The Arizona Wildcats are heading into their final regular-season series at Oklahoma State, but their path to the Big 12 Tournament is looking like a long shot. While not mathematically eliminated, the Wildcats (18-32, 8-19 Big 12) need a near-perfect weekend—winning at least two games, if not sweeping the Cowboys—while hoping for losses from Kansas State or Texas Tech. Those teams hold tiebreakers over Arizona, meaning the Wildcats must finish ahead of them to sneak into the tourney next week in Surprise.

"We put ourselves in a tough spot," head coach Chip Hale said after what might have been the final practice of the season at Hi Corbett Field. "We know what we have to do—it's just win, and we have to get some help. But all we can control is our game."

While making the Big 12 Tournament remains a slim goal, the bigger mission this weekend is building momentum for 2027. The Cowboys (34-18, 16-11) are red-hot, winning eight of their last nine conference games, including taking two of three from Arizona State last weekend. They're playing for a potential regional host bid, making this no easy task for the Wildcats.

It would be easy for Arizona to coast through the motions, but Hale expects his team to fight. "Let's just worry about winning the first pitch of the game," he said. "But I also want to set the tone for next year's group—how hard we play and that we don't give up. For the most part, we haven't given up this year. We've had tough situations, but the guys keep the energy up. They play hard for me."

Arizona has only won one Big 12 series this season (taking two of three at TCU) while being swept in two others. Each weekend, there's been at least one game they had a chance to win but couldn't close out—like the series opener at first-place Kansas two weeks ago, or last weekend's 13-inning marathon against Houston. A victory this weekend could provide a spark, even if postseason hopes are dim.