PHNX Daily: Who Will Deliver Wildcats’ First Loss?

👋 GOOD MORNING – If you’re reading this, there’s a pretty solid chance the Arizona Cardinals, somehow, still don’t have a head coach. Sigh. How much longer is this going to go?

But for now, we’ll press on, and take a look at one of the most inspiring teams in our state — the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats basketball program. They’re fresh off a big-time road win, and still have yet to lose their first game.

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Let’s go!

— Alex D’Agostino, PHNX Sports Daily Editor

Wildcats Pull Off Tough Win at BYU

Jan 24, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) holds out a three after he makes a three-point basket during the first half of the game against the West Virginia Mountaineers at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images

It came down to the wire (and it probably shouldn’t have…), but the Wildcats held off No. 13-ranked BYU in Provo on Monday night. A double-digit lead began to evaporate thanks to some sloppy play (and the ever-wonderful Tony Padilla), but Brayden Burries saved the day for Arizona.

The point is, the Wildcats are now 21-0. They may be the unanimous No. 1 team, but beating a tough Big 12 team like BYU on their home court is still an impressive, quality win.

In fact, the white-knuckling might have been good for the Wildcats. Sometimes it’s best to get a bit of wake-up call, even if it wasn’t ultimately a loss.

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In this conference, games are always losable. But it’s getting tougher to find teams that have a serious, realistic chance of taking down the Wildcats.

They took down Florida, UCLA, UConn and Alabama in their non-conference slate, and with the win over BYU, they’re now 8-0 in Big 12 play. There are 10 conference games remaining, and five of those are ranked matchups.

They are, as follows:

@ No. 14 Kansas (15-5, 5-2 Big 12) – Monday, February 9

vs No. 11 Texas Tech (16-4, 6-1 Big 12) – Saturday, February 14

vs No. 13 BYU again (17-3, 5-2 Big 12) – Wednesday, February 18

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/phnx-daily-deliver-wildcats-first-143000345.html

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Publish date : 2026-01-28 14:30:00

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