Arizona basketball hosts No. 25 Baylor, looking to extend the Wildcats’ six game win streak. Read more for a full Arizona vs Baylor prediction and preview.
Arizona (10-5, 4-0) has cruised through their inaugural year in the Big 12 thus far, largely facing the conference’s newer or less established teams. However, that comfortable stretch comes to an end on Tuesday night when the No. 25 Baylor Bears (11-4, 3-1) roll into Tucson for what promises to be a much tougher test.
General Information:
Teams: Arizona (10-5, 4-0) and Baylor (11-4, 3-1)
Tip-off: 9 p.m. MST
Watch: ESPN
Latest on Baylor Basketball:
No. 25 Baylor is off to a strong start in the 2024-25 season, with all of its losses coming to ranked teams: No. 16 Gonzaga, No. 14 UConn, No. 6 Tennessee, and No. 2 Iowa State, who currently leads the Big 12.
The Bears most recently escaped with a 72-66 overtime win against Arizona State on Saturday after nearly blowing a 15-point lead.
Norchad Omier was the standout, leading Baylor with 19 points, while V.J. Edgecombe added 15. Arizona State struggled in the extra period, hitting just 2-of-10 shots. The win keeps Baylor solidly in the mix in the Big 12 with a 3-1 conference record.
Latest on Arizona Basketball:
The Wildcats are riding high on a six-game win streak and have only dropped one game at home, a 69-55 to No. 3 Duke. They currently sit pretty as the No. 3 ranked team in the Big 12 conference.
Caleb Love is absolutely on fire right now and was a major factor in Arizona’s 88-80 win over UCF on Saturday, Jan. 11. The senior guard led the charge with 16 points, knocking down 4-of-7 from beyond the arc, while also adding eight rebounds and six assists. His all-around performance set the tone, but he wasn’t alone. Anthony Dell’Orso was perfect from the free-throw line, going 9-for-9 to finish with 15 points. Henri Veesaar added 14 points, Tobe Awaka chipped in 11, and KJ Lewis contributed 10.
Arizona’s offensive depth continues to shine, making them a serious contender in the Big 12.
Arizona vs Baylor prediction: Bears by 4 (77-73)
In program history dating back to 1947, the Bears and the Wildcats are at an even 5-5. I predict this game to be so evenly matched that fans from both ends will be up on their feet, yelling at their television. The Wildcats will likely trail for the majority of the game and eventually give up a 77-73 loss.