The University of Arizona men’s basketball team (10-5, 4-0 in Big 12) prepares to host No. 25 Baylor University (11-4, 3-1 in Big 12) on Tuesday, Jan. 14 at 9 p.m. in McKale Center.
The Wildcats are currently on a six-game win streak after battling the University of Central Florida on Jan. 11 where Arizona came on top, 88-80. Arizona looks to remain undefeated heading into the matchup against the Bears.
History vs. Baylor
Arizona and Baylor have met 10 previous times in program history, with an even 5-5 record. The first meeting between the Bears and the Wildcats took place on Dec. 18, 1947, with Arizona securing a 62-54 win against Baylor in Bear Down Gym. Over time, the two schools traded wins and losses, resulting in the current tied record, which will change after Tuesday’s matchup.
The Wildcats last faced the Bears on Dec. 7, 2019, resulting in a 63-58 loss for Arizona. They aim to redeem themselves as they host Baylor.
Baylor players to watch
The Bears are led by head coach Scott Drew, who is entering his 22nd season with Baylor. Hired in 2003, Drew is tied as the Big 12’s longest-tenured head coach, holding a 444 victory school-record in his first 21 years. Additionally, he has held a 30-12 postseason record since 2009.
Drew has helped lead Baylor to much success. Seen especially in 2021, when Drew led the program to its first National Championship and first Big 12 title in school history. The Bears are coming off back-to-back wins, with their most recent victory being a 72-66 overtime win against ASU on Jan. 11. Notably, it was Baylor’s first road win of the season.
Josh Ojianwuna recorded his fourth career double-double and third in his last five games after contributing 12 points and a career-high 17 rebounds over ASU. In his last seven games, Ojianwuna has averaged 11.4 points and 8.9 rebounds for the Bears. A 6-foot-10 forward, Ojianwuna averages 8.3 points, 7.3 rebounds and 1.1 steals per game.
Norchad Omier is another double-double threat for Baylor at 6-foot-7, the forward averages 15.9 points and 10.6 boards per game. In a recent 68-48 victory against the University of Cincinnati on Jan. 7, Omier recorded his NCAA-leading 76th career double-double and his eighth of the season. He put up 18 points on 7-for-9 shooting from the field and 10 rebounds against the Bearcats to help lead Baylor.
Along with leading in points and rebounding, Omier also contributes 1.8 assists, 1.1 blocks and 1.5 steals per game.
Wildcats to watch
Through the six straight wins the Wildcats have collected, Caleb Love remains the leading scorer for Arizona as the University of North Carolina transfer averages 15.8 points, 4.5 rebounds and three assists per game. In Arizona’s most recent victory over UCF, Love led the Wildcats with 18 points, shooting 4-of-7 from 3-point range.
Love shoots 40.3 percent from the field and has put up 20 or more points in five games this season, including a 33-point game against TCU not too long ago on Dec. 30, 2024. The fifth-year 6-foot-4 guard spent three seasons as a Tarheel before coming to Arizona, where he has continued to develop his game all around.
Anthony Dell’Orso, another talented guard to watch for, has put up a combined 25 points in his last two games. Against UCF, Dell’Orso was the Wildcats’ second-leading scorer, putting up 15 points, three assists and one steal, while going perfect 9-for-9 from the free throw line.
Prior to Arizona, Dell’Orso played his first two seasons of college basketball at Campbell University. There, as a Camel, he earned Second-Team All-CAA as a sophomore and was named 2023 Big South Conference Freshman of the year. In his 2023-2024 season with Campbell, Dell’Orso shot an impressive 49.25 percent from the field and 38 percent from beyond the arc. Playing in his junior season as a Wildcat, Dell’Orso averages 9.1 points, 1.7 rebounds and 1.4 assists per game.
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