Brigham Young University (BYU) will look to bounce back from its loss to Kansas when it faces off against Arizona at home on Thursday. The Wildcats, ranked 19th in the AP rankings, have won two of their last three games and boast a strong offense led by Caleb Love.
Despite trailing by as many as 12 points early in the game, BYU mounted a comeback, but ultimately fell short due to its struggling offense. The Cougars will need to improve on their shooting percentage from beyond the arc if they hope to take down the Wildcats.
Arizona’s defense has been solid, with an effective field goal percentage of 50% and rebounding prowess. However, Love’s recent form is a concern, having shot just 4-9 from three in his last game against BYU.
This matchup has all the makings of a tough test for BYU, with Arizona’s size and shooting ability posing challenges on both ends of the court. If BYU can contain Love and limit its own turnovers, it may be able to pull off an upset win.
BYU’s KenPom prediction shows them as 74% underdogs against Arizona, but a strong defensive effort could make for a closer contest than expected. With the Cougars playing some of their best basketball of the season, this game has all the potential to be a thrilling matchup between two top-20 teams.
Source: https://www.vanquishthefoe.com/2025/2/21/24369953/byu-vs-arizona-basketball-preview-chance-at-signature-win-awaits-byu