Hold onto your hats, basketball fans, because the Arizona Wildcats are on fire! In a stunning display of dominance, Arizona crushed Abilene Christian 96-62, extending their undefeated streak to 10-0 this season. But here's where it gets even more impressive: this marks the fifth consecutive win by 20 or more points, a feat the Wildcats haven't achieved since the 2010-11 season's opening games. And this is the part most people miss—this 10-game winning streak is the second-longest under head coach Tommy Lloyd, who took the helm before the 2021-22 season. His longest streak? An 11-game winning start to that very season.
From the opening tip-off, Arizona set the pace and never looked back. They shot an astonishing 66.7% from the field in the first half, building a commanding 20-point lead by halftime. The Wildcats controlled the game for nearly the entire 40 minutes, stretching their lead to a whopping 34 points in the second half. Freshman Brayden Burries continued his breakout season, leading the team with 20 points on an efficient 9-of-11 shooting. Motiejus Krivas added 15 points and seven rebounds, showcasing his dominance in the paint with a perfect 4-for-4 field goal performance. Ivan Kharchenkov contributed 11 points and five rebounds, and Arizona's depth shone as six players scored in double figures.
The Wildcats' dominance wasn't just on the scoreboard—they owned the paint with a 44-22 advantage and pushed the tempo for 26 fast-break points. Jaden Bradley chipped in 10 points and a team-high seven rebounds, going a flawless 10-for-10 from the free-throw line. Koa Peat added 10 points, five rebounds, and three assists, rounding out a well-balanced attack. Abilene Christian's Cbo Newton led his team with 17 points, but the Wildcats' stifling defense held the visitors to just 35.7% shooting and limited them to only six made 3-pointers.
Arizona's offensive rhythm never wavered, as they shot over 68% in the second half, finishing the game with a remarkable 30-of-45 field goal performance and 78.9% from the free-throw line. The convincing victory was celebrated by 13,092 fans at McKale Center. But here's the controversial question: Can Arizona maintain this level of dominance against tougher opponents later in the season? With their next game against San Diego State on Saturday, December 20th, at 8:30 pm MST in Phoenix (live on ESPN 2), the Wildcats will face a tougher test. Will they continue their unbeaten streak, or will the competition finally catch up? Let us know your thoughts in the comments—are the Wildcats the real deal, or is this streak too good to last?
