Arizona isn’t just winning games this season - they’re making a statement. With a 21-0 record and a résumé that’s stacked with marquee road wins, the Wildcats have firmly planted themselves in the heart of the national championship conversation.
It all started back in mid-November, when Arizona rolled into Storrs and handed UConn a rare home loss. That 71-67 victory over the defending champs wasn’t just a nice win - it was a tone-setter.
And it wasn’t a fluke, either. Arizona owned the glass that night, outrebounding the Huskies 39-19.
UConn was missing key pieces - standout freshman guard Braylon Mullins and starting center Tarris Reed Jr. - but Arizona’s physicality and depth still shined through.
That win came after road victories over Florida and UCLA, and before Arizona added Auburn, Alabama, and most recently BYU to its growing list of ranked wins. Auburn and UCLA have since fallen out of the rankings, but Arizona’s dominance in those matchups left little doubt about their legitimacy. The Wildcats are the only team in the country with nine Quad 1 wins in the NCAA’s NET rankings - a stat that speaks volumes in March.
Their latest test came in Provo, where Arizona took down BYU in a game that was both dominant and dicey. The Wildcats led by as many as 19 and were up 14 with under five minutes to play, but BYU made a late push.
Arizona held strong, thanks in large part to a clutch block by Brayden Burries on Rob Wright II in the final minute. Burries was huge all night, finishing with 29 points, while Jaden Bradley added 26.
It was a reminder that this team doesn’t just win with one formula - they can adapt and close when things get tight.
That versatility is what makes Tommy Lloyd’s squad so dangerous. This is the most balanced team he’s had since arriving in Tucson.
They’ve got a perfect blend of youth and experience, perimeter skill and interior muscle. Burries and Bradley are as steady as they come in the backcourt, while the trio of Koa Peat, Motiejus Krivas, and Tobe Awaka gives Arizona a frontcourt that can bang with anyone.
And then there’s Ivan Kharchenkov - a rising star on the defensive end who’s quickly becoming one of the best stoppers in the Big 12.
Arizona’s rebounding dominance has been a consistent theme all season. They’re third in the nation with a +13.0 rebounding margin, and that edge has been a major factor in their ability to control games. Whether it’s limiting second-chance points or creating extra possessions, the Wildcats win the battle on the boards - and often, that means they win the game.
Offensively, they’re humming. Arizona ranks fourth in KenPom’s Adjusted Offensive Efficiency, and just as impressively, they’re fourth on the defensive side too.
That kind of balance is rare. Seven different players are averaging at least 8.4 points per game, which means defenses can’t key in on just one or two guys.
This is a team that can beat you in transition, in the halfcourt, from the perimeter, or in the paint.
Right now, Arizona sits atop both the KenPom and NCAA NET rankings and has been the unanimous No. 1 in both major polls for two straight weeks. That kind of consistency across the board is hard to argue with.
Michigan is still holding strong in other advanced metrics like EvanMiya and Bart Torvik, with their only blemish being a loss to Wisconsin. But Arizona’s body of work - especially those road wins - gives them a leg up.
February will be a proving ground. Arizona has five games coming up against ranked opponents, and while they’ve already shown they can handle the heat, this stretch will test their depth, focus, and endurance. If they navigate it without a major stumble, there’s little doubt they’ll be locked into a No. 1 seed when the brackets drop.
This team has the tools. They’ve got the talent.
And most importantly, they’ve got the track record. Arizona isn’t just in the mix - they might be the team to beat.