In Tucson showdown, byu vs arizona shapes up as shorthanded heavyweight test
BYU heads to McKale Center on Wednesday night (ET) to face No. 4 Arizona in a rematch that now carries extra intrigue: the Cougars will be without veteran Richie Saunders after an ACL tear, and the Wildcats will be missing key rotation pieces of their own. The game lands at a pivotal point in both teams' regular seasons and could determine momentum heading into the final stretch.
Saunders out — BYU leans on resilience and depth
The loss of Richie Saunders is a brutal blow for BYU. Saunders, who delivered the clutch free throws in a memorable meeting in Tucson last year, tore his ACL this past weekend and will be sidelined for the immediate future. Coach Kevin Young framed the setback as a challenge he and his team are eager to embrace, praising Saunders' work ethic and leadership and calling for a band-together mentality as the Cougars navigate a difficult finish to the schedule.
BYU is coming off a win over Colorado and a recent stretch that included a four-game skid, a sequence that has tempered some of the preseason optimism about a deep postseason run. Young has leaned into the underdog role, saying he thrives with a back-against-the-wall mindset and expects his players to respond similarly. Practical adjustments will center on replacing Saunders' scoring, rebounding and physical presence — roles that will demand increased minutes from frontcourt depth and more balanced scoring from the backcourt.
Arizona is thin but still dangerous
The Wildcats are not at full strength either. Freshman forward Koa Peat suffered a lower-body injury and will miss Wednesday's game, and wing Dwayne Aristode is sidelined with an illness. Those absences shrink Arizona's available rotation to roughly six regular contributors, a rare situation for a program that has rolled through opponents for much of the season.
Even shorthanded, Arizona's core remains potent. Guards Brayden Burries and Jaden Bradley combined for 55 points in the earlier meeting this season, a reminder that the Wildcats can still explode offensively. Arizona also remains elite on both ends of the floor and typically dominates the glass. Without Peat, power and rebounding duties will shift to players like Tobe Awaka and other frontcourt pieces who thrive on physicality and offensive boards.
Keys to an upset and what to watch
For BYU to pull off an upset on the road, several factors must align. Rebounding will be paramount — BYU matched Arizona on the glass in the previous matchup and must replicate that effort without Saunders. Ball security and free-throw execution will also matter; the earlier games between these teams were decided by thin margins at the stripe and in late-game possessions.
Arizona counters by pushing tempo when it can and attacking mismatches created by the shortened rotation. Look for the Wildcats to lean on guard scoring and to test BYU's interior defense, especially on second-chance opportunities. The three-point line is a potential vulnerability for Arizona, which takes a lower share of shots from deep than many conference peers; teams that can outshoot them from long range and neutralize their rebounding advantage have had success.
Beyond schematic matchups, this game is as much a mental contest as a physical one. BYU will try to convert the emotional energy of rallying for an injured teammate into focused toughness on both ends. Arizona must manage limited minutes and avoid lapses that could magnify fatigue late in the game. Expect a hard-nosed, physical affair that comes down to execution in the final minutes.
Tipoff on Wednesday night (ET) will reveal whether BYU's resilience can overcome the absence of Saunders and whether Arizona's depth issues open the door for a road upset. Either way, this rematch will be a defining marker for both programs as the regular season nears its conclusion.
