Arizona Wildcats vs Utah Utes Picks and Predictions February 26th 2025

Under New Leadership, Utah Visits No. 22 Arizona

The upcoming Arizona–Utah game took on an extra element of drama Monday when the Utes announced that fourth-year coach Craig Smith was relieved of his duties.

Assistant coach Josh Eilert takes over as interim head coach for the Utes (15-12, 7-9 Big 12), beginning with Wednesday night’s matchup against No. 22 Arizona (18-9, 12-4) in Tucson, Ariz.

“After evaluating our program under Craig’s leadership, I believe a change is needed to get us to where we want to go,” Utah athletic director Mark Harlan said. “The time is now to begin that process, and we will surround Coach Eilert, the staff, and our student-athletes with support as they continue with their season.”

Despite coming off a 76-72 loss at UCF on Sunday, the Utes have exceeded preseason expectations. Utah was picked last in the Big 12 but has secured key wins over then-No. 17 Kansas and Kansas State.

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The Utes, however, have never reached the NCAA Tournament under Smith, posting a 65-62 record during his tenure.

Arizona Aiming to Rebound

Arizona enters Wednesday’s game looking to recover from a heartbreaking last-second home loss to BYU on Saturday. It was the Wildcats’ third loss in four games.

Caleb Love led Arizona with 27 points, including two free throws with 13 seconds left to briefly give his team the lead. However, BYU’s Richie Saunders responded with game-winning free throws with 3.2 seconds remaining.

“It’s the Big 12. That’s what I’m told,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said. “But step back. They scored (94 other) points on our home court — that’s the problem. Me and my staff, my players, that’s the problem — not the officials.”

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Arizona remains in a strong position for a top-four finish in the Big 12, which would earn the Wildcats two byes in the conference tournament. They currently lead fourth-place Iowa State by one game and BYU by two.

Key Players to Watch

Love leads Arizona with 16.2 points per game and remains the focal point of the Wildcats’ offense.

For Utah, Gabe Madsen is the team’s leading scorer, averaging 15.8 points per game. The Utes will need a strong effort from him to stay competitive in Tucson.

Can Utah Rally Under New Leadership?

With a coaching change and postseason hopes still alive, Utah faces a tough road challenge against an Arizona squad determined to get back on track.

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