Arizona basketball's fatal flaw that will cost it in Big 12 conference title race

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As if the 2025-2026 college basketball season did not have enough volatility, Arizona has gone from the clear-cut best team in the country to another reeling program on a small losing streak in just one week. Tommy Lloyd's team will still be favored to win the Big 12 and enter the NCAA Tournament as a No. 1 seed, but the Wildcats have clear flaws to address before the postseason.

Why it matters

Arizona's early success includes non-conference wins over UConn, Florida, Alabama, UCLA and Auburn, as well as Big 12 victories over BYU, TCU and UCF. However, while Arizona boasts an impressive 10-2 Big 12 record, it is just 1-2 against top-25 opponents in the conference, a concerning record for the Wildcats' championship ceiling.

The details

Arizona has been one of the most physical teams in college basketball all season, often leaning on that to wear down opponents. However, Arizona's struggles have come against teams that can match its size. The Wildcats' two losses have come against the two other biggest teams in the Big 12 who had the personnel to match up with them in the paint. Despite having competent shooters on the floor, Arizona has been one of the worst three-point shooting teams in college basketball all season, which has prevented the Wildcats from scoring points in bunches and pulling away from high-level teams that can match their physicality inside.

• Arizona rattled off 24 consecutive victories to begin the season.
• Arizona's two losses have come in Big 12 play in mid-February.

What’s next

Before Arizona can begin preparing for the big dance, it must win the Big 12 Tournament to clinch the No. 1 seed that once looked like a foregone conclusion.