Sat Jan 04 20:10:00 UTC 2025: ## Arizona Wildcats Face Brutal Big 12 Road Trip After First Conference Win
**Tucson, AZ** – The Arizona Wildcats opened their Big 12 campaign with a 90-81 victory over TCU, but the honeymoon period is over. Veteran TCU coach Jamie Dixon, who has navigated the highly competitive Big East and ACC, called the Big 12 “the best league in the country,” highlighting the challenges of conference realignment. He noted that the SEC currently outperforms the Big 12 but expects the conference to make a strong showing in the NCAA Tournament.
Arizona, having joined the Big 12 after the Pac-12’s collapse, is quickly learning the ropes. Coach Tommy Lloyd acknowledged the higher level of competition, stating, “There aren’t going to be 20-0 runs. You’re not going to be up 30 at half.”
The Wildcats’ immediate future presents a daunting task: a grueling East Coast road trip. This weekend they’ll face No. 16 Cincinnati, followed by a game against West Virginia – a team that already defeated Arizona in the Bahamas. The trip will test their resilience, both on the court and off, as they face hostile crowds, cold weather, and potential travel disruptions.
Guard KJ Lewis emphasized the need for the Wildcats to maintain their intensity and poise on the road, adapting to a far more competitive environment than the Pac-12. The team is determined to prove themselves in this challenging new league, understanding that maintaining momentum from their win against TCU will be crucial to their success.
First Piper 