Back to today’s briefing

Story perspectives

Arizona Wildcats Aim to Bounce Back Against BYU

2/19/2026

46 11 Full Breakdown

Summary

Story summary

The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (23-2) host No. 23 BYU Cougars (19-6) on February 18, 2026, to rebound from two consecutive losses.
Arizona's losses include an overtime defeat to Texas Tech.
BYU carries a season-ending injury to star guard Richie Saunders and has won its last two, including an overtime win against Colorado.
Arizona is favored by 11.5 points.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

History

Historical Context

The 1985 NCAA Basketball Championship saw Villanova, a sixth seed, achieve a historic upset by defeating top-seeded Georgetown 66-64 on April 1. Under coach Rollie Massimino, Villanova's remarkable shooting performance, hitting 78.6% of their shots, remains an NCAA record. This victory marked the first championship for an eighth seed, influencing team strategies and fan expectations in college basketball ever since.

1 of 2

Story summary

The No. 4 Arizona Wildcats (23-2) host No. 23 BYU Cougars (19-6) on February 18, 2026, to rebound from two consecutive losses.
Arizona's losses include an overtime defeat to Texas Tech.
BYU carries a season-ending injury to star guard Richie Saunders and has won its last two, including an overtime win against Colorado.
Arizona is favored by 11.5 points.
The game will be broadcast on ESPN at 9 p.m. ET.

1 / 2