Arizona’s 87–74 win over Arizona State was not just another notch in the win column. It was a statement of consistency, depth, and belief. With the victory, Arizona moved to 22–0, setting a new school record for the best start to a season and tying a Big 12 benchmark that had stood for nearly three decades. This team is no longer chasing expectations. It is redefining them.
A Rivalry Game With Historic Stakes
Facing the Arizona State Sun Devils is never routine, and Arizona learned that early. The Sun Devils competed, pushed the pace, and had the game tied at halftime. But championship teams respond when tested, and that is exactly what the Arizona Wildcats did coming out of the locker room.
Arizona opened the second half with energy on both ends, shot 60 percent after the break, and quickly took control. The Wildcats never trailed again, answering every Arizona State push with poise and execution.
Freshmen Leading the Way
The story of this Arizona season continues to be its youth playing beyond its years. Koa Peat led the way with 21 points, attacking the rim, hitting timely shots, and setting the tone physically. Fellow freshman Brayden Burries added 17 points and delivered one of the night’s defining moments with a full-court assist that led to a Peat dunk and a double-digit lead.
Arizona’s depth showed again. Motiejus Krivas fought through foul trouble to score 15, while Tobe Awaka controlled the glass with 13 rebounds. When Arizona needed stops, shots, or toughness, someone answered.
Records That Put This Team in Rare Company
At 22–0 overall and 9–0 in conference play, Arizona is now one of just two unbeaten teams left in the country. The start breaks a school record previously held by the 2013–14 squad and ties the longest winning streak in program history, a mark that dates back more than a century.
It also ties a Big 12 record for best start to a season, originally set by Kansas in 1996–97. These are not casual milestones. They place this group among the most consistent and dominant Arizona teams ever assembled.
What Comes Next for Arizona
The Wildcats are no longer just winning. They are winning with expectations, pressure, and every opponent circling the date on the calendar. Each game now comes with history attached.
Arizona has shown it can handle that weight. The focus now shifts to sustaining this level through the grind of conference play and into March, where starts matter less than finishes. Still, nights like this one linger. Rivalry win. School record. Unbeaten run intact.
This Arizona team is building something special, one possession at a time. The Wildcats host Oklahoma State on February 7th and then will play on the road at Kansas on February 9th, which starts a stretch of four straight game against ranked opponents.