Jaden Bradley has etched his name into Big XII Conference history, becoming just the fifth player to snag both the Regular Season Player of the Year and Tournament Most Outstanding Player honors. Leading Arizona to a dual triumph in the regular season and the tournament, Bradley's performance was nothing short of stellar. His teammate, Brayden Burries, also earned a spot on the Big XII All-Tournament team, showcasing the depth of talent on this Arizona squad.
Bradley put up solid numbers, averaging 12.0 points, 4.0 rebounds, and 4.0 assists while shooting an efficient 46.4% from the field. He picked the perfect moment to nail his only three-pointer of the tournament against Houston and was nearly automatic from the free-throw line, hitting eight of nine. One of the tournament's most memorable moments was Bradley's buzzer-beating shot that sealed the semifinal victory over Iowa State.
In the championship game against Houston, Bradley delivered all 13 of his points in the first half, adding five rebounds and two assists to his stat line. Unfortunately, a wrist injury sidelined him in the second half, but not before he helped set the stage for Arizona's 79-74 victory. According to ESPN's Kris Budden, Bradley's X-ray came back negative, offering some relief to Arizona fans.
With Bradley out, Burries and Koa Peat stepped up, each contributing 21 points, while Ivan Kharchenkov added 12 crucial points in the second half to clinch the Big XII Championship.
Burries' tournament journey was impressive. He averaged 15.0 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.3 assists, and 1.3 steals, shooting 43.3% from the field and a solid 33.3% from beyond the arc. His resilience was on full display as he bounced back from a rough semifinal, where he missed all seven of his shots, to make a significant impact in the final.
Joining Bradley and Burries on the All-Big XII Tournament team were A.J. Bybantsa from BYU, Joseph Tugler from Houston, and Milan Momcilovic from Iowa State. Bybantsa's inclusion was notable as he was the only player on the team whose squad didn't make it to the semifinals, highlighting his standout individual performance.
Arizona's triumph and Bradley's accolades have set a high bar in the Big XII, and fans will be eager to see how this team builds on their success moving forward.