In its first season in the Big 12 Conference, Arizona made a name for itself by tying for third place and reaching the conference tournament title game. But none of that matters for the following season.
The Wildcats have been picked to finish fourth in the Big 12 in 2025-26, receiving one of 16 first-place votes from the league’s coaches. That’s one spot better than a year ago, when the UA was projected fifth in the league
.Arizona earned 179 points, nine ahead of Iowa State and 21 behind Texas Tech. Houston, which has won both regular season titles since joining the Big 12, was an overwhelming choice to threepeat with 224 points and 14 first-place votes. BYU got the other first-place vote and is picked to finish second, mostly because of freshman AJ Dybantsa.
But Dybantsa wasn’t picked as Preseason Freshman of the Year. That honor went to Darryn Peterson of Kansas, which was projected to take finish sixth in the Big 12.
Texas Tech’s JT Toppin is the Preseason Player of the Year and Tech’s LeJuan Watts, a transfer from Washington State, is the Preseason Newcomer of the Year.
Arizona did not have a player on the 10-team preseason squad. Last year Caleb Love was a preseason selection.
The Big 12 will hold its annual Media Day for men’s basketball on Wednesday in Kansas City. Joining coach Tommy Lloyd at the event will be seniors Tobe Awaka and Jaden Bradley and freshman Koa Peat.
