When the NBA releases its 82-game schedule every year, teams often look for what are called "schedule losses". In order for the NBA to squeeze in far too many regular season games into its bloated schedule they have to send teams on the road playing playing three games in four days, often ending with back-to-back games.
The second game in those back-to-back nights are often called "schedule losses" as teams generally "load manage" their stars, put fatigued players on the court, and basically take the L.
"Schedule losses" don't happen very often in college basketball, especially in conference play when Big 12 teams normally play two games per week separated by three or four days.
But for some strange reason, the Big 12 schedule makers decided to have BYU play rival Utah on Saturday, then No. 1 Arizona on Monday, just two days later.
Yes, both of BYU's games against Utah and Arizona are at home, but it's a weird schedule. The rhythm is off. Players won't have their traditional time to rest and recuperate. Coaches won't have their traditional time for game planning and preparation, especially with a Sunday being the only downtime between the Utah and Arizona games.
And the same goes for Arizona. The Wildcats hosted West Virginia on Saturday and obliterated the Mountaineers 88-53, only to then have to immediately travel to Provo.
In what should be perhaps the marquee game of the Big 12 season, we're probably going to see two teams struggle to fire on all cylinders in this one.
This will be BYU's biggest opportunity to show they can win the Natty
The 2025-26 BYU Cougars are very good. That's beyond question for a 17-2 team that's ranked just outside the Top 10.
But are they great?
That question will be answered as they host the No. 1 team in the country, 20-0 Arizona. BYU's only two losses on the season were to UConn by two points in the Huskies backyard in Boston. They also fell on the road to No. 12 Texas Tech.
This matchup with Arizona is a marquee game with major Big 12 conference implications, and it's at home. This is BYU's golden opportunity to show the basketball world they can win the NCAA Tournament.
But in order to notch that statement win, the Cougars are going to have to contain deep, balanced Arizona team that attacks from all angles.
While the Cougars rely on their Big Three of AJ Dybantsa, Richie Saunders, and Robert Wright III for nearly all of its offense, the Wildcats have something BYU lacks: Depth.
Arizona has six players averaging somewhere between about 10 and 15 points per game. They are led by two outstanding freshmen in forward Koa Peat and guard Brayden Burries. But supplementing that youth are upperclassmen like senior guard Jaden Bradley, bruising senior big man Tobe Awaka, and 7-foot-2 junior center Motiejus Krivas who all average double-digit points per game.
Arizona's size and rebounding will be a problem for the Cougars. Awaka is similar to BYU's Keba Keita in that he plays much bigger than his height, averaging nearly 10 rebounds per game. Then throw in 7-foot-2 center Motiejus Krivas, who averages over eight rebounds per game, and BYU is going to have its hands full keeping the Wildcats off the glass.
While Arizona's size doesn't portend well for the Cougars, it's possible the Wildcats two outstanding but relatively inexperienced freshmen -- Peat and Burries -- could get rattled in an electric environment like the Marriott Center. The Wildcats could have some tired legs, too, going on the road to play their second game in three days.
Because of the odd scheduling, expect both teams to come out sluggish. Expect a lot of missed shots. Expect the team that controls the glass and scores in the paint to win this game, and with that criteria I give a slight edge to the Wildcats.