Arizona's move from the Pac-12 to the Big 12 wasn't widely greeted with enthusiasm in Tucson. The long-term rivalries in basketball with UCLA and Oregon, and the excellence in seemingly all non-revenue sports — especially baseball, softball, golf, track, volleyball — were long appreciated.
But how can you not embrace Big 12 basketball? The Pac-12 never had anything like the current Big 12 men's season. Not even close.
From 1978-2024, Arizona only had four homestands in which both McKale Center visitors were in the Top 25. That's four out of more than 100 weekly doubleheaders, usually Thursday and Saturday games.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd cheers during the first half against Florida, Monday, Nov. 3, 2025, in Las Vegas.
There was nothing to compare to the current Kansas-Iowa State homestand. Kansas is ranked No. 14 and has the name recognition and potential of a No. 1 team. Iowa State is ranked No. 4. Here's a reminder of the only four homestands in UA history, dating to the beginning of the AP poll in 1939, in which both teams were in the Top 25:
– 2002: No. 9 UCLA and No. 18 USC (Arizona went 2-0)
– 2002: No. 17 Stanford and No. 21 Cal (Arizona went 1-1)
– 2007: No. 7 UCLA and No. 22 USC (Arizona went 0-2)
– 2022: No. 3 UCLA and No. 19 USC (Arizona went 2-0)
The Big 12's "homestands" are usually Saturday-Tuesday, or Wednesday-Saturday, which is a bit different than the Pac-12's scheduling. But the degree of competition has never been better.
