Arizona Looks to Stay Hot Against No. 25 Baylor

The Arizona Wildcats are riding a six-game win streak, but they know there’s still work to be done. Up next? A tough matchup against the No. 25 Baylor Bears in Tucson, Ariz., on Tuesday night. Both teams have been winning, but neither has been perfect. This game is a chance to clean things up and prove they’re ready for the challenges ahead.

Arizona’s Take: Good, But Not Good Enough

Arizona (10-5, 4-0) pulled out an 88-80 win over UCF on Saturday, but Coach Tommy Lloyd wasn’t exactly thrilled with how things ended.

“We played dumb,” Lloyd said bluntly. “Our fundamentals were poor, and our late-game execution was unacceptable.”

The Wildcats struggled in the final minutes, going 0-for-6 from the field and committing five turnovers. Caleb Love, Arizona’s leading scorer at 15.8 points per game, had a strong start but faltered late.

On top of that, Arizona allowed UCF to snag 20 offensive rebounds, leading to 23 second-chance points. Fixing that will be critical against a Baylor team that dominates the boards.

Baylor’s Momentum and Challenges

The Bears (11-4, 3-1 Big 12) have won six of their last seven games, including a gritty 72-66 overtime victory at Arizona State on Saturday. Baylor’s strength lies in its rebounding—ranking 17th nationally with 14.1 offensive boards per game.

Even with key guards Jalen Celestine and Langston Love sidelined, Baylor found a way to win. Norchad Omier stepped up, dropping 19 points and showing why this team is so dangerous.

“When we got to overtime, it was about refocusing and playing Baylor basketball,” said Coach Scott Drew.

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What to Watch

1. The Rebounding Battle:
   • Baylor excels at grabbing offensive boards, while Arizona has struggled to box out. If Arizona can’t clean up their rebounding, Baylor will make them pay.
2. Crunch-Time Execution:
   • Arizona needs to be sharper in the final minutes. They can’t afford the same late-game mistakes against a team like Baylor.
3. A Bit of History:
   • Baylor has beaten Arizona in their last two matchups, including snapping the Wildcats’ 52-game home winning streak in Tucson back in 2018.

The Bottom Line

Arizona’s got the talent, but Baylor brings toughness and rebounding power. This game will test the Wildcats’ ability to fix their mistakes and defend their home court. Expect an intense showdown between two teams with something to prove.

In short? It’s going to be a good one.