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2026 Arizona Wildcats Basketball Predictions and Odds to Win the National Championship

by Ryan Cobbett - 10/28/2026

Arizona Wildcats basketball predictions Motiejus Krivas

The Arizona Wildcats have become one of the best regular season teams in recent memory. However, they have not been able to do much in the postseason. While that did change a bit this year, one of the most talented Tommy Lloyd teams failed to cut down the nets. They put together a 36-3 year and reached the Final Four, but their season was cut just short by the eventual champion Michigan Wolverines. Arizona has since lost a lot of offensive production to the NBA or to the transfer portal, but the Wildcats have managed to put together an offseason that has kept them in the mix as one of the best teams in the country. While the program has become a perennial contender under Lloyd, they have yet to win a National Championship this century. Lloyd now has the tall task of rebuilding and winning within months.

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Arizona Wildcats Basketball Summary of Last Season

The Wildcats dominated their way through the regular season a year ago. They started the season winning their first 23 games, including wins over #3 Florida, #15 UCLA, #3 UConn, #20 Auburn, #12 Alabama, and #13 BYU. They then proceeded to lose their only two games in the regular season as they fell to #9 Kansas and #16 Texas Tech. The Wildcats responded to their two-game losing streak by taking a nine-game winning streak into March Madness. They beat #23 BYU, #2 Houston, #14 Kansas, #6 Iowa State (twice), and then they beat #5 Houston again in the Big 12 Tournament Championship. After finishing with a 29-2 record overall, a 16-2 conference, record, and a conference championship, the Wildcats earned a No. 1 Seed in the tournament. They bullied their way to the Final Four by beating Long Island by 34, Utah State by 12, Arkansas by 21, and Purdue by 15. Unfortunately, they fell to the eventual champions in Michigan by 18 in the Final Four.

The Wildcats finished 12th in the country in scoring as they averaged 86.2 PPG. They shot 49.9% as a team from the floor, and 36.6% from deep. Arizona also ranked in the Top 10 in the nation in RPG differential (+10.8) and FG% differential (+10.4%). They also finished with 7.4 SPG. Arizona held opponents to just 69.4 PPG and 39.4% shooting. Brayden Burries led the team with 16.1 PPG thanks to 49.1% shooting and 39.1% from beyond the arc. Koa Peat finished with 14.1 PPG and 5.6 RPG while shooting 52.8% from the floor. Jaden Bradley added 13.3 PPG while leading the team in MPG (30.6). His 4.4 APG led the team, and he shot 39.4% from deep. Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov both averaged 10.4 PPG, with Krivas adding 8.2 RPG and 1.9 BPG. TobeA waka averaged 9.3 PPG and 9.1 RPG in 20.8 MPG.

2026 Arizona Wildcats Basketball Key Additions/Losses

Unfortunately, the Wildcats lost four players to the NBA, three of which were their leading scorers. Burries was drafted 10th overall by the Milwaukee Bucks, Peat was drafted 30th overall by the Phoenix Suns, Bradley was drafted in the second round by the Toronto Raptors, and Awaka made the Chicago Bulls roster as an undrafted free agent. Anthony Dell’orso also ran out of eligibility after averaging 8.5 PPG last season. Dwayne Aristode (3.8 PPG in 13.2 MPG) transferred to Oregon, Sidi Gueye (3.4 MPG) transferred to Santa Clara, and Sven Djopmo transferred to Coppin State.

With all the departing talent, the Wildcats had to get to work this offseason. They brought in nine newcomers ahead of the ensuing campaign. They signed five star shooting guard Caleb Holt, who will immediately have an impact on this team. Holt is joined by three four-stars in Cameron Holmes (SG), Endurance Aiyamenkhue (C), and Maksim Brnovic (PF). They also added five players via the transfer portal. The portal class is headlined by forward RJ Godfrey who averaged 12 PPG and 5.3 RPG for Clemson last season. Derek Dixon transfers in from North Carolina after averaging 6.5 PPG and shooting 39.7% from deep. JJ Mandaquit is coming in from Washington after averaging 5.2 PPG and 3.2 APG. Ugnius Jarusevicius transfer to Arizona from Nebraska after appearing in just one game for the Cornhuskers, though he previously averaged 16.2 PPG at Central Michigan. Rounding out the list of newcomers is Evan Otten who transferred in from Idaho State after averaging 4.7 PPG and 3.8 RPG in 13.7 MPG.

2026 Arizona Wildcats Basketball Schedule Breakdown

Home- #4 UConn, #25 BYU, #10 Houston, #17 Kansas,

Away- #13 St. John’s. #18 Iowa State, #19 Texas Tech, #25 BYU, #10 Houston

Neutral- #22 UCLA, Colorado State, #12 Arkansas

2026 Arizona Wildcats Basketball X-Factors/Big Questions

Will Arizona have enough depth?

After losing their top three scorers, their do it all forward in Awaka, and another depth scorer to eligibility, the Wildcats have a lot of holes that need filling. They did a solid job with depth additions, but the success of the incoming class of newcomers hinges on Holt living up to stardom, Jarusevicius finding his rhythm from his Central Michigan days, and Godfrey handling the uptick in opponents as he is now in the Big 12. Krivas is one of the best centers in the country and his front court mate in Kharchenkov will be a solid duo. The offense needs the backcourt to be able to expand the floor for their big guys and open things up down low for them to eat. These newcomers are not screaming contention potential, but the scouting department knows better than we do.

2026 Arizona Wildcats Basketball Notable Odds:

National Championship: +2000

Big 12 Champion: +215

AP Top 25: 5th

Andy Katz’s Power 44: 6th  

Wooden Winner- Caleb Holt: +3000

2026 Arizona Wildcats Basketball Predictions:

As mentioned, aside from Godfrey and Holt there isn’t a lot of excitement around the incoming Wildcats. However, that doesn’t mean Lloyd and his staff are sweating the ensuing campaign. Lloyd has proven consistency for this Wildcats program, and they were arguably the second-best team in the country last season. Arizona needs to continue and improve on last year’s postseason success and not limit themselves to just being one of the best regular season squads. We should get an idea fairly early on whether or not these guys are for real after losing all that talent, but I have learned better than to go against Lloyd. I like Arizona’s +2000 title odds, and if Holt can break out and be the star they need and expect, they should win the Big 12 again.

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