Arizona secures Big 12 championship in what felt like a dress rehearsal

Arizona clinched an outright Big 12 title with a 73-57 win over Iowa State at McKale Center, and coach Tommy Lloyd framed the celebration as a step toward postseason goals.

Arizona clinched an outright Big 12 championship with a 73-57 win over No. 6 Iowa State at McKale Center in Tucson. The victory was marked by on-court celebrations, Senior Day ceremonies and a band playing “We Are the Champions.” Coach Tommy Lloyd emphasized staying focused on the present and on process rather than getting ahead of expectations. The program and its fans view the conference title as the opening phase of the team’s pursuit in March. Key details: - Arizona defeated Iowa State 73-57 to lock up the outright Big 12 title at McKale Center. - The team celebrated on the floor with ladders under the rims, black T-shirts and fan interaction after the game. - Arizona entered the game 28-2 overall and 15-2 in Big 12 play and will finish the regular season at Colorado on Saturday. - Coach Tommy Lloyd repeatedly stressed a possession-by-possession focus and shared an anecdote from his Gonzaga days about avoiding getting ahead of himself. - Freshmen Koa Peat (lower leg) and Dwayne Aristode (illness) returned to the lineup; Jaden Bradley scored 17 points and five others had at least eight. - Arizona limited Iowa State to 29.2 percent shooting and made six 3-pointers in the game despite a season-long low volume of 3-point attempts (about 16.6 per game, ranked 354th nationally). Summary: The win secures Arizona an outright conference championship and serves as a milestone ahead of the postseason. The Wildcats will complete the regular season at Colorado on Saturday, then enter the Big 12 Tournament, followed by the NCAA Tournament. Observers and the program emphasize staying focused on process as the team moves into March play.