The Arizona Wildcats hosted the Kansas Jayhawks on Saturday in a Big 12 basketball showdown that had major implications in the conference regular season title race. The Wildcats came in 13-2 in Big 12 play, with a two-game lead over Houston, Kansas, Iowa State and Texas Tech. A win would put the Cats in a great spot to get the No. 1 seed for the Big 12 Tournament in Kansas City. And on Saturday, despite a push in the second half from KU, it was the Wildcats getting revenge from their Big Monday loss at KU to roll to an 84-61 win. Here are the Top 3 takeaways from the game.
Welcome Back, Koa Peat
Koa Peat returned from his leg injury that caused him to miss the last three games and had his presence felt with 12 points in 23 minutes, on 4-5 shooting, along with seven rebounds (three offensive) and five assists. He played a huge role in Arizona jumping out to an early 19-5 lead that set the tone for the game, with several buckets, key assists and rebounds to give the momentum to the Wildcats early. After struggling in his last two outings in losses to Kansas and Texas Tech (a combined eight points in 42 points), Peat looked like his old self, and the timing could not be better as the calendar flips to March on Sunday.
Arizona Dominates on the Boards
It wasn’t even close in this game, as the Wildcats crushed Kansas in rebounding margin 48-26, with Arizona racking up 14 offensive boards on the afternoon. The Jayhawks were No. 3 in the Big 12 in rebounding, with Arizona at No. 1 in the league, but it didn’t look that way on Saturday. Kansas pulled it to a 42-35 game several minutes into the second half, but Arizona then took back control of the game with strong rebounding, turnovers and second-chance opportunities. Arizona was able to regain a double-digit lead halfway through the second half and never looked back.
The Wildcats are in the Driver’s Seat
Arizona now holds a two-game lead over Houston and Texas Tech for the Big 12 regular season title with just two games to play. Iowa State losing to Texas Tech also helped the Wildcats, since Arizona hosts Iowa State on Big Monday. After that, it’s a road game against Colorado. Even splitting these two games locks in Arizona for the No. 1 seed in Kansas City for the Big 12 Tournament, and barring something unusual happening in the league tournament, like losing their first game, Arizona should be in a great position to get a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament on Selection Sunday.
