A New Chapter Begins
The Arizona Wildcats opened the 2026‑27 campaign with a media‑accessible practice at the Richard Jefferson Gymnasium, giving fans a first glimpse of a roster that promises to build on last year’s historic run.
A year ago the program captured a school‑record 36 victories, secured both the Big 12 regular‑season and tournament titles, and advanced to the Final Four, establishing itself as a national contender.
Head coach Tommy Lloyd, who turned down overtures from North Carolina, emphasized continuity and the challenge of defending that success in a deeper Big 12.
Freshman guard Caleb Holt, the highest‑rated recruit in recent memory, arrived in Tucson with expectations of becoming a dynamic perimeter threat, while returning center Motiejus Krivas is slated to anchor the frontcourt and deliver All‑Conference level production.
The non‑conference slate includes exhibition games, a neutral‑site opener against UCLA, road contests at Auburn and St. John’s, and home matchups versus UConn, culminating in participation in the Southwest Maui Invitational.
Lloyd’s revamped but talented group is tasked with translating preseason optimism into another deep tournament run, with the ultimate goal of battling for a national championship.