The Arizona Wildcats have secured top-five preseason rankings in both major men's college basketball polls according to an October 19 report. Following a 2026 run to the Final Four, the team enters the 2026-27 season with high expectations.
Led by Caleb Holt, Motiejus Krivas, and Ivan Kharchenkov, the Wildcats are set to compete in the Big 12, a conference they were picked by media members to win.
In the Associated Press Top 25 rankings, Arizona is positioned at No. 5 with 1214 points. The Wildcats' preseason standing follows Florida in the first position, followed by Duke at No. 2, Illinois at No. 3, and UConn at No. 4.
In the USA Today Coaches preseason poll, Arizona holds the No. 4 spot with 634 points. The ranking structure in this poll places Florida at No. 1 and Duke at No. 2, with Illinois at No. 3. The UConn Huskies are ranked No. 5 in the USA Today poll, flipping positions with Arizona compared to the AP rankings.
The Wildcats are scheduled to open their season on Nov. 2 against UCLA in Las Vegas.
Other notable preseason standings include Michigan State at No. 6 in the AP poll and No. 6 in the USA Today Coaches poll. The Grand Canyon Antelopes received two points for top-25 consideration in the AP rankings.
The preseason rankings reflect the landscape of college basketball heading into the 2026-27 season. While Florida begins the season at No. 1 in both polls, the rankings show a competitive field including Duke, Illinois, and UConn in the top five.
