Arizona Wildcats Overcome Adversity to Defeat BYU

Head coach Tommy Lloyd praises team's resilience and individual performances in key victory

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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The No. 4 ranked Arizona Wildcats faced significant challenges, including playing without two key players, but were able to snap their two-game losing streak with a 75-68 victory over the No. 23 BYU Cougars. Head coach Tommy Lloyd highlighted the strong performances of Anthony Dell'Orso, who scored 22 points, and Brayden Burries, who played through illness. Lloyd also praised the contributions of Sidi Gueye and the team's 3-point shooting, while acknowledging areas for improvement in their press break. Looking ahead, Lloyd is aware of the tough schedule that lies ahead, including a matchup with No. 2 Houston, but is confident his team will be ready to battle.

Why it matters

This win helps the Wildcats maintain their position as a top-ranked team in the country and keeps them in contention for a high seed in the upcoming Big 12 tournament. The team's ability to overcome adversity and get contributions from different players is a positive sign as they prepare for the challenging final stretch of the regular season.

The details

In the back-and-forth contest, the Wildcats were able to outlast the Cougars, who were playing without their star player Richie Saunders. Arizona's accurate perimeter shooting and the home-court advantage at McKale Memorial Center proved to be the difference, as the Wildcats shot 9-for-21 from 3-point range. Lloyd was pleased with the team's 3-point shooting, though he acknowledged they could have taken even more attempts in the second half.

  • The No. 4 ranked Arizona Wildcats faced BYU on February 18, 2026.
  • Arizona will play a road game against No. 2 Houston on February 25, 2026.

The players

Tommy Lloyd

The head coach of the Arizona Wildcats, who has led the team to a top-4 ranking this season.

Anthony Dell'Orso

A key player for the Wildcats, who scored 22 points in the win over BYU.

Brayden Burries

An Arizona player who battled through illness to contribute to the team's victory.

Sidi Gueye

A player who stepped up and made an impact for the Wildcats when given the opportunity.

Koa Peat

A key player for Arizona who was unavailable for the BYU game due to undisclosed reasons.

Dwayne Aristode

Another important player for the Wildcats who was also unavailable for the BYU game.

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What they’re saying

“It was extremely important. I think Delly is going to be ready to deliver when we need him most. And obviously, I couldn't have predicted that two or three weeks ago, but today there was a significant need and he stepped up.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats (SI.com)

“Brayden's not feeling well and he's going to be fine, but he really battled through that game and it's been a tough couple days for him. So, to have that kind of competitive character to come out and play for your team when you're not feeling great says a lot about Brayden as a competitor and a person.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats (SI.com)

“I really challenged Sidi to be ready in four weeks to help the team. It probably went a little longer than four weeks, but he got an opportunity because an opportunity arose and it was great. Sidi did a great job and our guys, they practice with them every day and they know how he can impact the game around the rim and how he can catch lobs and such.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats (SI.com)

“I felt that we needed to shoot a few threes. I know you guys think I'm anti- three and that's fine, I'll wear that. But, I felt like we got some good looks, especially in the first half. I thought in the second half we should have taken a few more.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats (SI.com)

“They have an amazing identity. They're committed to their values as much as anybody. I'm sure their venue is great, but you could play them on a playground and I'm sure it'd be the same game. They do what they do and they do it really well and it's impressive. So, we have an incredible challenge on Saturday, but these are the games we want to play in.”

— Tommy Lloyd, Head Coach, Arizona Wildcats (SI.com)

What’s next

The judge in the case will decide on Tuesday whether or not to allow Walker Reed Quinn out on bail.

The takeaway

This win highlights the Wildcats' resilience and ability to overcome adversity, which will be crucial as they face a challenging end to the regular season, including a matchup with the highly-ranked Houston Cougars. The team's depth and contributions from different players are positive signs as they prepare for the postseason.