No. 1 Arizona enters its game at No. 11 Kansas on Monday with the best start in program and Big 12 history, topping the Jayhawks’ performance in 1996-97.
Arizona (23-0, 10-0 Big 12) also has achieved the longest winning streak in its history. Its nine straight weeks ranked No. 1 is also a program record.
The Jayhawks (18-5, 8-2) have won seven consecutive games entering the “Big Monday” showdown at Lawrence, Kan.
“Big game; let’s go,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said after his team routed visiting Oklahoma State 84-47 on Saturday. “I’m sure the preparations have already started with the staff. Like I said, I wish we were playing it (Sunday), we’ll come in and we’ll prepare, and then we’ll jump on the plane and let’s see what we got.”
Arizona is among the nation’s leaders in average scoring margin (fifth at 21.0), rebounding (third at 43.4), field-goal percentage (51.6%), points per game (11th at 89.5) and assists per game (18.2).
“They’re men; they dominate people 12 feet and in,” Kansas coach Bill Self said of Arizona. “We’ve got to play bigger. We’ve got to play tougher. We’ve got to play stronger. We’ve got to play smarter.
“And then, they guard, so we got to give them something to defend on the other end. It’ll be a fun game. It’ll be a fun atmosphere. Only one day to prep, but hopefully we can figure something out to at least slow them down.”
Kansas is 38-0 at Allen Fieldhouse in Big Monday games under Self, but the Jayhawks have never defeated an Associated Press No. 1-ranked team in their current arena. They are 0-5 in such games.
The most recent game Kansas hosted a No. 1 team was in 2003, when Arizona was the opponent. The Jayhawks were outscored 52-22 in the second half, squandering a double-digit lead, and lost 91-74.
Kansas has also lost to top-ranked Oklahoma (1989), Kentucky (1977), Notre Dame (1974), and Cincinnati (1962) at Allen Fieldhouse.
“We played there last year,” Lloyd said, referring to Arizona’s 83-76 loss. “I came away thinking, ‘All right, it is different.’ I have a feeling those Jayhawk fans are going to be out for blood.”
Kansas will counter Arizona’s offensive efficiency with a defense that allows just 67.3 points per game and a home record of 11-1 this season.
The Jayhawks’ success hinges on their shooting accuracy (47.9%) and the emergence of freshman standout Darryn Peterson, who is averaging 20.5 points in 13 games. Peterson has been plagued by cramping.
Arizona’s young talent includes freshmen Brayden Burries (team-leading 15.3 points per game) and Koa Peat (14.6 points and 5.6 rebounds a game).
The Wildcats’ presence inside includes Tobe Awaka (9.9 rebounds a game) and Motiejus Krivas (8.3 boards).
Self will rely on Flory Bidunga (14.6 points and 8.9 rebounds a game) to offset some of Arizona’s inside strength.
“To me, there’s not a better defender, regardless of position anywhere,” Self said of Bidunga. “He’s learning how to not gamble and make somebody score over his length.”
Tre White, a guard, is second on the team in rebounds with 7.1 a game. He also averages 14.6 points.
A key matchup will be on the perimeter between Kansas’ Peterson, White and Melvin Council Jr. (13.7 points and 5.1 assists per game) and Arizona’s Burries, Jaden Bradley (13.8 points and 4.5 assists) and Ivan Kharchenkov (9.4 points and 50.9% field-goal shooting).
