Arizona men’s basketball 5th in KenPom preseason rankings

Arizona is set to play the first of its three exhibition games on Tuesday, and next week the Big 12 Conference will be holding its annual media days in Kansas City, both signs the 2026-27 season is getting closer. Another indication we’ll soon be getting college hoops is in the form of a ratings database getting updated.

Stat guru Ken Pomeroy has released his preseason rankings for 2026-27, with the Wildcats opening at No. 5 out of 365 Division I men’s basketball teams. The UA finished last season No. 2, being champion Michigan, after reaching the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.

Arizona is the second-highest Big 12 school, behind No. 3 Houston, and the league has four of the top eight teams and five of the top 12. Iowa State is No. 6, Kansas No. 8 and Texas Tech No. 12, and all 16 Big 12 squads are ranked in the top 100

The UA is ranked 10^th in adjusted offensive efficiency, second-best among Big 12 schools behind Texas Tech (No. 5), and its adjusted defensive efficiency ranks fourth with Houston at No. 1 and Iowa State at No. 2. The 2025-26 Wildcats finished 5^th in offense and 2^nd in defense.

Arizona’s ratings, like those of many other Division I schools, are assuming all players listed on rosters are eligible for the upcoming season. Clemson transfer RJ Godfrey is current ineligible as he works the legal system to try and get a fifth year, and many other notable programs are in the same boat.

Looking at the UA’s schedule, in nonconference play it will face six top-30 teams with No. 11 UConn the top opponent. UConn, which lost to Michigan in last year’s NCAA final, comes to McKale Center on Nov. 18.

Arizona opens the season Nov. 2 in Las Vegas against No. 27 UCLA and also visits No. 25 Auburn, takes on No. 23 St. John’s in New York City and No. 20 Arkansas in Phoenix. There are also six opponents ranked 156^th or lower, all buy games set for home, while Maui Invitational opening foe Colorado State is ranked No. 81.

The other six potential Maui opponents are ranked between 33 and 68.

KenPom.com currently projects Arizona to going 23-7 in the regular season (not including the other two Maui games) and 13-5 in Big 12 play. The site is projecting a 3-way tie for first in the conference with Houston and Iowa State.