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The Arizona Wildcats were one of college basketball’s best teams last season, but they’ve taken a slight dip in the rankings so far this offseason.
The Wildcats enjoyed one of their best all-time seasons in 2025-26, winning a program-high 36 games and posting another program-best .923 winning percentage. The team started 23-0 and was consistently ranked in the top five of the AP Poll, KenPom, and NET rankings for most of the season.
Arizona Wildcats forward Koa Peat (10) looks to shoot Saturday, April 4, 2026, during a Final Four game against the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis. | Grace Hollars/IndyStar / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Their success would carry over into the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats would go on to advance to the Final Four for the first time since 2001. They would then lose to Michigan, missing out on the National Championship game.
Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd shouts toward the court in the first half of their Final Four game against Michigan at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis on Saturday, April 4, 2026. | Eric Seals / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images
Despite the sour ending, the season was still one of the most memorable in the program’s history and the best under Tommy Lloyd’s tenure. However, things are changing for the Wildcats this offseason.
Apr 4, 2026; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd before a semifinal of the Final Four of the men’s 2026 NCAA Tournament against the Michigan Wolverines at Lucas Oil Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images | Robert Deutsch-Imagn Images
Arizona’s Losses
Notably, star freshmen Braden Burries and Koa Peat – arguably Arizona’s two best players last season – are headed for the 2026 NBA Draft, as is senior point guard Jaden Bradley. They’ve gotten Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov to agree to return to the program, but they’ll have work to do to make up for those losses.
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They’ve brought in UNC transfer Derek Dixon, and Washington…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/offseason-departures-hurt-arizonas-preseason-120006410.html
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Publish date : 2026-04-28 12:00:00
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