Arizona opens the 2026-27 season on Monday in Las Vegas against UCLA, one of several high-profile games on the nonconference schedule before the even-tougher Big 12 Conference slate. The Wildcats are ranked No. 5 in the preseason AP Top 25 and picked to repeat as Big 12 champs.
And this is coming off the program’s first Final Four appearance in 25 years. After that run ended, coach Tommy Lloyd said he hoped that was the start of making the Final Four five times in 10 years.
Is this upcoming season
the second of those trips?
We asked our readers what Arizona’s ceiling was in 2026-27, and not surprisingly the fan base enters the season with very high hopes.
Arizona has made the NCAA Tournament all five seasons under Lloyd, reaching at least the Sweet 16 four times. The Wildcats have never reached the Sweet 16 or deeper in four straight seasons but they have some of the best odds to win it all, at +1600 according to FanDuel Sportsbook.
