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ARIZONA WILDCATS

Record: 28-2, 15-2 (entering Saturday at Colorado)

Against the Big 12: Arizona lost only to Kansas and Texas Tech entering this weekend, while avenging its Feb. 9 loss to the Jayhawks on Feb. 28 at McKale Center.

What's new: Arizona returned to full strength against Kansas, getting forward Koa Peat back from a lower-leg injury and forward Dwayne Aristode back from an illness.

Key players: G Jaden Bradley (15.5 ppg, 4.5 apg), G Brayden Burries (15.5 ppg)

He said it: “If you want to just be lazy, not pay attention and say we're soft because we're on the West Coast, I'd love to play against you. Because we know we got dudes, and we love this game and I'm OK with this style of game." — UA coach Tommy Lloyd, after the Wildcats beat Iowa State on March 2

HOUSTON COUGARS

Record: 25-5, 13-4 (entering Saturday at Oklahoma State)

Against Arizona: Playing without Peat and Aristode, the Wildcats won at Houston 73-66 on Feb. 21 to take control of first place in the Big 12. Anthony Dell’Orso hit 8 of 14 field goals to equal the season-high 22 points he also reached three days earlier against BYU, though he injured his left foot and ankle late in the game.

What's new: Having sandwiched the Arizona loss with losses at Iowa State and Kansas, the Cougars lost three straight games for the first time since 2017, but then beat Colorado and Baylor at home.

Key players: G Kingston Flemings (16.6 ppg, 5.3 apg), Emanuel Sharp (15.9 ppg, 38.0% 3FG)

He said it: “The top of this league is a monster. The fact that we're doing it with a lot of kids in their first year has been great. Awesome. Really proud of this team.� — Houston coach Kelvin Sampson, after the Cougars beat Colorado on Feb. 28

TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Record: 22-8, 12-5 (entering Saturday at BYU)

Against Arizona: One of only two teams to have beaten Arizona this season, Texas Tech edged the Wildcats 78-75 in overtime at McKale Center on Feb. 14. The Wildcats were playing without Aristode (illness) for the first time, while Peat left the game with a leg injury in the first half and did not return for two weeks.

What's new: Texas Tech owns some of the best resume-builders in the college game this season, having beaten not only Arizona but also Duke, Houston and Iowa State. But its ceiling is more limited without star forward JT Toppin, who tore his ACL three days after visiting McKale in TTU’s loss at ASU. Texas Tech surprisingly won at Iowa State on Feb. 28 but then lost at home to TCU on Tuesday.

Key player: G Christian Anderson (19.1 ppg, 42.4% 3FG)

He said it: “I felt like our offense could get going as long as we could stay healthy and keep the right guys out there on. But defensively, the physicality that JT provides us was really evident (when he didn’t play in the loss to TCU).� — Texas Tech coach Grant McCasland

IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Record: 24-6, 11-6 (entering Saturday vs. ASU)

Against Arizona: Jaden Bradley had 17 points to lead the Wildcats to a 73-57 win over Iowa State on March 2 at McKale Center that earned Arizona the outright Big 12 regular-season championship.

What's new: The Cyclones, who easily won a December shocker at Purdue, finished Big 12 play with a 4-5 record away from Hilton Coliseum.

Key players: F Milan Momcilovic (17.0 ppg, 50.2% 3FG), G Tamin Lipsey (13.2 ppg, 5.0 apg)

He said it: “That was an extremely physical game (at Arizona). If we bring that level of physicality with a little better offensive execution and finishing, we’ll continue to get better from this.� — Iowa State coach TJ Otzelberger, after UA’s win at McKale

KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Record: 21-9, 11-6 (before Saturday vs. Kansas State)

Against Arizona: Kansas beat Arizona 82-78 in Lawrence on Feb. 9, when center Flory Bidunga had 23 points, 10 rebounds and three blocks, including one off a late Brayden Burries layup attempt. But Arizona avenged that loss by beating the Jayhawks at McKale Center on Feb. 28 when Burries had 20 points and 12 rebounds.

What's new: The Jayhawks lost four of six games entering their home finale on Saturday against Kansas State, after being swept at UA and ASU. Coach Bill Self was ejected in the first half of Kansas’ 70-60 loss at ASU for arguing a foul call against Kansas’ Darryn Peterson.

Key players: G Darryn Peterson (19.5 ppg, 38.5% 3FG), C Flory Bidunga (13.8 ppg, 9.2 rpg, 2.7 bpg)

He said it: “Our shot selection was so poor, we didn't share the ball during that period of time (when Arizona went on runs), and we had the wrong guys taking guarded shots, where you’ve got to play to your strengths. We didn't do that whatsoever.� — Self after UA’s win over Kansas on Feb. 28

TCU HORNED FROGS

Record: 20-10, 10-7 (before Saturday vs. Cincinnati)

Against Arizona: TCU dragged Arizona into an overly physical game on Jan. 10 in Fort Worth, taking nine more free throws than the Wildcats while UA’s Bradley and Motiejus Krivas each had four fouls, but the Wildcats pulled out an 86-73 win.

What's new: After starting the Big 12 season 3-6, the Horned Frogs won seven of their last eight games entering this weekend to put themselves in solid NCAA Tournament consideration, highlighted by a 73-65 win at Texas Tech on Tuesday.

Key players: F David Punch (13.6 ppg), C Xavier Edmonds (13.0 ppg)

He said it: "We’ve gotten better as the year’s gone on. That's what you want a team to do. Gotten a little better defensively and rebounding especially.� — TCU coach Jamie Dixon, after the Horned Frogs beat Texas Tech

CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Record: 17-13, 9-8 (before Saturday vs. TCU)

Against Arizona: The Wildcats gave a textbook example of how they can survive without 3-point shooting during a 77-51 win over Cincinnati on Jan. 21 at McKale, going 3 for 13 from beyond the arc but getting 17 points inside from Krivas while grabbing 18 offensive rebounds that led to 18 second-chance points.

What's new: The Bearcats won six of seven games entering this weekend, including a 90-68 home win over BYU, to put themselves in the NCAA Tournament consideration — and perhaps save coach Wes Miller’s job. Former Wildcat Kerr Kriisa, who has battled injuries this season as a sixth-year collegian, elected not to walk in Senior Night ceremonies.

Key players: F Baba Miller (13.8 ppg, 10.0 rpg, 3.6 apg), G Day Day Thomas (11.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 39.5% 3FG)

He said it: I was convinced (in the) spring that we put together a bona fide Big 12 roster. The roster never really got a chance to take shape (because of absences). We never had that continuity early on." — Miller, after the BYU game, according to

UCF KNIGHTS

Record: 10-9, 9-8 (before Saturday at West Virginia)

Against Arizona: Bradley had 23 points, six rebounds and five assists while making 11 of 13 free throws in the second half — all against a palm-frond-waving UCF student section — to lead Arizona to an 84-77 win against UCF in Orlando.

What's new: Briefly ranked 25th in the Associated Press Top 25 poll after going 12-1 to start the season and beating Kansas, UCF is in danger of skidding off the NCAA Tournament bubble. The Knights lost five of their last eight games entering the weekend, including a Senior Night game against Oklahoma State on Tuesday.

Key player: G Riley Kugel (14.6 ppg, 38.9% 3FG)

He said it: “We have to understand the importance of regrouping and responding. We've done that all throughout the season. We have to do it again.� — UCF coach Johnny Dawkins, after the Knights lost to Oklahoma State

BYU COUGARS

Record: 20-10, 8-9 (before Saturday vs. Texas Tech)

Against Arizona: The Wildcats swept a two-game series with the Cougars, winning 86-83 on Jan. 26 in Provo when Burries had 29 points and a game-saving block off BYU’s Robert Wright, and also winning 75-68 on Feb. 18 at McKale Center despite 35 points from Cougar star AJ Dybantsa.

What's new: The Cougars lost four of five games after sharpshooting wing Richie Saunders tore an ACL on Feb. 14, leaving them still likely in the NCAA Tournament field but with a limited upside due to their heavy reliance on Dybantsa and Wright.

Key player: F AJ Dybantsa (24.8 ppg, 6.7 rpg, 52.1% FG)

He said it: “I think our confidence is a little bit shook right now as a group. I just want our guys to play with more belief, more inner belief, more belief in themselves, belief in each other.� — BYU coach Kevin Young, after the Cougars lost to Cincinnati, according to the Deseret News

WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Record: 17-13, 8-9 (entering Saturday vs. UCF)

Against Arizona: The Wildcats went on an unusual 10-for-23 3-point night, while getting 14 rebounds from Tobe Awaka and another 12 from Krivas, in their 88-53 win over West Virginia on Jan. 24 at McKale Center

What's new: The Mountaineers lost four of their last five games heading into this weekend, putting themselves in danger of missing the NCAA Tournament without a good run in the Big 12 Tournament. 

Key player: G Honor Huff (15.5 ppg, 35.7% 3FG)

He said it: “You can't continuously put yourself in those (large deficit) situations and think you're always going to be able to come back. The fight back, the togetherness, you appreciate that, but some of it is we need to play better with more consistency from individuals, and collectively.� — West Virginia coach Russ Hodge, after the Mountaineers lost to Utah on Feb. 18

ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS

Record: 16-14, 7-10 (before Saturday at Iowa State)

Against Arizona: Phoenix-area native Peat led the Wildcats to a sweep of his hometown school. On Jan. 14 at McKale, ASU gave UA its biggest scare at home to that point, but Peat had 24 points and 10 rebounds to lead the Wildcats to an 89-82 win. On Jan. 31 in Tempe, Peat had 21 points while shooting 9 of 16 from the field in UA’s 87-74 win.

What's new: Coach Bobby Hurley, working on the last year of his contract, and the Sun Devils aren’t going down without a fight. ASU won five of its last eight games entering the weekend, beating Texas Tech and Kansas at home.

Key players: G Moe Odum (17.3 ppg, 5.8 apg, 39.2% 3FG), C Massamba Diop (13.9 ppg, 2.2 bpg, 57.0% FG)

He said it: “I think these kids just want to win and players like Moe Odum still believes there's hope, and I do, as well until someone tells us otherwise and someone outplays us and puts an end to what we're doing right now." — Hurley, after ASU beat Kansas

COLORADO BUFFALOES

Record: 17-13, 7-10 (entering Saturday vs. Arizona)

Against Arizona: Colorado did not play Arizona until Saturday.

What's new: After losing six straight games early in the Big 12 season on a mostly frontloaded schedule, the Buffs won five of nine entering the weekend. Coach Tad Boyle was ejected from CU’s 102-62 loss at Houston on Feb. 28, while starting forward Sebastian Rancik did not play in Colorado’s 92-78 win at Utah on Tuesday because of an injury.

Key players: G Isaiah Johnson (16.6 ppg, 37.6% 3FG, 81.8% FT), G Barrington Hargress (14.1 ppg, 4.4 apg, 54.2% FG)

He said it: “It says a lot about this group. We’re able to come back from tough situations and we’re able to push through adversity.” — Johnson, after Colorado won at Utah following a loss at Houston, according to

OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Record: 18-12, 6-11 (entering Saturday vs. Houston)

Against Arizona: The Wildcats broke program and conference records for longest unbeaten start at 23-0 with an 84-47 romp over Oklahoma State on Feb. 7 at McKale Center, holding the Cowboys to just 24.6% shooting.

What's new: The blowout loss at McKale sent the Cowboys on a tailspin. Oklahoma State wound up losing five straight games, including an overtime home loss to TCU. But it won two of three games in overtime since then heading into the weekend, beating UCF in overtime three days after losing at Cincinnati.

Key player: F Anthony Roy (16.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 39.7% 3FG)

He said it: “Obviously, for us, this is a feeling that we haven’t had in a while and we especially haven’t been able to rebound after a loss like we took� at Cincinnati. — Oklahoma State coach Steve Lutz after the Cowboys beat UCF on Tuesday

BAYLOR BEARS

Record: 15-15, 5-12 (entering Saturday vs. Utah)

Against Arizona: Baylor took a 10-point lead early in the second half, but Arizona wiped it out en route to an 87-80 win on Feb. 24 at Waco, Texas. Bradley scored 25 points and Burries, fighting off a bout of bronchitis, had 24.

What's new: Barring a long run in the Big 12 Tournament, Baylor is likely to snap its streak of appearing in six straight NCAA Tournaments despite having two projected NBA Draft first-round picks in Tounde Yessoufou and Cameron Carr.

Key players: G Cameron Carr (18.9 ppg, 39.1% 3FG), F Tounde Yessoufou (17.7 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

He said it: “Most leagues you can say, ‘That night we’re going to win by 30, that night we’re going to win by 30.’ In the Big 12, you don’t get that. What happens is that affects your confidence and that affects your swag and really tests your manhood.� — Baylor coach Scott Drew, after the Bears lost at home to BYU on Feb. 10

KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Record: 12-18, 3-14 (entering Saturday at Kansas)

Against Arizona: In a microcosm of its season, Arizona shot just 3 of 16 from 3-point range but outrebounded Kansas State 55-32 and scored 20 more points in the paint during a 101-76 win over Kansas State in a battle of Wildcats on Jan. 7 at McKale Center.

What's new: Kansas State fired coach Jerome Tang on Feb. 16 after K-State went 1-11 to start Big 12 play, and Tang said very few of his players “deserve to wear this uniform.� They haven’t been much better since then, beating only Baylor and West Virginia at home entering the weekend, while Tang’s attorneys are fighting K-State’s “for cause� firing (which would save the school $18.7 million), and the move could result in a settlement.

Key players: G PJ Haggerty (23.3 ppg, 6.4 FTA)

He said it: “There's a lot of frustration. It's been a fight to continue to focus on the next right thing and let whatever has happened in the past, and just try to get to a point where we can compete for 40 minutes.� — Center Khamari McGriff after K-State lost to TCU on Feb. 28 according to the Topeka Capital-Journal

UTAH UTES

Record: 10-20, 2-15 (entering Saturday at Baylor)

Against Arizona: The Wildcats went on an early 14-0 lead en route to a 97-78 win over Utah in both teams’ Big 12 opener on Jan. 3 at the Huntsman Center in Salt Lake City. Awaka had 18 points and 12 rebounds to lead Arizona.

What's new: Having fired Craig Smith before last season ended, Utah hasn’t yet found success under new coach Alex Jensen. Entering the weekend, the Utes had only beaten TCU at home and won at West Virginia in conference play.

Key players: G Terrence Brown (19.7 ppg), G Don McHenry (17.1 ppg)

He said it: “I think everybody expects more out of our guys. Having played here … I think the fans, the university deserves better than that.� — Jensen, after Utah lost to Colorado at home on Tuesday