Arizona men's basketball team landing in Top 5 of several preseason rankings

Arizona fans will have a nationally ranked team to follow from the opening tip of the 2026 to 27 season, with the Wildcats landing at No. 4 in ESPN’s preseason Top 25 and No. 5 in rankings from Lindy’s, Blue Ribbon Yearbook and KenPom. For Tucson, the early consensus is a sign that the McKale Center program remains positioned among the country’s elite, even after losing much of the rotation from last season’s Final Four team.

The Wildcats return only two rotation players from that run, but both are significant pieces. Center Motiejus Krivas and forward Ivan Kharchenkov are viewed as projected first round NBA draft picks, and each has received major preseason recognition. Blue Ribbon placed Krivas and Kharchenkov on its preseason first team for the Big 12, while Lindy’s named Krivas to its second All American team and placed both Krivas and Kharchenkov among its top conference players.

The highest expectations surround freshman guard Caleb Holt, a five-star recruit who is already being treated as one of the most important newcomers in college basketball. Lindy’s ranked Holt No. 3 nationally among individual players, named him a first team All American and selected him as its Big 12 Player of the Year, Newcomer of the Year, Top Playmaker and Top NBA Prospect. The publication also suggested that Holt’s time in Tucson could be brief because of his projected professional future.

Holt’s arrival gives Arizona a centerpiece for a reworked perimeter group that also includes Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit. Lindy’s ranked the Wildcats’ backcourt No. 4 in the country and their frontcourt No. 8. Those evaluations reflect confidence that Arizona can replace much of its lost production through highly regarded additions, returning talent and the development of players stepping into larger roles.

The most important uncertainty is at power forward, where Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey could fill the remaining major gap if he is granted another season of college eligibility. ESPN analyst Jeff Borzello said Arizona’s status as a national championship contender depends heavily on whether Godfrey can play. With him available, Borzello wrote, coach Tommy Lloyd would have the power forward he wants alongside what could be the strongest defensive group of Lloyd’s career. Godfrey is involved in the broader legal and eligibility dispute surrounding players seeking a fifth college season, so his status remains unresolved.

That uncertainty is affecting preseason predictions across the sport, not just in Tucson. Several teams have influential players whose eligibility could change their projected position by multiple spots, making it difficult to forecast the first Associated Press poll. The issue has also complicated evaluations of Big 12 opponents such as Texas Tech, which could become a consensus top 10 team if three players receive permission to compete for a fifth year, but was projected much lower because their availability is unclear.

KenPom’s preseason ratings offer another measure of Arizona’s standing and underscore the quality of the league the Wildcats will face. Houston leads the Big 12 at No. 3 nationally, while Arizona is No. 5 and Iowa State No. 6. Kansas is No. 8 and Texas Tech No. 12, meaning five Big 12 teams are in KenPom’s national top 12 before the season begins. Houston is projected to have the nation’s best defense, while Texas Tech is rated fifth nationally in adjusted offensive efficiency.

The conference’s strength follows an already successful 2025 to 26 season. Eight Big 12 teams reached the NCAA Tournament, matching the league record, and three advanced to the Sweet 16. Arizona won both the regular season and conference tournament championships before reaching its first Final Four since 2001. The Wildcats also secured Lloyd with a multiyear extension after he was pursued by North Carolina, giving the program continuity as it attempts to sustain its place among the national contenders.

Arizona’s schedule will therefore provide Tucson supporters with high-level games throughout the winter, beginning when the season tips off Monday, Nov. 2. Big 12 play is scheduled to start Jan. 2, with Houston, Iowa State, Kansas and Texas Tech among the teams already projected near the top of the national rankings. The Wildcats’ preseason position reflects substantial confidence, but the final ceiling of this team will depend on how quickly the new roster comes together, whether Godfrey is cleared and whether Holt, Krivas and Kharchenkov meet the expectations surrounding them.