Arizona Beats Calipari, Arkansas in Sweet 16, Updated Path to March Madness Title

For the first time since 2015, Arizona is headed to the Elite Eight.

The No. 1 Wildcats cruised to a 109-88 win over John Calipari and No. 4 Arkansas in the Sweet 16 of the 2026 NCAA tournament on Thursday night.

Arizona shot 63.8 percent from the field and 5-of-8 from three-point territory as a team, leading by as many as 25 points during the lopsided victory.

The Wildcats will now face Purdue in the Elite Eight as they attempt to clinch their first Final Four appearance since 2001.

Arizona set the tone early in Thursday's contest, opening the game with a 26-15 lead. Arkansas wasn't able to respond, as the Wildcats maintained a double-digit advantage for the majority of the first half and led 54-43 at halftime.

The Razorbacks struggled to stay within striking distance early in the second half, as Arizona pushed its advantage to 74-55 with just under 15 minutes remaining in the game and never looked back.

The Wildcats won with a balanced scoring effort, as six different players scored at least 14 points.

Freshman forward Koa Peat finished with 21 points on 8-of-11 shooting. Peat also recorded three rebounds and two assists.

Wildcats guard Brayden Burries also made an impact with 23 points while connecting on 63.6 percent of his field goals.

Arizona was efficient around the basket throughout the game, scoring 60 points in the paint as a team. Head coach Tommy Lloyd's squad also finished with 14 points off nine Arkansas turnovers.

Razorbacks standout freshman Darius Acuff Jr. scored 28 points in the defeat, but shot 8-of-19 from the field and 1-of-5 from three-point territory.

Arizona now enters the Elite Eight with plenty of momentum, as all three of the team's 2026 March Madness victories have contained a double-digit final margin.