Arizona freshman standout Ivan Kharchenkov has adjusted nicely to the college basketball landscape since coming from overseas before this season.

While Brayden Burries and Koa Peat have taken a lot of the attention as the star freshmen talents of the #1-ranked Wildcats, Kharchenkov cannot be forgotten as well. The 6-foot-7 forward from Germany is averaging 9.4 pounds, and 3.3 rebounds per game as a freshman this season.

Prior to joining Arizona before this season, Kharchenkov had played in the EuroLeague since he was 16. In the 2024-25 season, he helped Bayern Munich earn the Bundesliga championship.

Now making the transition to college basketball in America, Kharchenkov has had no problem adjusting to the pace, and physicality of the Big 12. He has been a key figure for Arizona as they currently remain undefeated at 21-0, and are the nation’s top team in not just the AP Poll, but also KenPom, and NET rankings, making them the unanimous choice for the country’s best team by the most respected metrics. 

Overseas basketball has been brought to prominence thanks to the passion, and hardcore fandom by the fanbases in the leagues. Rivalry games in particular show plenty of intensity, so Kharchenkov is no stranger to big games with tons of animosity. 

Kharchenkov’s thoughts

In light of Arizona’s thrilling victory over the #13 BYU Cougars, Kharchenkov was asked recently about the difference between playing overseas, and playing college basketball in the United States.

• “It’s definitely a little bit different,” Kharchenkov said. “In Europe, derby games are a little bit more harsh, like in language. Here, they’re kind of nicer, but the hate itself is a little bit bigger. Both are good, I like this one more because it’s a little more correct, and more sportsmanlike.”

Kharchenkov’s composure in big games must be contagious, as the Wildcats have excelled in big-time matchups this season. They’ve earned themselves six wins over ranked teams this season, are 9-0 in Quad 1 games, and 3-0 in Quad 2, giving them an already impressive resume with the NCAA Tournament still over a month away. 

They’ll look to continue their incredible season as the schedule now enters the stretch run heading into the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats currently look like potentially the most dangerous team in all of college basketball, and the fact that they are led by several freshmen makes them a truly unique team capable of earning the second national title in program history. 

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CHANDLER, AZ — He thought he was ready to walk away, but his customers had other plans.

After nearly three decades in restaurants, the owner of a beloved South Chandler burrito shop, Rita’s Burritos, decided it was time for a new chapter and announced he was closing for good.

What happened next stunned him.

Within hours, his phone lit up nonstop with texts, calls, and messages from a community that wasn’t ready to say goodbye.

The overwhelming response didn’t just save a restaurant; it reignited a passion.

In the video player above, ABC15’s Cameron Polom shows how a neighborhood rallied around a small business owner to make a big impact.

Three cases of measles have been confirmed among federal immigration detainees in Arizona, according to health officials.

The Pinal County Public Health Services District on Jan. 16 reported its first measles case in a decade and has since confirmed two more. All three cases “are associated with individuals in federal custody,” Pinal County Public Health Services District spokesperson Jassmin Castro wrote in a Jan. 27 email to Arizona Republic, part of the USA TODAY Network.

The potential outbreak comes as migrants in other detention centers in the United States describe sick children and a lack of health care resources while inside, and cases of the measles are on the rise in other states.

More details on the confirmed cases of measles in Arizona

Pinal County is located in the central part of Arizona between the cities of Tucson and Phoenix.

Castro would not say whether the confirmed cases are linked. Congregate settings such as jails and prisons are vulnerable to outbreaks if not enough people are vaccinated and public health protocols aren’t followed.

Castro would not provide other details about infected individuals, including detention facilities and locations, “in order to protect patient privacy and comply with medical confidentiality laws.” But the Department of Homeland Security confirmed in a Jan. 27 email to The Arizona Republic that at least one case was a Mexican citizen being held at the Florence Detention Center in central Arizona.

The DHS email also stated that ICE Health Services Corp. “immediately took steps to quarantine and control further spread and infection, ceasing all movement within the facility and quarantining all individuals suspected of making contact with the infected.”

Officials with ICE did not immediately respond to The Arizona Republic on Jan. 27. At this time, the overall risk to the general public is low, Castro wrote.

More news: Nation’s measles-free status in jeopardy. How doctors are handling it.

Measles cases on the rise in Arizona and nationwide

The Pinal County cases are part of an overall spike in measles cases in Arizona. There have been 25 in Arizona to date in 2026: three in Pinal County, three in Maricopa County, two in Pima County, and 17 in Mohave County. The Mohave County cases are part of an outbreak on the Arizona-Utah border that has been ongoing since August 2025.