While sending Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd yet another heavily backloaded conference schedule this season, the Big 12 included a condolence card of sorts.
“They apologized,” Lloyd said. “They said, `We know this is hard. We know this is a gauntlet. But there's a reason we're doing this: Because the University of Arizona and the men's basketball program brings a ton of value to our conference. We want you guys to be a marquee piece of this conference.’ ”
Their strategy began officially over the weekend, when the Wildcats were assigned one of the most difficult turnarounds possible in league play: In the 50 hours after they left McKale with an 84-47 win over Oklahoma State on Saturday, the top-ranked Wildcats were expected to prepare for and fly to Kansas for a Big Monday game against the 11th-ranked Jayhawks in Lawrence, Kan.
After that comes three more ranked opponents -- Texas Tech, BYU and Houston – while Kansas and Iowa State are UA's two final opponents scheduled to visit McKale Center this season.
That’s some serious TV inventory. Or, as Lloyd explained it, some serious dues-paying, even for a team that already dealt with a backloaded conference schedule in its first Big 12 go-round last season -- and still finished in a third-place tie while making the conference tournament final.
“Basketball-wise, we know we’ve got to earn our keep," Lloyd said. "We know we're the new kids on the block. So we're not walking in with hubris or thinking we’re deserving of everything. We know we've got to earn it.
“So we got a great schedule. I'm sure BYU saying the same thing. I'm sure Houston is saying the same thing, I'm sure Texas Tech is saying the same thing. We all kind of have this similar gauntlet down the stretch with Kansas. We know it's going to be tough. We know we're going to probably take a few on the chin, but hopefully it'll make us better.”
Lloyd had said on his radio show Thursday that the backloaded schedule also was a function of the Big 12 trying to save its best possible matchups until after the Super Bowl, when more focus will be on college basketball.
“There's no doubt about it,” Lloyd said. “Listen, the Big 12 is a powerhouse basketball conference, and (commissioner) Brett Yormark is a basketball guy. He's fully embraced that narrative.
“As part of that, he's trying to create value and one of the ways you create value is you have important games in great viewing windows. So they wanted to get as many marquee games as they could in February.
“Obviously they told us that, and look at our schedule. They delivered.”
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd talks with Brayden Burries (5) during halftime against Oklahoma State at McKale Center, Feb. 7, 2026.
The only advantage Arizona might have in the beginning of their tough eight-game conference finish is, unlike their first tour around the league last season, many of the current Wildcats have been to Allen Fieldhouse before.
They may recall trailing by up to 14 points, taking a lead with 12 minutes left and still losing 83-76 in their conference regular-season finale last season.
They may also recall how they felt afterward.
“My ears are still ringing,” Lloyd said upon arriving at the post game press conference after that game.
Always enthusiastic about passionate environments -- even joking that UConn should have lowered the price on cheap-beer night at UConn earlier this season -- Lloyd also said at KU that the fan noise was " awesome.”
Still, that noise can tend to make it hard when you’re the opposing point guard, trying to direct your offense.
“It's crazy in there,” Jaden Bradley said. “It's hard to hear yourself and their fans are crazy. Kansas is a great program. They have a great team this year, so it's gonna be a tough atmosphere, but I feel like we're gonna go out there and handle business for sure.”
Maybe. And maybe Arizona somehow manages to get by Texas Tech at McKale Center on Feb. 14, beat BYU again at home on Feb. 18 and maybe even pull out a win at Houston on Feb.20.
But even if they do, the way Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz put it, those wins probably won’t be anything like their 37-point win Saturday that preceded Arizona’s journey ahead.
While setting a new UA for overall winning streak and a Big 12 record for best streak to begin a season --and tying the overall Big 12 record winning streak set by Baylor in 2019-20 -- the Wildcats held Oklahoma State to just 24.6% shooting, outrebounded them 56-35 and outscored the Cowboys 54-14 in the paint.
Arizona forward Tobe Awaka (30) wins a rebound in the air during the first half against Oklahoma State at McKale Center, Feb. 7, 2026.
This against a team that had just beaten BYU 99-92 on Wednesday to put itself in NCAA Tournament consideration. Even Lloyd said “I wasn't expecting that outcome,” saying sometimes road games can simply get away from teams like that.
But, now, Kansas. Then Texas Tech. BYU. Houston.
Arizona is "about to face some of the better teams in this league. No offense here, this league is no joke," Lutz said. "I'm not going to guarantee you they're not going to physically whip Houston on the backboards, but they're not going to control Houston like they did us today.
"I think you guys have a fantastic basketball team. I love Tommy Lloyd. He's a good friend. I want y'all to win the title as much as anybody. But you got some fights coming your way."
If so, Lloyd is waiting.
“I'm excited for the opportunities coming down the pipe,” Lloyd said. “We’re not mad at anybody or feel like it's unfair. If you want to be a great program and you want to be a participant a great conference, well, you’ve got to be willing to walk the walk.
“Our walk is playing a lot of high-level games in the month of February leading into March. So let's do it.”
