Wildcats to Face UCF in Big Tournament Opener

As the No. 1 seed, Arizona immediately advances to quarterfinals

Mar. 11, 2026 at 9:49pm

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The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team will take on UCF in the opening round of the Big 12 Tournament. As the tournament's top seed, the Wildcats have already qualified for the quarterfinals. The game against UCF will take place on March 12 at 12 p.m. Arizona time.

Why it matters

The Wildcats are the favorites to win the Big 12 Tournament and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A victory over UCF would put them one step closer to that goal and keep their momentum going into the later rounds.

The details

The Wildcats arrived in Kansas City on March 10 to prepare for the tournament. If they can defeat UCF, they will advance to the semifinals on March 13 at 4 p.m. Arizona time.

  • The Wildcats arrived in Kansas City on March 10.
  • The game against UCF will take place on March 12 at 12 p.m. Arizona time.
  • If the Wildcats win, they will advance to the semifinals on March 13 at 4 p.m. Arizona time.

The players

Arizona Wildcats

The men's basketball team from the University of Arizona, who are the No. 1 seed in the Big 12 Tournament.

UCF

The University of Central Florida men's basketball team, who defeated Cincinnati in overtime to earn a matchup with the Wildcats.

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What’s next

If the Wildcats can defeat UCF, they will advance to the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament on March 13.

The takeaway

The Wildcats are the favorites to win the Big 12 Tournament and secure an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. A victory over UCF would be an important first step in that process.