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Jan 3, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) and forward Koa Peat (10) wait for play to resume after a time in the the second half of the game against the Utah Utes at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
The Arizona Wildcats decisively defeated the Utah Utes 97-78. It was a game that broadcaster and former Wildcat hooper Matt Muehlebach described as “Not a fair fight”. The Wildcats started this game out with a 16-4 lead flexing their muscle from the start. Arizona would go on to control the remainder of the game with their physicality, high-level defense and well-rounded style of play.
Arizona’s depth was on display in this one. Five players scored double digit point totals and four players scored 17 or more. It’s hard for many programs to find two players to score 17+ with consistency, Arizona has a handful that are capable of that.
The Wildcats bench out-scored Utah’s 25-15 in this game. Tobe Awaka carried the bench production with his 18 points. Sharpshooter Anthony Dell’Orso, who is also apart of the bench unit, did not have a good game by his usual standards but you’d never know if you looked at the bench points comparison.
Arizona’s Board Boys
Tobe Awaka has been a monster on the boards this season, nearly averaging a double-double with his 9.5 PPG and 10.2 RPG. Quickly becoming a fan favorite for his physical and highly impactful style of play, Awaka recorded his 3rd double double this season against Utah as he collected 12 rebounds in this game. Awaka truly may be the country’s best rebounder.
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Jan 3, 2026; Salt Lake City, Utah, USA; Utah Utes forward James Okonkwo (32) and Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) battle for a rebound during the first half at Jon M. Huntsman Center. Mandatory Credit: Rob Gray-Imagn Images
Brayden Burries is sneakily a really good rebounding guard. His size allows him to crash the boards with success. Burries tallied 11 rebounds in this game for his first career double-double. He has now had four games this season with five or more rebounds, helping Arizona dominate on the margins.
Koa Peat should be in the “Board Boys” club with his size and athleticism but can you blame him for having slightly lower rebounding numbers when he’s playing next to Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas? Peat had just two rebounds vs Utah, which Tommy Lloyd will surely use as motivation for Peat to continue to push himself in that area of his game.
Lloyd was heard pushing Peat to rebound the ball with the tenacity of Awaka earlier this season. He believes Peat has the frame and capability to rebound at a similar level.
Wildcats vs Wildcats
Next up for the undefeated Arizona Wildcats are the Kansas State Wildcats. Jerome Tang’s group is currently 9-5 with their most recent game being a loss to BYU. Kansas State defeated Arizona last season in a game to forget for Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats who shot 2-22 from beyond-the-arc in the matchup they lost by just three points.
Both teams look very different this year, Arizona propelled by it’s dominant physicality and some star freshmen, Kansas State now led by Memphis transfer PJ Haggerty & David Castillo.
The Big 12 is a conference where any of it’s top half teams can beat the best in the country on any night. To keep up with this upcoming matchup with Kansas State and more, tune into the AZ Wildcats Podcast with Damon Fairall and Kevin Thomas.
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