No. 13 Arizona Aims for Redemption Against Unpredictable Baylor

Arizona and Baylor both entered the season as preseason top-10 teams, but inconsistency and injuries have led them on roller-coaster journeys in the Big 12 race.

While Arizona (17-8, 11-3 Big 12) remains ranked at No. 13, Baylor (16-9, 8-6 Big 12) has fallen out of the rankings despite a dominant 12-1 home record. With March Madness seeding implications on the line, Monday night’s clash in Waco, Texas is crucial for both teams.

Arizona Needs to Regain Energy After Tough Losses

Arizona has dropped two straight games, falling 73-70 to Kansas State and 62-58 to No. 6 Houston in a grueling three-game stretch over seven days. The Wildcats have struggled from beyond the arc, going 7-of-45 (15.5%) from 3-point range over the past two games.

Head coach Tommy Lloyd is eager to see how his team bounces back after the physical and mental toll of consecutive losses.

Despite their shooting woes, the Wildcats are still one of the top-scoring teams in the Big 12 (81.3 PPG, 3rd overall). However, relying too much on isolation play has hurt their offensive rhythm.

Baylor Looks to Build Momentum at Home

Baylor has alternated between wins and losses for the past seven games, struggling to find consistent form. The Bears are coming off a 74-71 overtime win over West Virginia, but they have yet to win consecutive games since late January.

One constant force for the Bears has been Norchad Omier, who delivered his 13th double-double of the season against West Virginia with 17 points and 10 rebounds.

Omier leads Baylor in both scoring (15.7 PPG) and rebounding (10.2 RPG), and his presence inside will be crucial against an Arizona team that prefers an up-tempo style.

Key Players to Watch

• Arizona – Caleb Love (15.9 PPG)
  • The Wildcats’ top scorer has struggled from deep, shooting just 30.1% from 3-point range this season. He’s 2-of-21 (9.5%) in his last three games, so Arizona needs him to snap out of his slump to stay competitive.
• Baylor – Norchad Omier (15.7 PPG, 10.2 RPG)
  • A dominant inside presence, Omier could exploit Arizona’s lack of elite rim protection. If he controls the paint, Baylor will have a major advantage.

Statistical Breakdown

These two teams are nearly identical in several key categories:

Arizona won the first matchup between these teams on Jan. 14, 81-70 in Tucson, but Baylor is a different team at home, making this game a toss-up.

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What’s at Stake?

• Arizona: Needs a bounce-back win to stay in Big 12 title contention and regain confidence heading into the final stretch of the season.
• Baylor: A victory would finally give the Bears back-to-back wins, solidifying their NCAA Tournament positioning and proving they can compete against ranked teams.

With both teams fighting for consistency, expect an intense, physical battle as Arizona tries to snap its losing streak while Baylor looks to defend home court.