WACO, Texas — In nine previous games, even including a two-point win over Pepperdine, you could argue that Arizona really hadn’t been tested until it traveled to Baylor on Saturday.
The Wildcats played six straight games at home to start, with marquee visitors such as Illinois (6-3) and New Mexico State (5-5) not quite as strong as expected and plus-300 Kenpom teams San Jose State and NAU also visiting McKale Center.
Then there was the relatively weak field and empty atmosphere of the Wooden Legacy, with “name” teams Providence (5-5) and Wake Forest (5-5) stuck in mediocrity, and Arizona actually struggling the most with the midmajor Waves of Malibu.