Arizona ranked No. 7 in EvanMiya's analytics-based preseason team rankings, higher than the Wildcats are expected to be in the major human-based polls to come this fall.
Data scientist and website operator Evan Miyakawa said his formula to compute the rankings includes projected roster strength, performance in previous seasons and roster continuity.
While the Wildcats didn't have any individual players in EvanMiya.com's Top 10, they do have a strong returning core with guard Jaden Bradley (ranked No. 34), center Tobe Awaka (57) and Anthony Dell'Orso (134) -- plus well-regarded freshmen Koa Peat (144) and Brayden Burries (159). UA also returns center Motiejus Krivas (255), who missed most of last season with a foot injury.
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley, shown listening to UA coach Tommy Lloyd during a game against Utah last season, is the Wildcats' top-rated player on EvanMiya.com for 2025-26.
Arizona also did not have anyone in Miyakawa's Top 10 projected 3-point shooters, playmakers or indispensable players, but former Wildcat guard KJ Lewis of Georgetown was rated the No. 10 most indispensable player (and No. 7 transfer last spring).
UA's overall team ranking was the second-highest of all Big 12 teams on EvanMiya.com, which put Houston No. 1 overall. BYU (8) was ranked right behind the Wildcats, with Iowa State (12), Kansas (17) and Texas Tech (23) all in its Top 25.
ASU (101) was the lowest-rated Big 12 team on the site.
The Associated Press preseason Top 25 won't be released until next month but the just-published Blue Ribbon Yearbook put the Wildcats at No. 22, the sixth-highest ranking among Big 12 teams.
Defending national champion Florida, which will face Arizona in Las Vegas for the season opener on Nov. 3, was ranked No. 1 by Blue Ribbon. Houston was No. 3 while Texas Tech (14), BYU (16), Iowa State (17) and Kansas (18) all ranked higher than the Wildcats.
For its Big 12 predictions, Blue Ribbon projected Houston in first place, followed by Texas Tech, BYU, Iowa State, Kansas, Arizona, Baylor and Cincinnati. Blue Ribbon's predicted second half was West Virginia at No. 9, followed by Kansas State, TCU, Oklahoma State, Colorado, ASU, Utah and UCF.
(Note: While I wrote some 2025-26 Big 12, Big Ten and WCC previews for Blue Ribbon, I didn't have a say in its rankings).
