CBB Rank 2025: No. 9, Arizona Basketball

Tommy Lloyd brings in the second-best freshmen class in the country, hoping talented youth can combine with returning experience to lift Arizona basketball to a championship.

The tradition continues! It’s another year of our countdown of the top 100 preseason teams in college basketball until the start of the season. Each day, we will reveal the next team until we reach the team slotted at number one. Up next: Arizona basketball.

After falling to Duke in the Sweet 16 in Newark last season, Arizona basketball has reloaded its roster as well as anyone in the country. While they lose some scoring and playing in Caleb Love and KJ Lewis, and a big-man presence in Henri Veesaar, this year’s team replaces it with some high-end freshmen and seasoned vets.

Back on the team are Jaden Bradley, Anthony Dell’Orso, Tobe Awaka, and Motiejus Krivas. On any given night, those four could be in the starting lineup, so that’s a win in itself for head coach Tommy Lloyd. Any time you can bring back that much experience, it’s a great starting point.

Harvard transfer Evan Nelson should add a boost of experience off the bench, as a three-point threat and someone who can calm the game down when needed.

But this Wildcats team is all about the new faces. A trio of top-ranked recruits, all in the top 25 of the 247Sports Composite rankings, make their way to Tucson. Guard Brayden Burries seems like a likely starter, while forward Koa Peat should join him in the opening five as well. Forward Dwayne Aristode could also vie for starting minutes, but seems more likely to be a 20-minute guy off the bench to replace anyone at forward.

Finally, international gem Ivan Kharchenkov joins the mix as another key rotation player who holds years of playing professionally in Germany.

Put together, it’s a strong group that, if coached well, will only get stronger. Arizona might be ranked high to begin the season, and may find some early struggles, but come February and March, if all bodes well, they could be one of the most talented units in college hoops this year.

Head coach: Tommy Lloyd (5th season overall, all at Arizona)

2024-25 record: 24-13 (14-6)

2025 postseason finish: Lost to Duke (100-93) in Sweet 16 of NCAA Tournament

Notable departures: 

• Caleb Love (17.2 PPG, 4.4 RPG, 3.4 APG, 1.2 SPG)
• KJ Lewis (10.8 PPG, 4.6 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.3 SPG)
• Henri Veesaar (9.4 PPG, 5.0 RPG, 1.3 APG, 1.1 BPG, 59.2 FG%)
• Trey Townsend (8.2 PPG, 3.9 RPG, 1.0 APG)
• Carter Bryant (6.5 PPG, 4.1 RPG, 1.0 APG, 37.1 3P%)

Notable non-conference games: 

• vs. Florida (Nov. 3) – Las Vegas, NV
• at UCLA (Nov. 14)
• at UConn (Nov. 19)
• vs. Auburn (Dec. 6)
• at Alabama (Dec. 13) – Birmingham, AL
• vs. San Diego State (Dec. 20) – Phoenix, AZ

Projected Rotation

PG: Jaden Bradley (6-3, 200, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 12.1 PPG, 3.7 APG, 3.4 RPG, 1.8 SPG

SG: Brayden Burries (6-4, 205, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #10-ranked recruit

SF: Anthony Dell’Orso (6-6, 205, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.2 PPG, 1.4 APG, 1.4 RPG, 41.3 3P%

PF: Koa Peat (6-8, 235, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #9-ranked recruit

C: Tobe Awaka (6-8, 255, Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 8.0 PPG, 7.8 RPG, 0.7 APG, 64.6 FG%

6: Motiejus Krivas (7-2, 260, Jr.)

2024-25 stats: 7.9 PPG, 4.5 RPG, 1.1 APG, 55.3 FG%, 8 GP

*Missed rest of season with foot injury

7: Dwayne Aristode (6-8, 220, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #24-ranked recruit

8: Evan Nelson (6-2, 175, Gr.-Sr.)

2024-25 stats: 9.1 PPG, 3.0 RPG, 2.9 APG, 1.4 SPG, 40.4 3P% (Harvard)

9: Ivan Kharchenkov (6-7, 220, Fr.)

International recruit from Germany

10: Sidi Gueye (6-11, 215, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #161-ranked recruit

11: Bryce James (6-5, 195, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #324-ranked recruit

12: Mabil Mawut (6-11, 200, Fr.)

247Sports Composite #407-ranked recruit

Arizona basketball team MVP: Tobe Awaka

Awaka hasn’t been known as a focal point of the Arizona offense in the past, but don’t be surprised if he takes that leap.

In the Wildcats’ last exhibition game against Embry-Riddle, Awaka led Zona with 18 points and 14 rebounds, along with 2 blocks. Of course, a game against a non-DI opponent is tough to take too seriously, but with a few key frontcourt players moving on, it opens up the door for Awaka to be one of the main offensive options.

But Awaka’s game isn’t all about scoring. He’s a physical player who should lead the team in rebounds, and is a senior on a team with a lot of young players. Expect Awaka to be a leader on the court, but his off-court presence is just as important.

Arizona basketball make-or-break player: Jaden Bradley

Last year, Bradley got to shine in the shadows of Caleb Love, and with KJ Lewis also in the backcourt. This year, Bradley will share a starting backcourt with freshman Brayden Burries, and there isn’t a whole lot of guard depth further down the lineup.

So first and foremost, Bradley needs to stay healthy. Arizona can’t afford to lose its top guard with very few legitimate options to replace him.

But he’ll also need to chip in with his scoring and his playmaking. Some days, Bradley will need to have a scoring boost. Other days, he’ll have to playmaker and get the rest of the team involved. He may not be called on to star every night, but his presence will have to have a positive impact night in and night out.

Key analytic: Second-chance conversion %

If you play Arizona – make sure to box out! Last year, the Wildcats ranked 56th in offensive rebounds per game and 45th in FG%. So on a team with highly efficient players, if the Wildcats got a second-chance opportunity, they usually made it count.

Zona ranked sixth in the country in this metric, and with Awaka and a hopefully healthy Motiejus Krivas, expect similar results. Arizona likes to get out in transition and score a lot of points in the halfcourt too, but if they keep possessions alive, they can do their most damage.

Arizona basketball 2025-26 projections

Projected conference finish: 2nd in the Big 12

Projected postseason ceiling: NCAA Tournament Elite 8 exit