Arizona Lands in Preseason AP Poll Ahead

Arizona basketball is right around the corner with its game against Florida to open the season 21 days away.

Dec 14, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (0) celebrates against the UCLA Bruins at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Since taking over Arizona, head coach Tommy Lloyd has been one of the most successful up-and-coming coaches in college basketball going 112-33 over the course of the last four seasons making the NCAA Tournament each season and leading the program to three Sweet Sixteen appearances.

This past season, Lloyd and his program entered a new era of Arizona basketball with the Wildcats leaving the Pac-12 and joining the Big 12 Conference. In UA’s first season in a new conference, the team went 24-13 while finishing third in the conference standings.

Basketball player Koa Peat takes questions from the media during National Signing Day at Perry High School in Gilbert, Arizona on April 16, 2025. | Cheryl Evans/The Republic / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

In the Big 12 Tournament, the Wildcats made it to the conference title game and fell 72-64 to Houston, which would go on to play for the National Title.

Following the end to the season, Arizona lost star guard Caleb Love to graduation and forward Carter Bryant to the NBA Draft where he went No. 14 overall to the San Antonio Spurs.

Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Caleb Love (1) high-fives forward Carter Bryant (9) during a stop in play against the Oregon Ducks in the second half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Plus, Arizona saw two key players in KJ Lewis and Henri Veesaar leave the program and transfer to Power 4 programs.

Despite that, Arizona will be fully loaded again with four key returners in Jaden Badley, Tobe Awaka, Anthony Dell’Orso and Motiejus Krivas. Plus, Lloyd and his staff signed the No. 2 recruiting class according to 24/7 Sports.

We are inching closer to the start of the college basketball season with Arizona tipping off its schedule against defending national champions in the Florida Gators in Las Vegas 21 days from now.

Mar 23, 2025; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Tobe Awaka (30) dunks the ball against the Oregon Ducks in the first half at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images | Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

With the season right around the corner, the Preseason AP Poll has been released with the rankings loaded with Big 12 and SEC teams with both conferences seeing six teams ranked in the poll.

Arizona managed to make the cut coming in at No. 13, marking the fifth time the Wildcats have been in the preseason poll under Lloyd.

In the Big 12 the ranked teams are No. 2 Houston, No. 8 BYU, No. 10 Texas Tech, No. 13 Arizona, No. 16 Iowa State, No. 19 Kansas.

Dec 14, 2024; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Jaden Bradley (right) against UCLA Bruins guard Kobe Johnson at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images | Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Arizona has a loaded non-conference schedule with five ranked teams on the slate in No. 3 Florida, No. 4 UConn, No. 12 UCLA, No. 15 Alabama and No. 20 Auburn. Plus, the Wildcats will face off against San Diego State, which has been a tough West Coast program over the last 20-plus years.

Please be sure to share your thoughts on the Wildcats ranking in the Preseason AP Poll and your excitement level for the upcoming season. To do so, follow us on our X account by clicking on the link.