Why Arizona can – and can’t – win a national championship in 2026-27

Tommy Lloyd and the Arizona Wildcats broke through in 2025-26, making it to the Final Four for the first time since 2001, before a brutal second half against eventual champion Michigan ended their season.

While the loss of star freshmen Koa Peat and Brayden Burries – as well as Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley – certainly stings, Lloyd and his staff put together a team that, on paper, looks more than capable of getting back to the Final Four and competing for a national title in 2026-27.

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It was 25 years between Final Four appearances for Arizona, but there’s a real chance this streak doesn’t even make it to one. Below is a look at why the Wildcats can make it back to the final weekend, and a few things they’ll need to address in order to get there:

Why Arizona can win a national championship

A loaded frontcourt

Feb 7, 2026; Lawrence, Kansas, USA; Arizona Wildcats center Motiejus Krivas (13) | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

The list of frontcourts in college basketball that are as deep, experienced, and talented as Arizona’s is a very, very short one. While the dream of convincing star freshman Koa Peat to return to Tucson died in late May, Arizona did manage to secure another year of star center Motiejus Krivas, who averaged 10.4 points, 8.2 rebounds, and 1.9 blocks as a full-time starter last year.

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Then, after months of searching, Tommy Lloyd finally found his Peat replacement at power forward in RJ Godfrey, a very strong 6’7 big man who put up 12.0 points and 5.3 boards last year at Clemson.

Godfrey will likely be battling the NCAA for eligibility throughout the offseason – and potentially into the season – but if he is eligible and starting next to Krivas, this unit will be incredibly difficult to deal with on both ends of the floor.

Beyond those two is a flurry of tantalizing transfers and international additions, including Nebraska’s Ugnius Jarusevicius, Idaho State’s Evan Otten, Maksim Brnovic, Endurance Aiyamenkhue, and returner Mabil Mawut – a…

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Publish date : 2026-09-07 00:44:00

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