
Big 12 Basketball 2026‑27: Title Contenders and Transfer Turmoil
The 2026‑27 Big 12 season promises a reshaped landscape, with title contenders emerging amid a wave of player movement.
Latest Slidescroller coverage mentioning Ugnius Jarusevicius across Basketball.

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

After a breakout 2025‑26 campaign that delivered the program’s first NCAA tournament victory and a Sweet 16 run, the Cornhuskers bring back standout players and promising newcomers, setting the stage for another competitive year.

The University of Arkansas will face Arizona in a multi-year series beginning December 19, 2026, at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix, part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Series.

Arkansas will open a multi-year series against Arizona, beginning with a game at the Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix on Dec. 19, 2026, as part of the Naismith Hall of Fame Series.

A three‑year series between the University of Arkansas and the University of Arizona will begin Dec. 19, 2026, in Phoenix, featuring new rosters, returning stars and a potential fourth game in 2029‑30.

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.

From August 14 to 23, the University of Arizona men’s basketball squad travels to Lithuania, facing the nation’s B team, senior side and Ukraine’s national squad, while integrating three Lithuanian-born players into a roster that could reshape next season’s dynamics.

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.

Arizona adds depth and shot‑blocking ability as former Big Sky Freshman of the Year Evan Otten joins the program, alongside returning standout Motiejus Krivas and other transfers.

After a promising stint at Central Michigan, Jarusevicius hopes to bring rebounding and post play to Tucson as he finishes his college career.

After reaching the NCAA Final Four, Arizona is reshaping its roster, betting on Ugnius Jarusevicius to fill the void left by departing stars.

Arizona’s basketball program has secured the commitment of Ugnius Jarusevicius, a 6‑foot‑11 forward with a proven scoring record, as the Wildcats look to bolster their lineup under head coach Tommy Lloyd.

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.

A look at the latest moves in Nebraska's transfer portal, highlighting returning players, departures and the incoming talent set to impact the upcoming campaign

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.