Arizona men's basketball's 2024-25 roster is currently in flux, but college basketball experts are expecting a coach to be hired. Tommy Lloyd To once again have a team that can compete near the top of the sport.
The end of the college basketball season means the beginning of the next season, and media members have already released their premature preseason Top 25 rankings.
The 2024-25 version of Arizona men's basketball is hard to predict. All five starters on this year's team are expected to leave (although caleb love or pere larson He still has the ability to return), the program is in its first year in the Big 12, and there are multiple spots left on the roster.
Despite this uncertainty, college basketball writers widely project Arizona to be a top-20 team, with several teams including the Wildcats in the top-10. The oddsmakers at DraftKings Sportsbook also rate Arizona highly. The Wildcats have the sixth-best title odds at +1,600.
Here are the Wildcats' standings in each early poll for 2023-2024.Please note that some of the blurbs have been written previously Oumar Baro and Kailan Boswell You have entered the transfer portal.
kevin sweeney sports illustrated:No.6
Tommy Lloyd has had his fair share of March disappointments, but the Wildcats have a pretty solid core in the backcourt with Kylan Boswell, KJ Lewis and Jaden Bradley set to return. Add in a breakout sophomore season from big man Motillas Krivas and the positives provided by talented freshmen Jawson Sannon and Carter Bryant, and this roster is in a good position before the portal additions.
John Fanta fox sports:No.6
The Wildcats had one of the best records in college basketball over the past three years, going 88-20 under Tommy Lloyd, but like the rest of the team, they had a disappointing showing in the NCAA Tournament. How will they handle the transition to the Big 12, where they will have to compete against schools in the league like Kansas, Houston, and Iowa State? With the return of KJ Lewis and a top-five recruiting class headlined by Carter Bryant and Joeson Sannon, they have a roster that is one of the best teams in the country.
Jeff Borzello ESPN:No.8
Arizona currently has some moving parts. Caleb Love, Pere Larsson and Oumar Baro have one more year of eligibility, but it's hard to predict any of them will return to Tucson. But Tommy Lloyd will be joined by one of the best perimeter groups in the country in Kylan Boswell, Jaden Bradley, KJ Lewis, Joeson Sannon and Jamari Phillips. Motiejus Krivas needs to make a breakthrough up front, and Lloyd will likely pursue a more established player alongside him in the frontcourt.
Isaac Trotter 247 Sports:No.9
Arizona's hot recruiting class features head coaches Carter Bryant and Joeson Sannon, but head coach Tommy Lloyd needs answers from returning candidates.
Oumar Balo entered the transfer portal on Tuesday and the big man will be highly coveted. Key players like Caleb Love, Pere Larsson and Kylan Boswell have decisions to make. Bringing back KJ Lewis and Motillas Krivas should be doable for Arizona, and the soon-to-be sophomores could be real difference-makers next year. Jaden Bradley should return in a big role in 2024-2025. If Arizona's youngsters click and Lloyd does his usual great job in the portal, Arizona will have a ton of upside.
CJ Moore and Sam Veceny The Athletic:No.11
The Wildcats need to add shooting and frontcourt depth out of the portal, but the next wave of talent is strong. Krivas averaged 17.7 points and 13.9 rebounds per 40 minutes as a freshman, and Arizona's defense was at its best with him under center. The Cats were 8.2 points per 100 possessions better defensively with Krivas than they were with Oumar Baro on the floor. The trio of Boswell, Bradley, and Lewis allows them to continue playing at their preferred uptempo pace. If Bradley can improve his perimeter jumper, which he shot well in limited attempts (13-of-28 from 3), he could slide into Caleb Love's primary scorer role. there is a possibility.
mike decocy sports news:No.18
There is no explanation.
Paul Meyerberg, Eric Smith, Eddie Timanas, USA Today:No.20
After another tournament disappointment, the Wildcats should have another strong regular season. How good will depend on what Caleb Love decides about his future with Omar Baro in the portal. Jaden Bradley and Kylan Boswell should form a strong backcourt, with talented additions like top rookies Carter Bryant and Jamari Phillips. The Big 12 will make adjustments, which could take some time.