The Arizona Wildcats (30–2) played their first game in the Big 12 Conference Tournament in a quarterfinal matchup against the UCF Knights (21–11). The Knights were rewarded with a first-round bye, allowing them an extra day of rest before taking on the Cincinnati Bearcats on Wednesday. UCF scraped by with a comeback victory despite an eight-point deficit with under two minutes remaining. After the overtime thriller, the Golden Knights had to get right back to business to prepare for the No. 2-ranked team in the nation.
Photo Cred: Arizona Deseret Swarm
It was apparent from tip-off that the Wildcats entered T-Mobile Arena with unmatched energy. UCF missed its first five shots, allowing Arizona to surge to a 14–2 lead within five minutes. The Wildcats’ momentum snowballed as the Knights’ offensive system fell stagnant against a tight, pressure-heavy paint defense. On the other end, Arizona created shots at will from all areas of the floor, led by future lottery pick Braden Burries. Their early fury continued as a 15–0 run midway through the first half and gave the Wildcats their largest lead of 27 with 7:38 remaining until halftime.
At that point, UCF was shooting 3-for-17 from the field compared to Arizona’s 12-for-17, with three players shooting 100% on four shot attempts. After making several necessary adjustments, the Knights finally managed to slow the pace and settle into their game plan, pushing an 18–7 run and ending the half with Arizona leading 46–30. UCF’s biggest hindrances in the first half were its cold perimeter shooting and limited production from senior guard Riley Kugel. The Knights hit just one of 11 attempts from beyond the arc while shooting 12-for-33 from the field in the half.
One factor in their lack of offensive firepower was Kugel’s early foul trouble. Prior to this quarterfinal matchup, Kugel had averaged nearly 19 points per game over the last four contests and had emerged as another potent perimeter threat for UCF. Unfortunately, two quick fouls kept him out for the majority of the half, and when he checked back in during the final minutes, he picked up his third. As a result, he logged only seven minutes in the first half, shooting 0-for-3 from the field. In contrast, Arizona spread the ball and scored efficiently across all three levels, making it difficult for UCF to create meaningful defensive adjustments.
Photo Cred: SI
Freshman guard Braden Burries ran the show, hitting his first four shots and setting up big men Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas in the paint. The Wildcats exploited the high-low game, expanding their offensive spacing and drawing fouls that led to 12 free-throw attempts. Arizona also took advantage of the extra space to generate open three-point looks, going 4-for-8 from deep. Their momentum was scorching early, though it began to fizzle near the end of the half as UCF trimmed the deficit to 16.
The second half was not much different from the first, as Arizona continued to capitalize on its dominance in the paint and ability to draw fouls. Kugel returned to the floor to start the half and scored six consecutive points for UCF before picking up his fourth foul, which sent him back to the bench for much of the remainder of the game. After a brief lull from the Wildcats, the lead was cut to 12 following a 9–2 burst over five minutes that brought UCF back into the game, although the momentum didn’t last long.
At that point, Arizona was determined to attack the rim by any means necessary, drawing fouls and getting to the line on multiple possessions. Their only issue was converting those opportunities. In the second half, the Wildcats attempted 19 free throws but made just nine. Despite the inefficiency, Arizona drew 11 fouls with over eight minutes remaining, leaving many of UCF’s starters in foul trouble and unable to play with their usual level of physicality.
From there, both squads traded short runs, but the Knights were never able to cut the lead to fewer than 12 points. The game closed with Braden Burries scoring seven consecutive points before Arizona emptied its bench. The final score was 81–59 in favor of the Wildcats, sending them on to face Iowa State. Arizona dominated the rematch and built the momentum it needed heading into its battle with Iowa State.
Fortunately for UCF, the Knights appear to be a tournament lock and should be seen again in March Madness. However, if they hope to make a deep run, there is still work to be done. Arizona was extremely effective on the glass, outrebounding the Knights throughout the game, and John Bol’s second-half injury proved to be a significant blow to UCF’s momentum. With the NCAA Tournament set to begin on March 19, Bol’s recovery will be vital as the Knights look ahead to the rest of their season.
