problem for anyone because he's not just tall; he's skilled. He's averaging over 10 points and 8 rebounds while shooting 60% from the floor.
People talk about "Point Guard U," a nickname Arizona earned through decades of producing guys like Steve Kerr, Mike Bibby, and Jason Terry. But under Lloyd, it feels more like "Efficiency U." Everything is about the extra pass. They lead the nation in assists per game at 19.0. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because the players actually like each other.
What Most People Get Wrong
There's this weird narrative that Arizona "chokes" in March.
Yeah, the Sweet Sixteen loss to Duke last year stung. Losing to Princeton as a 2-seed a few years back? That was a nightmare. But looking at this current roster, the flaws of previous years seem... gone? They have the interior size they lacked in '23. They have the late-game guard play they lacked in '24.
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The defense is the real story, though. They’re holding opponents to 40% shooting. In the past, if the shots didn't fall, Arizona lost. This year, if the shots don't fall, they just beat you up on the glass (43.6 rebounds per game) and wait for you to tire out.
What to Watch for the Rest of the Season
The schedule ahead is basically a gauntlet. You have UCF coming up on January 17th, followed by Cincinnati and West Virginia. But the real dates everyone has circled are the matchups against Kansas and Houston in February.
If the Arizona Wildcats basketball team can split those games and stay healthy, we aren't just talking about a No. 1 seed. We are talking about a team that could realistically end the program’s title drought.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Analysts:
- Watch the Rotation: Keep an eye on how Lloyd manages the minutes between Krivas and Awaka. When they play together, Arizona is virtually impossible to outrebound.
- Track Jaden Bradley’s Efficiency: His shooting percentage in the final four minutes of games is the most important stat for this team’s post-season ceiling.
- Scout the Freshmen: Ivan Kharchenkov and Brayden Burries are the x-factors. If they can stay consistent on the road in hostile Big 12 environments, this team has no weak spots.
The reality is that being No. 1 in January doesn't give you a trophy. But 17-0 with a win over your rival and a dominant start in the toughest conference in America? That’s more than just luck. It’s a statement. Bear Down.
Next Steps for Following the Season:
- Sync your calendar: The February 9th game @ Kansas is the "must-watch" of the regular season.
- Monitor the injury report: Tobe Awaka’s health is paramount; his physicality is the engine of the second unit.
- Check the NET rankings: As the Big 12 schedule ramps up, Arizona’s strength of schedule will likely keep them in the top 3 regardless of a stray loss or two.