March 2, 2026; Tucson, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats coach Tommy Lloyd looks out at fans after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones at McKale Memorial Center. Mandatory Credit: Aryanna Frank-Imagn Images Second-ranked Arizona, which won the regular season Big 12 title, is scheduled to host the Wildcats against the Buffaloes on Saturday night in Boulder, Colorado.
Colorado (17-13, 7-10 Big 12) has won three of its last four games, including wins over bottom-ranked Big 12 teams Oklahoma State, Kansas State and Utah.
Arizona (28-2, 15-2) has won five straight, including wins over ranked opponents BYU, Houston, Kansas and Iowa State.
“I’m excited to play in Colorado,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “I’ve gone up there before with good teams and been beaten, I know how difficult it is to play there, so trust me, that’s where I’m focused.
“Obviously after that we’ll get a few days off and then see how the Big 12 Tournament goes. So that’s the next step and that’s going to be our focus.”
In Lloyd’s first season at Arizona in 2021-22, the Wildcats finished second with a 79-63 loss in Boulder.
Colorado will play next week to qualify for the Big 12 Tournament, where it will need to win to earn a spot in the NCAA Tournament.
The Buffaloes, who are 13-4 at home this season, will be celebrating Senior Night.
They rely heavily on scoring from freshman guard Isaiah Johnson, who averages 16.6 points per game.
Arizona freshman Brayden Burries leads the Wildcats with 15.5 points per game.
The interior length of Colorado’s Sebastian Rancic (6-foot-11, 220 pounds) and Vangot Dak (7-foot, 203) will match Arizona’s frontcourt of Motizus Krivas (7-2, 260) and Tove Awaka (6-8, 255).
The Wildcats led the Big 12 in rebounds with 43.2 per game, while Colorado ranked 13th with 34.4.
Awaka averaged 9.6 rebounds per game and Krivas 8.2. Dak has 6.5 per game and Rancik has 5.6.
“Arizona is very good, very well coached and playing hard,” Colorado coach Tad Boyle said. “Our execution has to get better. We can’t give up possessions on offense and we can’t miss rebounds on defense. A possession is never over until we get the board.”
Dak notched his fifth career double-double with a career-high 22 points and 10 rebounds in the Buffaloes’ 92-78 win at Utah on Tuesday.
Johnson also scored 22 points to give him 498 points, 14 off Alec Burks’ Colorado freshman scoring record set in 2009-10.
Reserve center Elijah Malone is the only Colorado senior to be honored on Senior Night.
Arizona celebrated its seniors Monday with a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State in its final home game of the season.
Awaka was one of the seniors honored, as was Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Evan Nelson and Jackson Francois.
Awaka said he will stay focused as he prepares for the game against Colorado after Arizona celebrated its victory over the Cyclones to claim the Big 12 regular season title.
“Obviously we can get rings, cut the net and do it on our home floor, but don’t get carried away with that feeling,” Awaka said. “You still want big things, but this is one of those milestones you’ve been looking forward to since the beginning of the season.
“I think we should encourage ourselves, but we shouldn’t get stuck in the moment.”
–Field level media
