Big 12 Midweek Takeaways: Arizona’s Statement, WVU’s Climb, and Texas Tech’s Response
Wednesday night gave us a coast-to-coast snapshot of Big 12 basketball, with both men's and women's games unfolding under the desert lights of Arizona. From a defensive showcase in Tucson to a gritty road win for West Virginia, and a surprising stumble by a previously unbeaten Texas Tech women’s squad, the night had plenty to unpack. Let’s dive into three big takeaways from a busy night in the Big 12.
Arizona Shows Why It’s No. 1
Arizona’s 77-51 win over Cincinnati might look like another blowout on the surface, but this one was earned through 40 minutes of physical, defensive basketball. This was a matchup between two of the top 10 defenses in the country, according to KenPom, and it played out like a chess match - until Arizona flipped the board in the final stretch.
Cincinnati hung tough for more than 30 minutes, keeping things close with their trademark defensive intensity. But Arizona’s defense was a level above.
The Wildcats held the Bearcats to just 30.4% shooting, allowed only four made threes, and dominated the glass with a 46-33 rebounding edge. Arizona also forced 14 turnovers and turned those into 17 points - a textbook case of turning defense into offense.
The most telling stat? Arizona outscored Cincinnati 48-14 in the paint.
That’s not just dominance - that’s control. It’s the kind of interior presence that breaks opponents’ spirits.
This win marked Arizona’s 12th by 20 or more points, and it wasn’t just about the scoreboard. It was about how they got there.
Head coach Tommy Lloyd has clearly emphasized defensive buy-in, especially from his freshmen and returning players. That commitment is showing up in the metrics - Arizona’s defensive efficiency is just a tick behind Houston’s, and they’re one of only three teams in the country ranked in the top 10 in both offensive and defensive efficiency (alongside Michigan and Duke).
What makes this Arizona team special is that they don’t need one player to carry the load offensively. Four Wildcats hit double digits in scoring, and they did it without breaking a sweat. That’s the mark of a team built for March.
At 19-0, Arizona is off to its best start in over a decade. The Wildcats are earning that No. 1 ranking every night, and while they can’t afford to overlook West Virginia this weekend, that looming trip to BYU on January 26 is shaping up to be one of their biggest tests yet.
Right now? They look more than ready.
West Virginia’s NCAA Hopes Are Still Alive - And Kicking
West Virginia’s 75-63 win over Arizona State might not jump off the page, but it was a significant step forward for a Mountaineers squad trying to claw its way into the NCAA Tournament picture.
Let’s be clear - this wasn’t a statement win. But it was a gritty, cross-country victory after shifting three time zones, and those aren’t easy to come by.
The Mountaineers didn’t pull away until late, but they got the job done. Treysen Eaglestaff was the spark, pouring in 23 points and drilling six threes.
With Honor Huff having an off night, Eaglestaff’s performance was exactly what WVU needed.
Now sitting at 13-6 overall and 4-2 in Big 12 play, West Virginia is very much in the mix. The magic number for bubble teams in this league is 20 wins before the Big 12 Tournament. That means WVU needs seven more victories in conference play to feel good about its chances.
Can they get there? The schedule says it’s possible.
They’ve got games left against three ranked teams - No. 1 Arizona this Saturday, No.
12 Texas Tech on February 8, and No. 14 BYU on February 28.
But they’ve also already banked wins over Kansas State and UCF, and the rest of the slate offers some winnable matchups.
This team has turned a corner. After a blowout loss to Iowa State to open Big 12 play, the Mountaineers have won four of five.
They’re not on bracketologist Joe Lunardi’s radar just yet, but they’re close. A win over a ranked opponent could change that in a hurry.
There’s still work to do, but the Mountaineers have a path. And in this league, that’s more than half the battle.
Texas Tech Women Hit a Speed Bump - Or Two
After a dream start to the season, the Texas Tech women’s team is suddenly facing adversity. Saturday’s loss to Kansas State was their first of the year - and Wednesday’s 73-61 defeat at the hands of BYU made it two in a row.
This wasn’t the bounce-back performance head coach Krista Gerlich was hoping for. The Lady Raiders actually won the rebounding battle this time around, but they struggled to take care of the ball, turning it over 21 times. Combine that with another cold shooting night, and it’s easy to see how things unraveled.
BYU, on the other hand, picked up a win that could carry real weight come Selection Sunday. The Cougars are chasing their first NCAA Tournament appearance since joining the Big 12, and this kind of resume-builder could go a long way.
For Texas Tech, the focus now shifts to Utah this weekend. A win is crucial - not just to stop the bleeding, but to keep their ranking and NCAA hosting hopes intact. A winless week in Utah could cost them a chance to host a sub-regional in the NCAA Tournament.
And in case you missed it - BYU’s win came with a little extra fun. Head coach Amber Whiting’s husband, BYU assistant Curtis Whiting, made good on a promise and let the team shave his head after the upset. That’s the kind of locker room energy that can spark a second-half surge.
Final Word
Wednesday night gave us a little bit of everything - defensive dominance from the top-ranked team in the country, a gritty road win from a bubble team trying to find its footing, and a reminder that even the hottest starts can cool off in a hurry.
In a Big 12 season that’s already been full of surprises, one thing’s for sure: the road to March is going to be a wild ride. Buckle up.