Arizona Vs Cincinnati 🏀 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 1/21/26 at 7pm FS 1

[WILD]

Arizona Vs Cincinnati 🏀 Game Preview/Discussion Thread 1/21/26 at 7pm FS 1

As No. 1 Arizona (18–0, 5–0 Big 12) prepares to host the Cincinnati Bearcats (10–8, 2–3 Big 12) this week at McKale Center, the Wildcats enter as one of the most dominant teams in college basketball. Arizona is the unanimous No. 1 team in the AP Poll, remaining undefeated and ranking among the nation's elite offensively at 90.6 points per game, while allowing just 66.2 points defensively. The Wildcats' balance has been a key to their success, led by Jaden Bradley, who is averaging 14.1 points per game and nearly 16 points per game in Big 12 play, earning conference weekly honors. Koa Peat has also emerged as a consistent scorer, averaging 14.7 points per game, as Arizona continues to overwhelm opponents with depth and tempo.

Cincinnati arrives in Tucson looking to gain momentum in Big 12 play after showing the ability to compete with top-tier opponents. The Bearcats pulled off a statement win earlier this month with a 79–70 upset of then-No. 2 Iowa State, showcasing their defensive intensity and physicality. Day Day Thomas leads Cincinnati's backcourt and scored 19 points in that win, while forward Baba Miller has been a force inside, averaging 13.2 points and 10.8 rebounds per game. Miller's double-double production anchors Cincinnati on both ends of the floor and will be central to their effort against Arizona's frontcourt.

Arizona has controlled the short series history, winning all five previous meetings, including a 72–67 road victory at Cincinnati last season. That matchup required Arizona to withstand a second-half rally, something that has prepared this year's team for pressure situations. Statistically, the Wildcats hold the edge in scoring efficiency, rebounding, and assist rate, but Cincinnati's ability to slow the game and create physical matchups gives them a chance to stay competitive. With McKale Center providing one of college basketball's toughest home environments, Arizona will look to protect its perfect record while Cincinnati aims to prove it can challenge the nation's top team.

Let's talk about the Wildcats Vs Bearcats! 

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[Cactus🌵Cat]

Doesn't even bother to remove the ChatGPT prompt out of the posting SMDH.

[arxpert]

Cincy backed up their high Defensive Ranking Nationally tonight. We needed this wake up call. I am increasingly worrying how we will handle the WVU matchup coming next. WVU dominated ASU who gave us all we could handle.

We were atrocious from the FT line. Something I am used to under Tommy.
We were atrocious from 3pt land. Something I am used to under Tommy with the caveat we aren't really trying to hit 3's this year and our % is normally better than tonight's

This is one of the worst games we have played in a long time.

Commentators got it all wrong saying that no one has taken us to the limit... maybe 5 teams have taken us down into Crunch Time and we pulled out the wins. It has just been long enough for anyone to remember.

It is always better to learn these lessons when we can WIN the game...

Not seeing enough growth out of Aristode to be perfectly honest and reasonable.

The Bearded Deli was fun while it lasted, but he hasn't been good in a long time. I think Aristode deserves more minutes.

Also I think Sidi Gueye deserves minutes too. The kid is freakishly athletic. I don't know what his plan is overall, but I do hope he stays for Next Season no matter who stays or goes to the Draft.

We finally have actual players who could theoretically stay here and continue to improve. They don't NEED to bolt for NIL nor Opportunity.

But I do wonder why Tommy has no interest in Sidi. He could prove to be an important player at some point. Every game it seems like Koa, Krivas, Awaka are getting slapped with 2 or 3 cheapie fouls. Even Bradley.

Somehow we persevere unlike anything I have seen. Even the "Bash" Brandon Ashley Season was one where we had high expectations to perform. This is not like that. This is something different.

Credit to Tommy for assembling some of this formula that didn't look like a big deal Preseason, but actually is a Very big deal IRL now. Like "Karen"chov. That kid is a master Pest and Instigator with some knack for knowing how to Flop (maybe experience in the Euro Leagues), but he also has a ton of Pride and Toughness.

He has a really wide body and is able to put in those layups nicely with a strong base.

Mo Krivas (Nickelodeon Guts... "MO!!!") has been really carrying this team over the last few games. I am coming to appreciate his confidence as well as his MOTOR. Yes, I said it. Motor. He gave us 30 minutes tonight and didn't seem gassed out. Perhaps the pace Cincy played lended to that being possible as opposed to his normal 20-23-25 minutes. But he really did put the team on his back when we needed it. We were Cold and Krivas hit a little Push and Hook Shot to get us going again.

SloMO may end up a term of endearment, being Methodical with the ball is a Good thing.

Going forward vs WVU, we really need to take guarding the perimeter seriously. When a player is Hot, Tommy can't keep letting them go off until they get cold. Some day when it matters, they will not get cold or they will take a final type shot and hit it as a result of compounded confidence. I want to see Tommy snatch more souls.

This score should help our Defensive Rankings, but I think Cincy just Bricked a ton of shots. Maybe got a bit desperate at times too. We played a solid game in the end. Somehow still won by 26 points. Strange overall. But Tommy made some halftime adjustments and around 13min left in the 2nd we went on our "Run".

Hopefully we can stop WVU on Saturday and gear up for our biggest revenge game on our slate @BYU for the "Tony Padilla Screw Job" last year.

Fair Criticisms, Due Credit.

This Serves as a Tommy Appreciation Post

ONWARD AND UP
BEARDOWN

[|ᴘ|ʀ|ʏ|ᴍ|ᴇ|]

That's a lot of words. Is there a condensed version?

[KansasCityCats]

You're accustomed to a coach that doesn't teach FT's, 3's and doesn't deserve credit for defensive intensity...yet it's an "appreciation post"?

Cincy is one of the best defensive teams in the country. They have a couple future NBA prospects on the roster, in addition to a 7'2" center, who was a non-factor.

Despite missing 8 FT's, Arizona beat Cincy by 26...the same team who took down #2 Iowa State. 6 turnovers is extremely impressive, considering our opponent.

WVU did not dominate assu. They were losing at the half and Eaglestaff got hot during their late run.

Sidi is an amazing athlete but when he steps on the court, he is clearly raw. Ball handling, vision and footwork need to improve before he earns serious minutes. For now, he's a nice backup, if Mo gets into foul trouble.

[arxpert]

That's a lot of words. Is there a condensed version?

You can take it to A.I. and ask it to put this into X amount of words for you, but I would say that you are only cheating yourself in doing so

[Cactus🌵Cat]