College Basketball Preseason Rankings: No. 17 Arizona Wildcats

Top-25 College Basketball: Arizona Projected Roster & Outlook

In this series, we'll be taking a closer look at RotoWire's preseason college basketball top-25, with an in-depth roster analysis and projected rotation for the 2025-26 season for each team. Today's feature will be the Arizona Wildcats.

For up-to-the-minute updates on injuries, roles and overall player performance, head to RotoWire's latest college basketball news page or follow @RotoWireCBB on X.

17. Arizona

Arizona got off to a very slow start last season, but rebounded by winning 13 of 14 games in the middle of the year. It ended up making it to the title game in the Big 12 Tournament and then claiming a No. 4 seed in the NCAA Tournament. From there, the Wildcats made it to the Sweet Sixteen, where they pushed top seed Duke to the brink, but ultimately just didn't have enough. 

It will be a different looking team going into next season with Caleb Love (17.2 PPG) graduating. Other key contributors like KJ Lewis, Henri Veesaar, Trey Townsend and Carter Bryant are all gone as well. 

The pressure this season will fall on the shoulders of Jaden Bradley, who will have to step us as the alpha dog. He certainly has the ability after averaging 12.1 points, 3.7 assists, 3.4 boards and 1.8 steals playing second fiddle to Love. 

Expect Anthony Dell'Orso to also take a step up at the small forward position and become a double-digit scorer. Tobe Awaka and Motiejus Krivas bring two different body types to the center position and plenty of experience as well. 

The story for coach Tommy Lloyd is how does he get all these talented freshman to come together. He's got a pair of 5-star recruits in Brayden Burries and Koa Peat, who will likely start at shooting guard and power forward. Burries is a three-level scorer who should be able to come in and instantly help shoulder some of the production voided by Love. Peat has been dominant in high school for four years and should add another dynamic to Arizona's interior offense, which lacked a bit at times last season. 

Dwayne Aristode and Bryce James are a little more raw as prospects, but this Arizona team is not very deep, so they will each see minutes off the bench. 

Don't be surprised if the Wildcats start off slow again, but once all these talented pieces get comfortable together, they will be tough to deal with in the Big 12. 

Check out how injuries are affecting the status of other players & teams on RotoWire's college basketball injury report.

2025-26 Arizona Basketball Projected Starting Lineup:

PG: Jaden Bradley (12.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 1.8 SPG)

SG: Brayden Burries (No. 12 in ESPN 100)

SF: Anthony Dell'Orso (7.2 PPG, 1.4 3PM)

PF: Koa Peat (No. 10 in ESPN 100)

C: Tobe Awaka (8.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG)

Key Reserves: Motiejus Krivas (7.9 PPG), Dwayne Aristode (No. 37 in ESPN 100), Evan Nelson (9.1 PPG, 1.4 3PM at Harvard), Bryce James (3-star Freshman), Sidi Gueye (Freshman)

Following another active transfer portal period, RotoWire's college basketball depth charts are updated with the latest in roster movement.

2025-26 Full Preseason College Basketball Top-25

1. Purdue Boilermakers
2. Houston Cougars
3. Florida Gators
4. Kentucky Wildcats
5. St. John's Red Storm
6. Duke Blue Devils
7. Louisville Cardinals
8. Michigan Wolverines
9. BYU Cougars
10. UConn Huskies
11. Texas Tech Red Raiders
12. Auburn Tigers
13. Arkansas Razorbacks
14. UCLA Bruins
15. Alabama Crimson Tide
16. Iowa State Cyclones
17. Arizona Wildcats
18. Michigan State Spartans
19. Gonzaga Bulldogs
20. Kansas Jayhawks
21. Tennessee Volunteers
22. North Carolina Tar Heels
23. Oregon Ducks
24. Illinois Fighting Illini
25. Wisconsin Badgers