For just the fifth time in program history, the Arizona Wildcats are 12-0 to begin a season. Arizona defeated Bethune-Cookman 107-71 in the second half of a McKale Center double header featuring the Women’s basketball team earlier in the day. This is the first time the Wildcats have begun a season 12-0 since the 2014-15 season. Arizona now has seven wins by 20+ points or more. The Wildcats will begin conference play soon, in what appears to be the deepest conference college basketball has seen in a long time.

Brayden Burries Burried Bethune

Arizona’s five-star combo guard Brayden Burries has found his stride at the college level and has begun to come into his own. On Monday night, he had 20 points, four rebounds and four assists. Over his last seven games Burries is averaging 18.4 points per contest. The breakout for Burries continued versus Bethune-Cookman, specifically in the second half where he put up 18 points on 6-7 shooting.

Burries’ ability to get down hill and hit open shots from the perimeter has really unlocked an already lethal Arizona offense. It stands to reason that as Burries gains more experience he will only become a more dangerous scorer and the turnovers he continues to focus on will subside.

Tony Padilla In Town For The Holidays

Referees, the best ones at least, are there to keep the game fair and under control. Many times, fans cannot name even one referee on the court. Unless, that ref has made a series of decisions in a variety of games that were so egregiously incorrect or odd that fans have no choice but to remember their name.

Tony Padilla is a name nearly all Arizona basketball fans associate with bad calls and mid-game hijinks.

Last year it was the Richie Saunders ghost foul he called to hand BYU the game, this year it seems to have been ejecting freshman reserve Mabil Mawut with a quick double technical foul for seemingly going too far with his gestures and communication from the bench. Padilla also failed to properly asses the awarded technical free throws, allowing the incorrect Heady brother to shoot for Bethune-Cookman, before his error was corrected.

Fans knew as soon as Padilla was announced as a referee for the game that they would be talking about at least one of his calls in the fallout of the game and… here we are.

Big 12 Play Looms Large For Arizona

Arizona will go on a brief holiday break with their families before getting back to the grind December 29 when they take on South Dakota State at home. That game will serve as the final primer for Big 12 play, as Arizona then heads to Utah to face first-year head coach Alex Jensen and the Utes who are currently 8-4.

The Big 12 is the deepest conference in the country right now. Ten Big 12 teams were either ranked or received votes in the most recent AP Poll. Arizona seems to be the best of the bunch, but they don’t award the Big 12 title in December.

To keep up with Big 12 play and the Arizona Wildcats, tune into the AZ Wildcats Podcast with Damon Fairall and Kevin Thomas.