Arizona men’s basketball ranked top 20 in ESPN’s way-too-early top 25 for 2025-26

After coming in at No. 15 in the final AP rankings for the 2024-25 men’s basketball season, Arizona is poised to begin 2025-26 in a similar slot.

ESPN’s model fits the Wildcats into No. 17 nationally and fifth in the Big 12, as national runner-up Houston figures to enter next season at the top of the college basketball landscape.

With the rankings coming in the thick of transfer portal movement, most teams still having prominent holes checks out.

For Arizona, that’s at the guard spot, where ESPN lists five-star target Brayden Burries as a potential answer. Burries will announce his choice Wednesday morning.

ESPN’s Jeff Borzello also writes:

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.

For now, the Wildcats’ projected starting lineup, according to the national outlet, looks like this:

• PG: Jaden Bradley
• SG: Dwayne Aristode
• SF: Koa Peat
• PF: Tobe Awaka
• C: Motiejus Krivas

Arizona ranks behind Big 12 foes Houston (No. 1), Iowa State (No. 13), Kansas (No. 15) and BYU (No. 16) and ahead of Texas Tech (No. 22). Baylor was one of the first five teams to miss the cut.

Only the SEC (seven) had more teams in the top 25 than the Big 12’s six, which the Big Ten matched. The ACC was well behind at three, and the Big East was represented by UConn and St. John’s.

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