No. 6 Houston, No. 13 Arizona Ready for First Big 12 Battle

The last time Houston and Arizona met, it was the 2022 Sweet 16, where the Cougars stunned the top-seeded Wildcats 72-60 to advance. Fast forward nearly three years, and the two powerhouses are now conference rivals, set to clash for the first time as Big 12 foes on Saturday in Tucson, Arizona.

Houston in the Driver’s Seat

The Cougars (20-4, 12-1 Big 12) sit atop the conference standings, holding a one-game lead over Arizona. They’re coming off a 76-65 win over Baylor, their third straight victory.

Houston dominated early, leading by as many as 25 points before Baylor made the score respectable late. The Cougars’ signature defense forced 15 turnovers while committing just seven.

Five Cougars scored in double figures, including L.J. Cryer (14 points) and Emanuel Sharp (10 points), who returned from an ankle injury after missing two games. Sharp (12.3 PPG) is Houston’s second-leading scorer behind Cryer (14.3 PPG).

Houston coach Kelvin Sampson is already locked in on Arizona, giving major respect to Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd.

Arizona Seeks a Bounce-Back Win

The Wildcats (17-7, 11-2 Big 12) had their six-game winning streak snapped on Tuesday in a 73-70 road loss to Kansas State.

It was a frustrating performance for Arizona, as they shot just 2-of-22 from 3-point range and committed 17 turnovers. Despite their struggles, they still had a chance to win late.

Live Updates at Your Fingertips!

Handicapping Membership

Join Today!

Caleb Love (15.8 PPG) had another off night, finishing with just six points on 3-of-15 shooting and missing all seven of his 3-point attempts. Coach Tommy Lloyd acknowledged Love’s inconsistency but isn’t losing confidence in his star guard.

Despite Love’s struggles, Jaden Bradley (11.9 PPG) and KJ Lewis (10.5 PPG) have stepped up as secondary scoring options. Lewis led Arizona with 15 points against Kansas State.

Turnovers Could Decide the Game

Arizona has struggled with turnovers at times this season, and it proved costly against Kansas State. Facing a defensive juggernaut like Houston, ball security will be critical.

Who Has the Edge?

• Houston’s Defense: The Cougars force turnovers and control tempo better than almost any team in the country.
• Arizona’s Home-Court Advantage: The Wildcats are 105-27 under Lloyd at home, making them a tough out.
• Shooting Battle: Arizona shot 2-for-22 from three last game. If they don’t improve, Houston will capitalize.

The all-time series is tied at 6-6, but this one has extra weight with Big 12 title implications.

Houston is rolling, but Arizona is dangerous at home. Expect a battle in Tucson on Saturday night.