Sports360AZ
By Jack McCarthy
Life at the top of the college basketball world is sweet. That is, until you go into Allen Fieldhouse on “Big Monday” to face the Kansas Jayhawks, where they are 41-0 in those games. The Wildcats came in 23-0 to face a side without potential No. 1 NBA Draft pick Darryn Peterson. In a raucous environment, considered one of the best in the sport, Arizona lost its first game of the season.
Now, they seek revenge. With the team’s illness issues clearing up, as well as positive reports on Koa Peat’s health, the Wildcats could be back at full strength for the first time in a few weeks.
“Hope so, hope so,” head coach Tommy Lloyd said in a press conference Thursday. “We’re not going to get out ahead of ourselves on it. But, hopefully we’re going to practice closer to full strength today, and then hopefully that’ll lead to playing closer to full strength Saturday.”
Regardless if both teams are fully healthy, it proves a massive contest. Kansas will be looking to put together some consistency. After a worrying 16-point home loss to Cincinnati on Feb. 21, the Jayhawks put together a blistering defensive performance against No. 5 Houston in a 69-56 win. Which Kansas team arrives on Saturday, we’ll have to wait and see.
“They’ve been a little bit up and down,” Lloyd said. “Also, you have to understand, you’re playing a great program with a great coach in what’s going to be a big time atmosphere on Saturday. So, my expectation is they’re going to come ready to play.”
STRIPE OUT THIS SATURDAY VS KU 🔴⚪️🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/CRXCkAQYn6
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) February 25, 2026
Arizona has found its way back on track after a troubling week. They’ve put together three strong wins in a row, two against ranked teams, without a few key rotation players. In their win against Baylor on Tuesday, the Wildcats showed a lot of resilience.
They essentially ran a six-man rotation, with four of them playing over 30 minutes. With Dwayne Aristode and Peat remaining out, as well as Anthony Dell’Orso playing on a tweaked ankle it took a tough effort to pull out the road win.
Jaden Bradley led the way with 25 points, six rebounds and six assists, with Brayden Burries right behind him with 24 points, five rebounds and four assists. It was a reassuring game for Burries, who has struggled with illness the past couple of games.
Either way, a win for Arizona or Kansas would prove important to their tournament resumes. While Arizona continues its fight for the No. 1 overall seed, the Jayhawks are hanging around a 3 or 4-seed.
With the potential to be at full strength, the Wildcats will look to continue their winning streak and continue their journey in pushing to their first Final Four since 2001.
“We need to put to the test where we’re at,” Lloyd said. “Hopefully it shows up on the court in these next couple of games.”
