Kansas Jayhawks vs. Arizona Wildcats Picks and Prediction for Saturday, February 28, 2026

By: Jake Allman Published 02/28/2026, 02:45 AM ET

The No. 14 Kansas Jayhawks head to Tucson to face the No. 2 Arizona Wildcats at 4:00 PM ET on ESPN in a major Big 12 showdown. Arizona sits at 26-2 overall and 13-2 in conference play, while Kansas comes in at 21-7 and 11-4 in the league. DraftKings lists Arizona as an 8.5-point favorite with a total of 146.5, and ESPN’s matchup predictor gives the Wildcats an 81.1 percent win probability. Slam dunk your bets with our College Basketball picks.

Kansas Preview

Kansas enters after a 69-56 win over Houston and already owns an 82-78 win over Arizona on February 9. Bill Self’s group averages 76.6 points per game while allowing 68.2. Flory Bidunga anchors the interior with 14.3 points, 9.2 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks per game while shooting 65.6 percent from the field. Darryn Peterson adds 19.5 points on 47.2 percent shooting and 40.5 percent from three, giving Kansas perimeter balance. The Jayhawks shoot 46.9 percent as a team and grab 38.5 rebounds per game, but turnovers sit at 10.6 per contest, which becomes critical against Arizona’s pressure.

Arizona Preview

Arizona has been dominant offensively, scoring 87.2 points per game on 50.3 percent shooting. Brayden Burries leads with 15.5 points per game, while Jaden Bradley contributes 13.9 points and 4.7 assists. Tobe Awaka controls the glass with 9.6 rebounds, and Arizona averages 43.2 boards as a team. The Wildcats also force activity defensively with 8.1 steals per game and hold opponents to 68.9 points. Tommy Lloyd’s squad has won three straight, including road victories at Baylor and Houston, showing toughness away from McKale Memorial Center.

Arizona vs Kansas Prediction

The matchup comes down to tempo and efficiency. Arizona averages over 10 more points per game and shoots over 50 percent from the field, while Kansas relies more on half-court execution and interior scoring. Kansas won the first meeting by four, but Arizona’s rebounding edge of nearly five boards per game could swing the rematch at home.

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Arizona’s offensive efficiency and depth give the Wildcats the edge in Tucson. Kansas keeps it competitive behind Bidunga and Peterson, but Arizona’s pace and scoring balance create separation late.

Pick: Arizona -8.5 Final Score Prediction: Arizona 82, Kansas 72

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