
Arizona Wildcats Embark on Lithuanian Exhibition Tour
The University of Arizona men’s basketball squad travels to Lithuania for a three‑game swing, testing fresh transfers and gaining exposure to seasoned European professionals.
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The University of Arizona men’s basketball squad travels to Lithuania for a three‑game swing, testing fresh transfers and gaining exposure to seasoned European professionals.

Coach Tommy Lloyd outlined his thoughts on bolstering Arizona’s frontcourt, the new NCAA eligibility landscape, and his reflections on staying in Tucson while weighing future opportunities.

Arizona secured a verbal commitment from Montenegrin prospect Maksim Brnović, a 6‑foot‑10 forward who last played for Žalgiris II in Lithuania, bolstering the Wildcats’ frontcourt for the 2026‑27 season.
Montenegrin forward Maksim Brnović, a 2026 recruit who starred for Žalgiris II, has pledged to Arizona, joining a wave of European talent that includes Endurance Aiyamenkhue and Ugnius Jarusevicius.

The 2026‑27 Big 12 season promises a reshaped landscape, with title contenders emerging amid a wave of player movement.

With the NBA draft deadline passed, the 2026‑27 men’s college basketball season is taking shape. Here’s a look at the teams that cracked the top ten, the key players to watch and the storylines that could define the year.

Koa Peat has exactly seven days to lock in his plans for the upcoming basketball season, a deadline that has turned the Arizona sophomore’s future into a focal point of offseason chatter. The Wildcats’ coaching staff has already drafted a 13‑player lineup that assumes Peat will opt for the professional route, a move that reshapes the team’s identity heading into the 2026‑27 campaign. Among the returning pieces, forward Ivan Kharchenkov and center Motiejus Krivas are slated to reclaim starting roles, bringing a blend of veteran presence and untapped upside to the paint. New additions promise fresh energy: transfers Derek Dixon, JJ Mandaquit, Evan Otte and Ugnius Jarusevicius join the mix, while top high‑school recruit Caleb Holt and fellow prospect Cameron Holmes arrive from the prep ranks. With only 27.5% of last season’s minutes returning, the roster must lean on emerging leaders to shoulder increased responsibility, a challenge that could define the team’s chemistry. The Wildcats will test their revamped squad on an ambitious overseas swing, beginning with a series of games in Lithuania that will serve as both a tactical experiment and a bonding experience. Back on U.S. soil, the nonconference slate features marquee matchups against UCLA, Connecticut, Auburn and St. John’s, each opponent offering a distinct style that will probe Arizona’s adaptability. As the countdown ticks down, the decisions made in the coming week will reverberate through the program, influencing not only Peat’s trajectory but also the broader narrative of a team poised to rewrite its identity.

Koa Peat's upcoming choice will shape Arizona's roster, nonconference schedule and ambitions for the 2026-27 campaign.

St. John's has risen to No. 16 in the 2026‑27 CBS Sports Preseason Top 25 And 1 rankings after securing a commitment from four‑star forward Theo Edema, while Coach Rick Pitino looks to bolster the roster with two additional transfers.

Arizona adds 6‑foot‑11 center Evan Otten, bolstering its frontcourt with defensive experience and depth as the roster nears completion.

Arizona’s roster is set to gain a 6‑foot‑11, 240‑pound presence after Evan Otten, a two‑year eligible transfer from Idaho State, signed with the Wildcats, bolstering depth and insurance for injuries.

After a promising stint at Central Michigan and a back injury that limited his 2025‑26 campaign, Jarusevicius signs with Arizona, joining a growing list of Lithuanian players under coach Tommy Lloyd.

The Arizona Wildcats welcome a 6‑foot‑11 senior forward with international pedigree, as the program eyes further roster upgrades before the NBA Draft deadline.