The Arizona Wildcats aren’t just winning-they’re steamrolling. On Saturday afternoon in Tucson, the top-ranked Wildcats put together one of their most dominant performances of the season, dismantling Oklahoma State 84-47 at McKale Center. The victory extended Arizona’s unbeaten run to 23-0 (10-0 in Big 12 play), setting a new conference record for best start to a season and surpassing the 22-0 mark set by Kansas back in 1996-97.
That Kansas team? Arizona beat them in the Sweet 16 on the way to a national championship. History has a funny way of circling back.
Against Oklahoma State, the Wildcats looked every bit the No. 1 team in the country. Arizona shot a crisp 51.6% from the field and turned it up even higher in the second half, hitting nearly 58% of their shots after the break. On the other end, they put the clamps on the Cowboys, holding them to just 24.6% shooting-OSU’s lowest field goal percentage in a game since 2021 and the lowest by a Big 12 opponent against Arizona since Washington State managed only 20% in a 2014 blowout.
This wasn’t just a win-it was a statement.
Arizona’s defense was suffocating from the jump, and their dominance in the paint told the story. The Wildcats outscored OSU 54-14 down low and owned the glass with a 55-35 rebounding edge.
Tobe Awaka was a force, grabbing 12 rebounds in just 20 minutes, while Motiejus Krivas added nine boards in 21 minutes of action. The physicality and depth of Arizona’s frontcourt continue to be a nightmare matchup for just about anyone.
Offensively, it was a balanced effort. Brayden Burries led the way with 15 points, one of five Wildcats to score in double figures.
Even on a day when the three-point shot wasn’t falling-Arizona went just 2-for-14 from deep-they found ways to pile up points. Whether it was second-chance opportunities, transition buckets, or simply overpowering OSU in the paint, Arizona dictated every facet of the game.
The Wildcats got off to a slow start, missing their first six shots and trailing 6-4 early. But once they found their rhythm, it was lights out.
A 15-3 run midway through the first half flipped the game on its head, and Arizona never looked back. The Cowboys, who had just put up 58 second-half points in a win over BYU earlier in the week, couldn’t buy a bucket.
They shot just 20.7% in the first half and opened the second half 1-of-11 from the field, going more than six minutes without scoring.
Arizona took full advantage. A thunderous transition dunk by Jaden Bradley capped off a 13-0 run that blew the game wide open at 52-25 with just over 14 minutes to play.
The only real scare came when freshman standout Koa Peat went down hard under the basket and limped off the court. But in a reassuring sign, he was back in the game less than three minutes later.
One minor footnote: Anthony Dell’Orso knocked down a three with 6:41 left, sparing Arizona from going without a made three-pointer for the first time since December 2020. But really, that was about the only thing that didn’t go Arizona’s way.
Now, things get interesting.
The Wildcats have a quick turnaround and a major test on deck-a Monday night showdown at No. 11 Kansas.
The Jayhawks (18-5, 8-2 Big 12) have found their groove, winning seven straight, including a 71-59 win over Utah on Saturday. It’s a marquee matchup with real implications, not just in the Big 12 race, but in the national conversation.
Arizona’s been flawless so far. But with the toughest stretch of the season ahead, we’re about to find out just how high this team’s ceiling really is.