Where Arizona men’s basketball ranks in way-too-early top 25 polls

The annual release of way-too-early top 25 rankings the day after the Final Four’s conclusion has begun.

The exercise of ranking teams for the upcoming season immediately following the end of the current season is a futile endeavor, and any serious media member or fan knows it. Most schools are still figuring out who will be on their roster, and with transfer portal activity occurring at a dizzying speed, rosters can change hour to hour, minute to minute.

Arizona is among the majority of teams waiting on decisions from high school recruits or transfers. Most notably, Arizona is one day away from potentially landing a commitment from 5-star combo guard Brayden Burries. If Burries joins the Wildcats, Tommy Lloyd will bring in a top-five recruiting class for the first time in his tenure.

Arizona is also awaiting a decision from freshman wing Carter Bryant of whether he’ll enter the NBA Draft waters or return for a second season. The Wildcats coaching staff will also need to reel in a backup point guard in place of Conrad Martinez and likely another big man as well.

All that’s to say that the following rankings aren’t a reflection of Arizona’s eventual roster. The same goes for the Wildcats’ current odds to win the national title, which per FanDuel Sportsbook are +3000.

Here is where Arizona—which came in at No. 15 in the final Associated Press Top 25—ranks in the first preseason polls of the 2025-26 season. Summaries of Arizona’s outlook are italicized where provided by the author.

ESPN: No. 17

This is another team that probably will have a dramatically different lineup for our next update. The Wildcats need another guard, and they’re targeting five-star recruit Brayden Burries. They could also use another versatile frontcourt player, given that it’s unlikely the trio of Koa Peat, Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas will play together all that much for Tommy Lloyd. Peat is a terrific player, and it won’t be a surprise to see him assume the role as the team’s go-to guy right off the bat.

The Athletic: No. 11

Even with the loss of Henri Veesaar (now at North Carolina), the Wildcats have one of the best and deepest frontcourts in the country with three startable players in Koa Peat, Motiejus Krivas and Tobe Awaka.

Peat is versatile enough to slide to the three and allow coach Tommy Lloyd to go with a giant frontline, but he’s probably better for the offense as a playmaking four. Motiejus Krivas was probably about to have a breakout campaign before a foot injury ended his season in December. Lloyd’s priority now is finding a Caleb Love replacement. The quality of that eventual add could determine whether the Wildcats stay this high, but banking on Lloyd fielding a top-10ish outfit is almost a given at this point.

Sporting News: No. 7

Don’t ask me why 7-footer Henri Veesar would depart after coach Tommy Lloyd developed him through the year and showcased him in the season’s biggest games, and same for guard KJ Lewis. But I can tell you Arizona has back enough talent – and enough on the way in – to paper over their departures.

Sports Illustrated: No. 19

Tommy Lloyd has earned top-four seeds in all four seasons on the job at Arizona. While this roster is far from a finished product, there are some strong pieces to build around here. Elite freshmen Dwayne Aristode and Koa Peat possess game-ready bodies and should be primed for an immediate impact, while Jaden Bradley gives Lloyd a veteran backcourt presence to build around. Older scoring talent looks like a top priority to round out this group.

247 Sports: No. 18

Arizona could get former rotation staples like Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas all back. It has five-star Koa Peat on the way, and Arizona is firmly in the mix for five-star guard Brayden Burries, who is a bucket. Carter Bryant’s stay-or-go decision will loom large, and Arizona probably needs to make another addition to the backcourt from the portal, but the nucleus to build a top-10 defense is very much alive and well.

USA Today: No. 23

The foundation for the Wildcats starts with guard Jaden Bradley, who should be one of the top players in the Big 12. They also return several important role players from the Sweet 16 group, including forwards Tobe Awaka and Carter Bryant and guard Anthony Dell’Orso. Reinforcements will come from prized freshmen Dwayne Aristode and Koa Peat.

Fox Sports: No. 14

On3: No. 22