3. Arizona (29-2)
The work has been nearly perfect from Arizona across a season where they’ve shown that they’re a team to beat in college basketball. We could spend a long time waxing poetic about the great performances and impressive wins, with their only losses coming nearly a month ago after a 23-0 start. They’ve nearly aced this murderous stretch with recent wins over BYU, Houston, and Kansas and kept that momentum strong.
They continued that with another great performance, knocking off another Top 10 team in a 73-57 win over Iowa State. Jaden Bradley scored 17 points to lead the charge while Motiejus Krivas added 13 points over the Cyclones. Arizona concluded the regular season on the right foot, winning 89-79 at Colorado after a slow start. Brayden Burries starred with 31 points and 7 rebounds, Koa Peat put up 25 points, and the Wildcats once again showed why they’re among the best in the land.
From start to finish this season has been one impressive journey for Tommy Lloyd’s crew. With Peat back in the lineup and their starters healthy, the Wildcats legitimately have a path to winning the program’s first national title in nearly three decades, marching to this Big 12 title. We’ll see how they handle expectations at the Big 12 Tournament and if this is the year Arizona finally has a deep postseason run.