Arizona begins big 12 tournament with high expectations

Arizona enters the Big 12 Tournament carrying both momentum and pressure after winning the conference’s regular-season title. The No. 2-ranked Wildcats (29–2) will begin their postseason run Thursday in Kansas City when they face No. 8 seed UCF in the quarterfinals.

Head coach Tommy Lloyd understands the expectations that follow a season like this. With Arizona among the top teams in the country, many believe the Wildcats should still be playing in April when the Final Four takes place in Indianapolis. Lloyd, however, says he tries not to focus on outside narratives about championships and coaching legacies.

Arizona backed up the hype throughout the season. The Wildcats opened the year with 23 straight wins, dominating opponents before suffering back-to-back losses to Kansas and Texas Tech in February. They responded well, closing the regular season with six consecutive victories, including wins over ranked teams BYU, Houston, Kansas and Iowa State.

Despite the success, Lloyd is still chasing a deep run in the NCAA Tournament. Arizona has not advanced beyond the Sweet 16 during its previous four seasons, including a surprising first-round loss to Princeton in 2023.

One of the Wildcats’ biggest strengths is their balanced offence. Seven players average at least 8.7 points per game, making them difficult to defend. Guard Jaden Bradley, who averages 13.4 points and 4.6 assists, was named Big 12 Player of the Year.

UCF (21–10) enters Thursday’s game after an emotional 66–65 overtime win over Cincinnati. The Knights rallied late in regulation to force overtime, showing the resilience that has defined their season.

Jamichael Stillwell led UCF with 17 points and 15 rebounds, while Riley Kugel, the team’s leading scorer at 14.7 points per game, added 15 points.

Although UCF will be the underdog, the Knights believe they can compete — and Arizona knows it must be ready for a battle.