Feb 7, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Brayden Burries (5) celebrates throughout the first half of the sport towards the Oklahoma State Cowboys at McKale Memorial Heart. Necessary Credit score: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Photographs No. 1 Arizona enters its sport at No. 11 Kansas on Monday with one of the best begin in program and Huge 12 historical past, topping the Jayhawks’ efficiency in 1996-97.
Arizona (23-0, 10-0 Huge 12) additionally has achieved the longest successful streak in its historical past. Its 9 straight weeks ranked No. 1 can be a program report.
The Jayhawks (18-5, 8-2) have gained seven consecutive video games getting into the “Huge Monday” showdown at Lawrence, Kan.
“Huge sport; let’s go,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd stated after his workforce routed visiting Oklahoma State 84-47 on Saturday. “I am certain the preparations have already began with the employees. Like I stated, I want we have been enjoying it (Sunday), we’ll are available and we’ll put together, after which we’ll soar on the aircraft and let’s have a look at what we obtained.”
Arizona is among the many nation’s leaders in common scoring margin (fifth at 21.0), rebounding (third at 43.4), field-goal proportion (51.6%), factors per sport (eleventh at 89.5) and assists per sport (18.2).
“They’re males; they dominate individuals 12 ft and in,” Kansas coach Invoice Self stated of Arizona. “We have got to play larger. We have got to play more durable. We have got to play stronger. We have got to play smarter.
“After which, they guard, so we obtained to offer them one thing to defend on the opposite finish. It’s going to be a enjoyable sport. It’s going to be a enjoyable environment. Solely at some point to prep, however hopefully we are able to determine one thing out to at the very least sluggish them down.”
Kansas is 38-0 at Allen Fieldhouse in Huge Monday video games underneath Self, however the Jayhawks have by no means defeated an Related Press No. 1-ranked workforce of their present enviornment. They’re 0-5 in such video games.
The newest sport Kansas hosted a No. 1 workforce was in 2003, when Arizona was the opponent. The Jayhawks have been outscored 52-22 within the second half, squandering a double-digit lead, and misplaced 91-74.
Kansas has additionally misplaced to top-ranked Oklahoma (1989), Kentucky (1977), Notre Dame (1974), and Cincinnati (1962) at Allen Fieldhouse.
“We performed there final yr,” Lloyd stated, referring to Arizona’s 83-76 loss. “I got here away considering, ‘All proper, it’s completely different.’ I’ve a sense these Jayhawk followers are going to be out for blood.”
Kansas will counter Arizona’s offensive effectivity with a protection that enables simply 67.3 factors per sport and a house report of 11-1 this season.
The Jayhawks’ success hinges on their taking pictures accuracy (47.9%) and the emergence of freshman standout Darryn Peterson, who’s averaging 20.5 factors in 13 video games. Peterson has been suffering from cramping.
Arizona’s younger expertise contains freshmen Brayden Burries (team-leading 15.3 factors per sport) and Koa Peat (14.6 factors and 5.6 rebounds a sport).
The Wildcats’ presence inside contains Tobe Awaka (9.9 rebounds a sport) and Motiejus Krivas (8.3 boards).
Self will depend on Flory Bidunga (14.6 factors and eight.9 rebounds a sport) to offset a few of Arizona’s inside power.
“To me, there’s not a greater defender, no matter place anyplace,” Self stated of Bidunga. “He is studying find out how to not gamble and make any individual rating over his size.”
Tre White, a guard, is second on the workforce in rebounds with 7.1 a sport. He additionally averages 14.6 factors.
A key matchup will likely be on the perimeter between Kansas’ Peterson, White and Melvin Council Jr. (13.7 factors and 5.1 assists per sport) and Arizona’s Burries, Jaden Bradley (13.8 factors and 4.5 assists) and Ivan Kharchenkov (9.4 factors and 50.9% field-goal taking pictures).
–Discipline Degree Media
