Ever since Arizona joined the Big 12 Conference, fans have mostly talked about basketball. That makes sense because Arizona basketball is still the biggest brand in Tucson. But this new private equity deal with RedBird Capital could quietly become one of the most important moments for Arizona athletics in years. The interesting part is not even the money itself. It is what Arizona could do with it. While schools like Brigham Young University and the University of Houston are reportedly backing away from the deal because they do not want to take on extra debt, Arizona honestly feels like the type of school that should seriously consider taking the risk. Michigan Wolverines guard Roddy Gayle Jr. (11) reacts Saturday, April 4, 2026, after a dunk during a Final Four game against the Arizona Wildcats at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Christine Tannous/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images The reality is, Arizona is entering a completely different world now. The Big 12 is not the Pac-12.…