Date: Saturday, Feb. 28, 2026
Tipoff: 3 p.m. CST
Location: McKale Center (Tucson, Arizona)
TV: ESPN
Play-by-Play: Jon Sciambi
Analyst: Fran Fraschilla
Radio: Jayhawk Sports Network
Betting Line: Kansas +9.5 (FanDuel)
Vitals
No. 14 Kansas men's basketball heads to Tucson on Saturday for one of its biggest tests of the season, facing No. 2 Arizona at McKale Center with first place in the Big 12 within reach.
The Jayhawks (21-7, 11-4) are coming off a statement 69-56 win over No. 5 Houston on Big Monday, responding once again after a loss under coach Bill Self. Kansas has won seven straight games following a defeat this season and will try to carry that momentum into a hostile road environment.
Arizona (26-2, 13-2) has won three straight, including an 87-80 victory at Baylor earlier this week. The Wildcats sit alone atop the conference standings, two games ahead of a four-team pack that includes Kansas.
The last time these teams met, Kansas handed Arizona its first loss of the season, an 82-78 decision in Allen Fieldhouse on Feb. 9. Saturday offers the Wildcats a chance at revenge, and the Jayhawks another opportunity to strengthen their postseason résumé.
Kansas will lean on its defense, which has been among the nation’s best at limiting opponents’ shooting, along with interior presence from Flory Bidunga and steady guard play from Tre White and Melvin Council Jr.
Tipoff is set for 3 p.m. Central on ESPN. Kansas wraps up its road trip Tuesday at Arizona State.
Kansas head coach Bill Self Quotables:
Q: What have you seen from Arizona lately?
Bill Self: They had a great win last night. Baylor played great and led most of the game. I watched a good part of it and then watched it on tape this morning.
Bradley made five threes, and without some of their guys, they are playing smaller. Without Koa, they are playing Kharchenkov at the four quite a bit. Dell'Orso has been great in a higher-minute role. They are redistributing minutes and still playing very well.
They have not been at full strength, but since the Texas Tech game when Johnson got hurt, they have beaten BYU at home and won at Houston and at Baylor. That is impressive.
Projected Starting Lineups
Kansas Jayhawks
Flory Bidunga
Tre White
Melvin Council Jr.
Bryson Tiller
Darryn Peterson
Arizona Wildcats
Brayden Burries
Jaden Bradley
Motiejus Krivas
Ivan Kharchenkov
Tobe Awaka
*Koa Peat (Probable)
Injury Report:
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