Brayden Burries Earns Big 12 Recognition Following Breakout Game
Freshman guard Brayden Burries took home a Big 12 weekly honor after delivering a career-best scoring performance against Alabama that helped keep Arizona unbeaten.
Arizona pulled away from the Crimson Tide after a sluggish first half, dominating the final 20 minutes to secure a convincing 96–75 win in Birmingham. The Wildcats overwhelmed Alabama with their size, controlling the boards by a 52–32 margin and posting a massive 22–3 advantage in offensive rebounds.
Arizona’s backcourt also made a noticeable impact, particularly from long range. The Wildcats attempted 26 shots from three-point distance and connected on 10, a notable shift for an offense that has largely limited perimeter attempts this season.
A major catalyst for that improvement was Burries, who continued his strong stretch of play with a standout performance against Alabama. His efforts earned him a spot on the Big 12’s weekly “Starting Five,” announced Monday.
Burries Named to Big 12 Starting Five
Burries poured in a career-high 28 points on 11-of-19 shooting, including five made three-pointers. He also contributed seven rebounds, two assists, and a steal, while committing zero turnovers for the first time since the season opener.
Thanks in large part to Burries’ production, Arizona remains undefeated at 9–0 and sits atop the AP Poll. His performance was especially timely with fellow freshman Koa Peat having an off night.
While Burries did not claim Player or Newcomer of the Week honors, his single-game showing was enough to earn a place among the conference’s top performers. Those awards went to Kansas guard Melvin Council Jr., who drilled nine three-pointers and scored 36 points in a win over NC State.
Joining Burries and Council Jr. on the Big 12 Starting Five were BYU’s AJ Dybantsa, Texas Tech’s JT Toppin, and West Virginia’s Honor Huff.
Burries’ offensive production has been trending upward, as he has scored at least 15 points in four consecutive games and is averaging 19.8 points per game during that stretch. While his three-point shot remains a work in progress, his 5-for-10 performance from deep against Alabama marked career highs in both attempts and makes, signaling growing confidence.
This marks the third time an Arizona player has earned a weekly Big 12 honor this season. Peat has previously been recognized twice as Newcomer of the Week and also claimed Player of the Week honors following his 30-point debut against Florida.
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