Arizona Wildcats Projected to Cruise Past Utah State in Round 2

The No. 1 seed Wildcats look to continue their dominant tournament run against the No. 9 seed Aggies.

Mar. 22, 2026 at 5:36pm

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The top-seeded Arizona Wildcats are set to take on the No. 9 seed Utah State Aggies in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats are coming off a blowout 92-58 win over LIU in the opening round, while Utah State defeated Villanova 86-76. Arizona is projected to have little trouble advancing to the Sweet 16 with its deep, talented starting lineup and rotation.

Why it matters

Arizona is one of the favorites to win the national championship this year, and a convincing win over Utah State would further cement their status as an elite team. The Wildcats have the size, skill, and experience to overwhelm most opponents, and they'll look to continue that trend against the upstart Aggies.

The details

Arizona's starting lineup features a dynamic mix of veteran leadership and young talent. Senior point guard Jaden Bradley runs the show, while freshman guards Brayden Burries and Koa Peat provide scoring punch. Veteran forward Ivan Kharchenkov and center Motiejus Krivas anchor the frontcourt. Off the bench, Arizona can turn to experienced guard Anthony Dell'Orso and talented freshman forwards Dwayne Aristode and Tobe Awaka.

  • The game is scheduled for 4:50 PM MST on March 22, 2026 in San Diego, CA.
  • Arizona defeated LIU 92-58 in the first round on March 20, 2026.
  • Utah State defeated Villanova 86-76 in the first round on March 20, 2026.

The players

Jaden Bradley

A 6-foot-3, 200-pound senior point guard from Rochester, NY who was named the Big 12 Player of the Year after averaging 13.1 points, 4.5 assists, and 3.6 rebounds per game.

Brayden Burries

A 6-foot-4, 205-pound freshman guard from San Bernardino, CA who leads Arizona in scoring at 16 points per game to go with 4.7 rebounds and 2.5 assists.

Ivan Kharchenkov

A 6-foot-7, 220-pound junior forward from Munich, Germany who provides physical defense and versatility, averaging 10.2 points, 4.2 rebounds, and 2.3 assists.

Koa Peat

A 6-foot-8, 235-pound freshman forward from Chandler, AZ who has emerged as a fan favorite, averaging 13.7 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.7 assists.

Motiejus Krivas

A 6-foot-10 senior center who was named the Big 12 Defensive Player of the Year for his rim protection, rebounding, and shot-blocking abilities.

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What they’re saying

“We must be ready for a tough battle against Utah State, but I believe in this team and our ability to advance to the Sweet 16.”

— Jaden Bradley, Arizona Wildcats Point Guard

“This Arizona team is special. They have so many weapons and play with such energy on both ends of the floor.”

— Gordon Edgar, Rainbow Grocery Employee

What’s next

If Arizona defeats Utah State, they will advance to the Sweet 16 to face the winner of the matchup between the No. 4 seed Gonzaga Bulldogs and the No. 5 seed Saint Mary's Gaels.

The takeaway

Arizona's depth, experience, and talent make them a formidable opponent for any team in the NCAA Tournament. Their balanced scoring attack and stifling defense should be too much for Utah State to handle, setting the Wildcats up for a deep tournament run.