The top two teams in the Big 12 meet again on Championship Weekend.
No. 1 seed Arizona looks to avenge last season’s conference title game loss to the No. 2 seed Houston at the T-Mobile Center in Kansas City.
Conference Player of the Year Jaden Bradley came up clutch against Iowa State on Friday, nailing the game-winning jumper as time expired to help the Wildcats escape with an 82-80 win.
Kelvin Sampson and the Cougars stifling defense smothered Kansas as they advanced following a 69-47 blowout victory over the Jayhawks in their semifinal contest.
The Wildcats are 2.5-point favorites, with the Over/Under set at 137.5 points per BetMGM Sportsbook.
Houston vs. Arizona prediction, best bet
Both teams return three starters from last season’s championship game, along with two fearless freshmen.
Arizona was on the brink several times as its normally lockdown perimeter defense allowed eight threes to Iowa State’s Milan Momcilovic.
Despite gutting out the tough one-possession win and extending their winning streak to eight games, this showing versus the Cyclones showed a few scratches under the hood.
Anthony Dell’Orso delivered 26 points off the bench while Ivan Kharchenkov came up big with 17 points of his own before Bradley closed out the show with his game-winner in the semifinals for the Wildcats.
Koa Peat and Brayden Burries have been instrumental first-year players for the Wildcats, but they each had underwhelming performances in the semis, shooting a combined 2-of-11 from the field.
Although the Wildcats defeated Houston 73-66 back on Feb. 21, this Cougar team is on a five-game winning streak and seems to have refound its identity in March.
Houston absolutely shut down Kansas, allowing only 22 second-half points to the Jayhawks.
Returning starters Milos Uzan, Emanuel Sharp and Joseph Tugler each have plenty of big-game experience, as Uzan’s 25 points in last year’s conference title game sealed a 72-64 win for Houston.
Betting on College Basketball?
Their freshman additions, Kingston Flemings and Chris Cenac Jr., have also been day-one contributors, with Flemings averaging 16.6 points and Cenac averaging 7.6 rebounds per game, each leading the team.
This is a close one to call, but I’m leaning toward Houston avenging their regular-season mishaps to secure back-to-back conference championships.
Coach Sampson is eyeing another Big 12 Tournament title, the fifth in his career, as the Cougars have reached the Tournament final in three consecutive seasons since joining the conference.
Entering today, each team’s defensive efficiency ranks in the top five of both KenPom and Torvik rankings, so a sprinkle on the Under is appealing, but I’m sticking with Houston on the moneyline.
The Play: Houston (+105, BetMGM)
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