Lead
On Feb. 10, 2026 at Allen Fieldhouse, No. 9 Kansas upset AP No. 1 Arizona 82-78, handing the Wildcats their first loss of the season. The Jayhawks rallied in the second half despite star guard Darryn Peterson being ruled out less than 30 minutes before tipoff with flu-like symptoms. Freshman Bryson Tiller led Kansas with 18 points and eight rebounds while Motiejus Krivas paced Arizona with 14 points, 15 rebounds and six blocks. The result tightened the Big 12 race and reverberated in national bracket projections.
Key Takeaways
- Kansas defeated No. 1 Arizona 82-78 on Feb. 10, 2026 at Allen Fieldhouse, handing Arizona its first loss after a 23-0 start.
- Darryn Peterson was ruled out shortly before tipoff with flu-like symptoms; this would be his 11th missed game of the season after earlier absences for hamstring/cramping issues.
- Melvin Council Jr. and Flory Bidunga combined for 32 of Kansas’ 39 second-half points, powering the Jayhawks’ comeback.
- Kansas freshman Bryson Tiller finished with 18 points and eight rebounds; Jamari McDowell, starting in Peterson’s place, scored 10 points.
- Arizona center Motiejus Krivas recorded 14 points, 15 rebounds, four assists and six blocks, including seven offensive boards.
- Kansas improved to 19-5 (9-2 Big 12) and extended an eight-game winning streak; Arizona fell to 23-1 (10-1 Big 12).
- The loss has bracket implications: CBS Sports’ Bracketology projected Michigan to move to the No. 1 overall seed in the next update.
- Kansas’ home-Monday streak under Bill Self was noted as extending to 57-0 with the win.
Background
Arizona entered the game on a historic run, opening the season 23-0 — the best start in Big 12 history — and carrying a No. 1 national ranking into Lawrence. The Wildcats’ early-season form had them widely viewed as the team to beat, with Motiejus Krivas and several supporting pieces anchoring a balanced lineup.
Kansas came in as a hot team as well, winners of eight straight after a loss at West Virginia last month, and sitting a game behind Arizona in the conference standings. The matchup had extra intrigue because freshman Darryn Peterson, the projected top pick in the 2026 NBA Draft, was expected to face the nation’s top team; his late scratch changed the narrative and lineup dynamics minutes before tipoff.
The result also carried national stakes. With Selection Sunday roughly a month away, every marquee nonconference and conference clash shifts seeding projections, and an Arizona loss to a conference rival at a hostile venue immediately affected bracket forecasts.
Main Event
Arizona grabbed an early edge, building as much as an 11-point second-half lead and carrying a 45-42 advantage into the break. Krivas was strong on the glass and interior defense throughout, giving Arizona an early physical advantage.
Early in the second half Kansas began chipping away. With Peterson absent, the Jayhawks distributed minutes differently; Jamari McDowell started and provided a scoring lift, while Bryson Tiller maintained his role as a late-game playmaker. Kansas finally took its first lead of the night in the second half and held it the rest of the way.
The game’s decisive stretch belonged to Melvin Council Jr. and Flory Bidunga, who combined for 32 of Kansas’ 39 points after halftime. Council, despite a difficult shooting night overall, continued to attack and find ways to influence the game; Bidunga produced a go-ahead scoring surge inside.
Arizona had multiple chances late but could not overcome Kansas’ second-half run. Krivas finished with a line that included six blocks and 15 rebounds, but Arizona’s supporting scorers were limited in the final minutes. The final buzzer confirmed an 82-78 Kansas victory and Arizona’s first loss of 2025-26.
Analysis & Implications
Patterson’s absence reframed the matchup: a team built around a high-usage freshman star had to rely on depth and role players. Kansas’ ability to replace Peterson’s minutes with a collective effort is a meaningful signal about the Jayhawks’ roster resilience and coaching adjustments. That versatility could influence how selection committees and bracketologists value Kansas’ tournament readiness.
For Arizona, the defeat exposes vulnerability when perimeter scoring dips and the supporting cast is forced to carry added load. Krivas’ dominant rebounding and shot-blocking kept Arizona competitive, but the Wildcats will face a difficult stretch — games against No. 16 Texas Tech, No. 22 BYU and No. 3 Houston among the next three — that will test whether this loss is an anomaly or a turning point.
The national picture shifts incrementally: CBS Sports projected Michigan to ascend to the No. 1 overall seed in the next Bracketology update. Arizona remains firmly in the top seed conversation, but the margin for error in the remaining month of regular season play narrowed considerably. Kansas, which entered the week as a projected No. 3 seed, could move into a higher seed line following this signature win.
Comparison & Data
| Player | Team | Points | Rebounds | Blocks/Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bryson Tiller | Kansas | 18 | 8 | Freshman |
| Flory Bidunga | Kansas | Team-high (second-half surge) | — | Key second-half scoring |
| Motiejus Krivas | Arizona | 14 | 15 | 6 blocks, 7 OR |
The table highlights the principal statistical drivers cited in game coverage. Kansas’ second-half scoring concentration (39 second-half points, 32 from Council/Bidunga) contrasted with Arizona’s reliance on Krivas on the glass. The final margin (4 points) underscores how a mid-game momentum swing and late defensive stops decided the outcome.
Reactions & Quotes
“We didn’t play great. We played wild.”
Bill Self, Kansas head coach (ESPN broadcast)
“Kansas delivered a shocking 82-78 upset over No. 1 Arizona…”
CBS Sports live coverage
Both comments capture distinct perspectives: Self’s candid assessment on his team’s execution and the media framing of the upset’s scale. Postgame commentary emphasized Kansas’ depth and Arizona’s quick schedule turnaround.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Peterson’s illness is contagious to teammates or a seasonal virus beyond ‘flu-like symptoms’ has not been publicly confirmed by Kansas officials.
- Exact individual shooting totals and minute-by-minute lineup adjustments (beyond the starters listed) have not been fully released in an official box score at the time of this report.
- Projected bracket moves (e.g., Kansas to a possible No. 2 seed) remain model-based and subject to change with remaining regular-season games.
Bottom Line
Kansas’ 82-78 upset of No. 1 Arizona at Allen Fieldhouse is both a statement win for the Jayhawks and a meaningful setback for the Wildcats’ previously unblemished run. The Jayhawks demonstrated roster depth and in-game adjustment capacity without Darryn Peterson, while Arizona’s schedule now presents a tougher immediate path to reasserting its top ranking.
In practical terms, the game tightens the Big 12 race — Kansas sits a game behind Arizona in conference standings — and alters national seeding projections as Selection Sunday approaches. The rematch at McKale Memorial Center on Feb. 28 and Arizona’s next three tests (Texas Tech, BYU, Houston) will be crucial to determining whether this result was an upset fluke or the start of a deeper shift in the national pecking order.
Sources
- CBS Sports — live coverage and game recap (media: live updates and analysis)