By Dane Miller, SuperWest Sports
As many expected before an unpromising preseason, Arizona men’s basketball has clawed its way to the top of the Big 12 race.
But this UA team has an edge most optimistic prognosticators couldn’t have foreseen.
The slow start seems to have made the Wildcats hungrier than in previous seasons under Tommy Lloyd as they devour their way through the nation’s toughest league.
With No. 2 Iowa State and No. 10 Houston matching Arizona’s fast 5-0 conference start, it’s shaping up as a three-team fight.
Here’s a look-in at the five teams from the West plus the Cats’ top two competitors.
Arizona (5-0, 11-5)
Arizona’s first five games in the Big 12 have been historic. The Wildcats have three wins over ranked opponents and already established a home-court advantage.
Winning is the standard in Tucson and the crowds expect nothing less.
Continuing to defend McKale Center while finding ways to win on the road will put the Cats in position to win the Big 12.
Saturday’s matchup at Texas Tech is arguably the biggest game of UA’s conference season so far.
BYU (2-3, 11-5)
Other than the defeat to TCU, the Cougars have opened conference play about as well as expected.
Houston and Texas Tech are quality losses that can be overlooked. But this weekend’s game against Utah is pivotal.
A BYU loss in Salt Lake City would shift the perceptions within the state.
Right now, the Cougars are viewed as a better team. It’s up to them to prove it on Saturday.
Utah (2-3, 10-6)
Craig Smith has the Utes trending up. The questions were answered with a resounding blowout win over Oklahoma State in Salt Lake City last week.
Smith’s team then went into TCU and delivered the Horned Frogs their first home loss of the season. That’s a respectable win and changes the perception of the program.
Suddenly, Utah looks like a team that can compete in the Big 12.
Arizona State (1-4, 9-7)
The path to the NCAA Tournament has become more difficult for the Sun Devils after the damaging loss to UCF in Tempe. That’s a game that ASU couldn’t afford to drop.
Now that it’s happened, this Saturday’s contest at Cincinnati is pivotal. The Bearcats found a way to beat Colorado in Boulder but have otherwise struggled in conference play.
An Arizona State loss would be a concerning sign for the remainder of the season.
Colorado (0-5, 9-7)
There’s no running from it: Colorado’s return to the Big 12 has been ugly. The Buffs are 0-5 in conference play and don’t look competitive.
Cincinnati tried to give the game away in Boulder and CU couldn’t take advantage.
The Big 12 is arguably the country’s top basketball league. So, in some ways, Colorado’s struggles are to be expected. But Tad Boyle needs to find ways to start winning some games.
And he needs to figure it out soon.
Arizona’s Top Competitors for the Big 12 Title
No. 2 Iowa State (5-0, 15-1)
There’s no disputing that Iowa State is the best team in the Big 12.
With wins over Kansas, Baylor, and Texas Tech, it’s clear that the Conference runes through Ames.
Facing West Virginia on the road and UCF at home this upcoming week, ISU has a strong chance of advancing to 7-0 in league play.
No. 10 Houston (5-0, 13-3)
Houston is 5-0 in the Big 12 and undefeated at home this season. The Cougars have won all five conference games by double-digits.
Their schedule to start Big 12 play has been somewhat soft, though, with their two road wins coming against lowly Oklahoma State and a struggling Kansas State team.
Facing UCF in Orlando next and then Utah in Houston, it’s likely that the Cougars are 7-0 when they head to Kansas on January 25.
Miller covers College Basketball and College Football as well as Formula 1 racing as a Senior Writer and Assistant Editor for SuperWest Sports.
