Here’s a look at Arizona men’s basketball’s Big 12 opponents for the 2025-26 season (listed in order of the Star’s predicted finish):

 1. HOUSTON COUGARS

Game with UA: Feb. 21 at Houston (1 p.m., ABC)

Series history: Houston leads 7-6 after grinding out a 62-58 win over the Wildcats at McKale Center last season and beating UA in the Big 12 Tournament title game. Before the teams met in Big 12 play, the Cougars ousted the Wildcats from the 2022 NCAA Sweet 16, winning 72-60 at San Antonio. Before that, Arizona swept a home-and-home series over Houston in 2007-08 and 2008-09.

Coach: Kelvin Sampson (299-84 in 11 seasons at Houston, 799-354 in 36 seasons overall)

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Last season: 35-5 overall, 19-1 Big 12 (1st), NCAA runner-up, Kenpom rating 2

Big losses: G L.J. Cryer (15.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.0 apg), F J’Wan Roberts (10.6 ppg, 6.5 rpg)

Top returnees: G Milos Uzan (11.4 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 4.3 apg), G Emanuel Sharp (12.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg), F Joseph Tugler (5.5 ppg, 5.9 rpg),

Impact additions: C Chris Cenac (five-star freshman), G Isiah Harwell (four-star freshman), G Kingston Flemings (four-star freshman)

Houston Cougars head coach Kelvin Sampson, shown during a timeout in the first half against Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen of the 2022 NCAA Tournament, is expected to win the Big 12 again this season.

Kelly Presnell, Arizona Daily Star 2022

Outlook: What else will it take for Sampson to finally snip the nets in April? Combining his usual ferocious defense and a potent 39.4% 3-point shooting team last season still left the Cougars a bucket short of the NCAA title. But Sampson keeps retaining unusually strong returning bases in the transfer portal era, which this time includes an elite point guard (Uzan) and possibly the best defender in the nation (Tugler), so maybe it happens now.

He said it: “We have a tremendous culture that is hard to find in this day of the transfer portal and NIL.” — Sampson, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 2. BYU COUGARS

Games with UA: Jan. 26 at Marriott Center, Provo, Utah (7 p.m., ESPN); Feb. 18 at McKale Center (7 p.m., ESPN)

School location: Provo, Utah

Series history: Arizona and BYU won on each other’s homecourt last season — the Wildcats winning 85-74 on Feb. 4 at Provo but losing 96-95 at McKale Center on Feb. 22 after a questionable foul call against Trey Townsend in the final seconds. Arizona leads the series 21-20 overall against its former WAC rival.

Coach: Kevin Young (26-10 in one season at BYU and overall)

Last season: 26-10 overall, 14-6 Big 12 (tie/3rd), NCAA Sweet 16, Kenpom rating 26

Big losses: G Egor Demin (10.6 ppg, 3.9 rpg, 5.5 apg), G Trevin Knell (9.2 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 1.3 apg), G Mawot Mag (5.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg), F Kanon Catchings (7.2 ppg, 2.2 rpg)

Top returnees: G Richie Saunders (16.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg, 43.2% 3FG), C Keba Keita (7.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg), G Dawson Baker (7.5 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

Impact additions: F AJ Dybantsa (five-star freshman), G Robert Wright (11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 4.2 apg), G Kennard Davis (16.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg at Southern Illinois), C Xavion Staton (four-star freshman)

Outlook: Combining the passion of BYU and its fanbase, NIL money that helped secure Dybantsa and Wright, plus the clutch play of Saunders and coaching acumen Young showed right away upon switching from the NBA to the college game, means the Cougars could challenge again for the Big 12 title. The conference made sure UA and BYU play each other twice to take advantage of the marquee value.

He said it: “Our spacing was so good at times — that was a big separator for us in a lot of games. The physicality of this league allows you to play something that took us a minute to get there and I think we’ll start there this year.” — Young, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 3. TEXAS TECH RED RAIDERS

Game with UA: Feb. 14 at McKale Center (4 or 4:30 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2)

School location: Lubbock, Texas

Series history: Arizona split with the Red Raiders last season, losing 70-54 in Lubbock and winning 82-73 at McKale, before UA beat TTU 86-80 in the semifinals of the Big 12 Tournament. Texas Tech still leads the all-time series between former Border Conference rivals 29-26.

Coach: Grant McCasland (51-20 in two seasons at Texas Tech, 262-109 in nine seasons overall)

Last season: 28-9 overall, 15-5 Big 12 (2nd), NCAA Elite Eight, Kenpom rating 9

Big losses: G Chance McMillian (14.2 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 1.8 bpg), F Darrion Williams (15.1 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.3 spg), G Elijah Hawkins (9.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 1.5 spg)

Top returnees: C JT Toppin (18.2 ppg, 9.4 rpg, 1.5 bpg), G Christian Anderson (10.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 2.2 apg),

Impact additions: G Donovan Atwell (13.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg at UNC Greensboro), F Tyeree Bryan (10.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg at Santa Clara), F LeJuan Watts (13.7 ppg, 6.7 rpg at Washington State), C Luke Bamgboye (3.8 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 2.1 bpg at VCU), G Jaylen Petty (four-star freshman)

Outlook: A USA Basketball coaching mate and good friend of UA’s Tommy Lloyd, McCasland has proven it’s not a good idea to bet against him. The Red Raiders finished well above expectations both of his previous seasons at TTU and were leading eventual national champion Florida late in the Elite Eight before fading. With Toppin reportedly getting $4 million to return and point guard Christian Anderson also back to join a strong transfer class, there’s every reason to believe McCasland will mix up a league title contender again.

He said it: “It’s a skilled and competitive group that wants to win. That was the focus, to create space for our returners so we have opportunity to put teams in a tough situation. We have to get better defensively and that starts with caring about winning so we can push them to be better than we were last year.” — McCasland, at Texas Tech’s preseason media availability

 4. IOWA STATE CYCLONES

Game with UA: March 2 at McKale Center (7 p.m., ESPN)

School location: Ames, Iowa

Series history: Caleb Love’s 60-foot buzzer beater at the end of regulation and subsequent overtime heroics led the Wildcats to a memorable 86-75 win over the Cyclones at McKale Center on Jan. 27, but Iowa State avenged that game with a definitive 84-67 win in Ames on March 1. Arizona leads the all-time series 5-4.

Coach: T.J. Otzelberger (95-45 in four seasons at ISU, 194-108 in nine seasons overall)

Last season: 25-10 overall, 13-7 Big 12 (5th), NCAA second round, Kenpom rating 11

Big losses: G Curtis Jones (17.5 ppg, 4.2 rpg), G Keshon Gilbert (13.4 ppg, 3.5 rpg, 4.1 apg), C Dishon Jackson (8.5 ppg, 5.1 rpg),

Top returnees: G Tamin Lipsey (10.6 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.1 apg), F Joshua Jefferson (13.0 ppg, 7.4 rpg), F Milan Momcilovic (11.5 ppg, 3.3 rpg), G Nate Heise (5.1 ppg, 40.9% 3FG)

Impact additions: C Blake Buchanan (5.4 ppg, 5.3 rpg, 1.1 bpg at Virginia), F Dominykas Pleta (four-star freshman), G Dominick Nelson (14.4 ppg, 5.2 rpg at Utah Valley), G Jamarion Batemon (four-star freshman)

Outlook: Otzelberger turned the Cyclones into a national contender, reaching two Sweet 16s and two other NCAA Tournament appearances in his four previous seasons. Now he has three returning starters, including one of the Big 12’s best point guards in Lipsey, and a mix of transfer and freshmen talent.

He said it: “I think we have good positional size and I think we’ve got better speed and quickness than we’ve had in the past. It’s just a matter of how it all comes together.” — Otzelberger, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 5. ARIZONA WILDCATS

Big 12 schedule: Home and away games against ASU, BYU and Kansas. Home games only against Kansas State, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech and Iowa State. Away games only at Utah, TCU, UCF, Houston, Baylor and Colorado.

Coach: Tommy Lloyd (112-33 in four seasons at Arizona and overall)

Last season: 24-13 overall, 14-6 Big 12 (tie/3rd) NCAA Sweet 16, Kenpom rating 13

Big losses: G Caleb Love (17.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg), F Trey Townsend (8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg), G KJ Lewis (10.8 ppg, 4.6 rpg), F Henri Veesaar (9.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), F Carter Bryant (6.5 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

Top returnees: G Jaden Bradley (12.1 ppg, 3.4 rpg, 3.7 apg), C Tobe Awaka (8.0 ppg, 7.8 rpg), F Anthony Dell’Orso (7.2 ppg, 1.4 rpg, 41.3% 3FG), C Motiejus Krivas (7.9 ppg, 4.5 rpg)

Impact additions: G Brayden Burries (five-star freshman), F Koa Peat (five-star freshman), F Dwayne Aristode (four-star freshman), F Ivan Kharchenkov (four-star freshman), F Sidi Gueye (four-star freshman)

Outlook: Do the Wildcats have enough to finally break through the Sweet 16 barrier and maybe win the Big 12 along the way? There might be enough talent to do so, but at least three of UA’s freshmen must behave like veterans in a sport that keeps getting older thanks largely to NIL cash.

He said it: “We have a great freshman group that I’m really excited about, and I think they’ve got a real maturity about them. Physically, I think they’re also ready. I’m looking forward for them to start these battles, and we’ll obviously adjust and grow as we go through them.” — Lloyd, at an Arizona preseason news conference

 6. KANSAS JAYHAWKS

Games with UA: Feb. 9 at Lawrence, Kansas (7 p.m., ESPN); Feb. 28 at McKale Center (2 or 2:30 p.m., ESPN)

School location: Lawrence, Kansas

Series history: Kansas leads 9-5 after the teams renewed a long-dormant rivalry last season, with the Jayhawks winning 83-76 on the final day of the regular season and UA avenging the loss 88-77 five days later in the Big 12 Tournament quarterfinals.

Coach: Bill Self (624-156 in 22 seasons at Kansas, 831-261 in 32 years overall)

Last season: 21-13 overall, 11-9 Big 12 (6th), NCAA first round, Kenpom rating 24

Big losses: Dajuan Harris (9.2 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Zeke Mayo (14.6 ppg, 4.8 rpg), KJ Adams (9.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg), Hunter Dickinson (17.4 ppg, 10.0 rpg).

Top returnees: C Fiory Bidunga (5.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Elmarko Jackson (injured in 2024-25)

Impact additions: G Darryn Peterson (five-star freshman), G Melvin Council (14.5 ppg, 5.4 rpg), F Kohl Rosario (15.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg), F Tre White (10.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg at Illinois), G Jayden Dawson (13.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg at Loyola Chicago),

Outlook: Kansas will finally return to McKale after 17 seasons, just when it isn’t Kansas anymore. Or is it? The Jayhawks lost all five starters from a team that struggled to reach the NCAA Tournament last season, but their talent and versatility are much improved. By the time they make that late-season visit to Tucson, KU could be a very tough out.

He said it: “Is it a perfect roster? No. But I don’t know if we’ve ever had a perfect roster. We’ve got size. We’ve got depth now. We’ve got more shooting. We have more athleticism. And we’re big. We look at what we were deficient at in the past and corrected that.” — Self, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 7. KANSAS STATE WILDCATS

Game with UA: Jan. 7 at McKale Center (7 p.m., FS1)

School location: Manhattan, Kansas

Series history: Kansas State snapped a three-game losing streak to Arizona when it held off the Wildcats 73-70 on Feb. 11 last season, giving K-State a 9-6 lead in the overall series. Before meeting in the Big 12, Arizona last played K-State between Elite Eight appearances in 2014 and 2015, beating the Wildcats of Kansas 72-68 in the semifinals of the 2014-15 Maui Invitational.

Coach: Jerome Tang (61-42 in three seasons at Kansas State and overall)

Last season: 16-17 overall, 9-11 Big 12 (tie/9th), Kenpom rating 65

Big losses: F David N’Guessan (13.3 ppg, 7.2 rpg), G Dug McDaniel (11.4 ppg, 2.8 rpg), F Coleman Hawkins (10.7 ppg, 6.9 rpg), G Brendan Hausen (10.9 ppg, 2.5 rpg)

Top returnees: G Mobi Ikegwuruka (2.1 ppg, 2.4 rpg), G David Castillo (2.4 ppg, 0.6 rpg), G C.J. Jones (5.7 ppg, 1.7 rpg)

Impact additions: G P.J. Haggerty (21.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg at Memphis), G Nate Johnson (14.0 ppg, 4.9 rpg at Akron), G Abdi Bashir (20.1 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 2.2 apg), F Marcus Johnson (16.2 ppg, 5.0 rpg at Bowling Green), F Khamari McGriff (11.5 ppg, 4.0 rpg at UNC Wilmington), F Andrej Kostic (four-star freshman)

Outlook: K-State missed the NCAA Tournament last season despite having (reported) $2 million forward Coleman Hawkins and several other talents. Tang has a strong transfer portal class and made major staff changes, but will have to find better chemistry — and revamp what was the 125th most efficient offense last season.

He said it: “We’re just trying to be patient and remember that we have to reach everything. Sometimes you forget what you have to teach; you expect them to know it. So that’s one of the things we’ve done, taken our time.” — Tang, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 8. OKLAHOMA STATE COWBOYS

Game with UA: Feb. 7 at McKale Center (2 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2)

School location: Stillwater, Okla.

Series history: Arizona put away the Cowboys 92-78 at Stillwater last season to improve to 4-0 against Oklahoma State. Before meeting OSU in Big 12 play, Arizona last beat the Cowboys 79-78 in the 2005 Sweet 16 at Rosemont, Ill., when Salim Stoudamire hit a game-winning jumper in the final seconds.

Coach: Steve Lutz (17-18 in one season at Oklahoma State, 86-53 in three seasons overall)

Last season: 17-18 overall, 7-13 Big 12 (tie/12th), NIT quarterfinals, Kenpom rating 97

Big losses: G Bryce Thompson (13.0 ppg, 2.7 rpg), F Abou Ousmane (12.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), F Marchelus Avery (11.4 ppg, 4.3 rpg)

Top returnees: F Robert Jennings (5.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg)

Impact additions: G Anthony Roy (25.7 ppg, 5.3 rpg at Green Bay), G Isaiah Coleman (15.6 ppg, 5.3 rpg), G Jaylen Curry (13.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg, 3.9 apg at Massachusetts), G Kanye Clary (6.3 ppg, 2.6 apg at Mississippi State), F Parsa Fallah (12.8 ppg, 4.0 rpg at Oregon State), F Christian Coleman (11.6 ppg, 7.1 rpg at UAB), G Vyctorius Miller (8.9 ppg, 2.4 rpg at LSU), C Ben Ahmed (four-star freshman), G Ryan Crotty (four-star freshman)

Outlook: The Cowboys predictably struggled in Big 12 play during Lutz’s first season but won two NIT games, and Lutz said he was able to use the “golden window” (the pre-House period last spring when unlimited NIL contracts were still allowed) to help pick up a bundle of experience in the transfer portal. With a significantly upgraded talent level and Lutz’s progress so far, there should be enough to compete for the upper division this time.

He said it: “The (NIL) money certainly helped and the support helped. And I think last year’s team helped that … because they did play the right away. They did play hard. And I think people, especially Oklahoma State faithful, that’s what they want to see. Therefore, they rewarded us for it.” — Lutz, during preseason media availability in Stillwater

Arizona guard Caleb Love (1) dunks on Baylor forward Norchad Omier (15) during the second half Feb. 17, 2025, in Waco, Texas.

Julio Cortez, Associated Press

Game with UA: Feb. 24 at Waco, Texas (7 p.m., ESPN2)

School location: Waco, Texas

Series history: Arizona took a 7-5 lead after sweeping the Bears in their two Big 12 matchups last season, with the Wildcats winning 81-70 at Waco on Jan. 14 and 74-67 on Feb. 17 at McKale. Baylor had swept Arizona in a two-year series during the Sean Miller era, with the Bears beating the Wildcats 58-49 in 2018-19 at McKale and 63-58 in 2019-20 at Waco.

Coach: Scott Drew (466-249 in 22 seasons at Baylor, 486-270 in 23 seasons overall)

Last season: 20-15 overall, 10-10 Big 12 (tie/7th), NCAA second round, Kenpom rating 30

Big losses: F Norchad Omier (15.7 ppg, 10.8 rpg), VJ Edgecombe (15.0 ppg, 5.6 rpg), G Robert Wright (11.5 ppg, 2.1 rpg), G Jeremy Roach (10.0 ppg, 1.9 rpg), G Langston Love (8.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg).

Top returnee: G Cameron Carr (redshirted in 2024-25 after transferring from Tennessee)

Impact additions: F Tounde Yessoufou (five-star freshman), F Dan Skillings (9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg at Cincinnati), F Michael Rataj (16.9 ppg, 7.2 rpg at Oregon State), G Obi Agbim (17.6 ppg, 3.4 apg, 43.7% 3FG at Wyoming), C Juslin Bodo Bodo (3.3 ppg, 8.4 rpg, 1.4 bpg at High Point), F Maikcol Perez (four-star freshman)

Outlook: Baylor lost literally everyone who touched the floor last season, but there might be more talent and versatility on hand. Drew received a head start in recreating the Bears by leading them in the World University Games over the summer. Among Baylor’s recruiting haul is Andre Iguodala Jr., a three-star developmental prospect.

He said it: “Our team looks to be deeper than last season, so that’s a strength for us this year. Hopefully, we don’t have a ton of injuries, but we are better equipped if we do. We also have size and length and that should benefit us on the defensive side and on the glass.” — Drew, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 10. CINCINNATI BEARCATS

Game with UA: Jan. 21 at McKale Center (7 p.m., FS1)

School location: Cincinnati

Series history: Arizona moved to 5-0 after beating the Bearcats 72-67 in their first Big 12 meeting at Cincinnati on Jan. 4 last season. Before that, the Wildcats beat Cincinnati in the first round of the 2022 Maui Invitational and when Miles Simon’s three-quarter-court buzzer beater lifted them to a 79-76 win on Feb. 11, 1996, in Phoenix.

Coach: Wes Miller (82-59 in four seasons at Cincinnati, 267-194 in 14 seasons overall)

Last season: 19-16 overall, 7-13 Big 12 (tie/12th), Crown quarterfinals, Kenpom rating 55

Big losses: F Dillon Mitchell (9.9 ppg, 6.9 rpg), F Simas Lukosius (10.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Dan Skillings (9.2 ppg, 3.8 rpg), F Aziz Bandoago (7.4 ppg, 6.0 rpg), G Jizzle James (12.7 ppg, 3.0 rpg)

Top returnees: G Day Day Thomas (10.2 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 2.6 apg)

Impact additions: F Baba Miller (11.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg at FAU), G Sencire Harris (5.9 ppg, 4.3 rpg at West Virginia), G Kerr Kriisa (4.4 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 3.8 apg at Kentucky), F Jalen Haynes (14.1 ppg, 6.9 rpg at George Mason), C Moustapha Thiam (10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg at UCF), F Shon Abaev (four-star freshman), G Keyshuan Tillery (four-star freshman), F Jalen Celestine (7.1 ppg, 3.5 rpg at Baylor)

Outlook: The Bearcats haven’t accomplished much during their two seasons in the Big 12 so far. But maybe they can take another step up with an older roster that includes former Arizona guard Kerr Kriisa, who joined the Wildcats during the COVID year of 2020-21 and is now a sixth-year veteran playing for his fourth school.

He said it: “I like the depth. I really like that we added more offensive skill and at the same time we still have quite a bit of physical and mental toughness. I feel good about the collection. Now it’s time to bring it all together.” — Miller, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 11. TCU HORNED FROGS

Game with UA: Jan. 10 at Schollmaier Arena, Fort Worth, Texas (2 p.m., ESPN or ESPN2)

School location: Fort Worth, Texas

Series history: Arizona beat TCU 90-81 in its first-ever Big 12 game last Dec. 30 to tie the all-time series at 2-2. Before that, the Wildcats beat TCU 85-80 in overtime of a 2022 NCAA Tournament second-round game in San Diego.

Coach: Jamie Dixon (176-126 in nine seasons at TCU, 504-249 in 22 seasons overall)

Last season: 16-16 overall, 9-11 Big 12 (tie/9th), Kenpom rating 86

Big losses: G Frankie Collins (11.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg), G Noah Reynolds (12.5 ppg, 2.2 rpg), G Vasean Allette (11.4 ppg, 4.1 rpg)

Top returnees: F David Punch (6.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg), G Jace Posey (4.3 ppg, 2.3 rpg), G Micah Robinson (5.3 ppg, 1.8 rpg).

Impact additions: G Brock Harding (8.8 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 5.3 apg at Iowa), G Jayden Pierre (12.3 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 3.2 apg at Providence), G Liutauras Lelevicius (8.7 ppg, 4.0 rpg at Oregon State), G Tanner Toolson (13.3 ppg, 4.0 rpg at Utah Valley), C Vianney Salatchoum (10.3 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 1.8 bpg at FIU), F Xavier Edwards (juco transfer), G Kayden Edwards (four-star freshman).

Outlook: After snapping a streak of three straight NCAA Tournament appearances last season, TCU lost four starters. But the Horned Frogs still managed to get older via the transfer portal, and Dixon’s track record suggests they just might get back there again this season.

He said it: “I think there’s good connection, there’s good work ethic, there’s good balance. I don’t think we have any holes and that’s a good thing.” — Dixon, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 12. COLORADO BUFFALOES

Game with UA: March 7 at CU Events Center, Boulder, Colo. (9 p.m., ESPN2)

School location: Boulder, Colorado

Series history: Anthony Dell’Orso hit 6 of 9 3-pointers to lead the Wildcats to a 78-63 win over Colorado on Jan. 25 last season at McKale Center in the teams’ first Big 12 matchup. Overall, Arizona leads the series 27-16.

Coach: Tad Boyle (312-204 in 15 seasons at Colorado, 364-246 in 18 seasons overall)

Last season: 14-21 overall, 3-17 Big 12 (16th), Crown first round, Kenpom rating 87

Big losses: G Julian Hammond (12.5 ppg, 2.5 rpg), Andrej Jakimovski (10.2 ppg, 5.1 rpg)

Top returnees: F Bangot Dak (8.2 ppg, 3.9 rpg), C Elijah Malone (7.9 ppg, 3.2 rpg), F Sebastian Rancik (5.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg), G Felix Kossaras (2.0 ppg, 1.2 rpg)

Impact additions: G Barrington Hargress (20.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, 4.0 apg), G Josiah Sanders (four-star freshman), G Jalin Holland (four-star freshman), C Fawaz “Tacko” Ifaola (four-star freshman)

Outlook: Already with a continuity-based strategy challenged in the NIL era, the Buffs lost three NBA Draft picks in 2024 and started their return to the Big 12 on a brutal note by losing their first 13 conference games. But Boyle retained some key pieces and brought in the Big West’s second leading scorer, Hargress, to take over as a key playmaker. A summertime trip to Australia also helped.

He said it: “I’ve still got fire in my belly. I feel good about the body of work that our staff has done here at Colorado and I sure as heck didn’t want to go out after a year like we had last year.” — Boyle, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 13. W. VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS

Game with UA: Jan. 24 at McKale Center (noon, CBS)

School location: Morgantown, West Virginia

Series history: Arizona lost 83-76 in overtime of a Battle 4 Atlantis third-place (and nonconference) game but returned to beat the Mountaineers 75-56 in Morgantown when KJ Lewis had 21 points to power Arizona out of early struggles. Arizona leads the series 4-3 overall.

Coach: Ross Hodge (first year at West Virginia; 46-22 in two seasons overall)

Last season: 19-13 overall, 10-10 Big 12 (tie/7th), Kenpom rating 53

Big losses: G Javon Small (18.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg), G Tucker DeVries (14.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg)

Top returnee: C Abaham Oyeadier (redshirted in 2024-25)

Impact additions: F Treysen Eaglestaff (18.9 ppg, 2.8 rpg, 2.4 apg at North Dakota), F Brenen Lorient (11.9 ppg, 4.9 rpg at North Texas), G Chance Moore (13.0 ppg, 6.5 rpg at St. Bonaventure), G Honor Huff (15.2 ppg, 1.8 rpg, 2.3 apg at Chattanooga), G Jasper Floyd (9.0 ppg, 4.0 rpg at North Texas), G Morris Ugusuk (5.9 ppg, 1.4 rpg at South Carolina), F Jayden Forsythe (four-star freshman), C Harlan Obioha (10.3 ppg, 6.6 rpg at UNC Wilmington)

Outlook: West Virginia is on its third post-Bob Huggins coach, after Darian DeVries bolted for Indiana after just one season in Morgantown. But Hodge did well running a defensive-oriented, slower tempo at North Texas, suggesting he might be able to create a few scares in his first season.

He said it: “I worked for coach (Larry) Eustachy for five years and he would say ‘you never see a donkey win the Kentucky Derby.’ So you certainly got to have the players and the horses. But we also wanted to get people that we thought loved playing basketball and loved other people and that combination usually allows you to have some success.” — Hodge, at Big 12 media day

 14. ARIZONA STATE SUN DEVILS

Game with UA: Jan. 14 at McKale Center (8:30 p.m., FS1), Jan. 31 at Desert Financial Arena, Tempe (4 p.m., ESPN2)

Series history: Arizona swept the series last season, winning 81-72 in Tempe and 113-100 at McKale, to improve to 163-86 against its in-state rival. UA has now won five straight since Desmond Cambridge hit a halfcourt buzzer-beater to beat the Wildcats 89-88 on Feb. 25, 2023, at McKale Center.

Coach: Bobby Hurley (168-151 in 10 seasons at ASU, 210-171 in 12 seasons overall)

Last season: 13-20 overall, 4-16 Big 12 (tie/15th), Kenpom rating 73

Big losses: F Jayden Quaintance (9.4 ppg, 7.9 rpg), G Joson Sanon (11.9 ppg, 3.4 rpg), F Basheer Jihad (12.7 ppg, 5.5 rpg), G Alston Mason (13.8 ppg, 4.0 apg), G BJ Freeman (13.7 ppg, 3.9 rpg)

Top returnee: G Trevor Best (3.6 ppg, 0.9 rpg)

Impact additions: G Moe Odum (13.1 ppg, 3.2 rpg, 7.5 apg at Pepperdine), G Adante Holiman (16.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 2.3 apg at Georgia Southern), G Anthony Johnson (NAIA transfer), F Allen Mukeba (14.6 ppg, 7.5 rpg at Oakland), F Andrija Grbovic (freshman), G Bryce Ford (7.1 ppg, 2.8 rpg at Toledo), F Marcus Adams (16.1 ppg, 4.9 rpg at Cal State Northridge)

Outlook: It doesn’t get any more clear cut than this. Hurley has finished below .500 in each of the past two seasons, has only reached one of the past five NCAA Tournaments, returns almost nobody from last season … and has a contract that expires after this season. He must win, and the rebuild he faces will make it tough to do so.

He said it: “I’m not delusional. It’s pretty unique. Not many coaches in our business would operate on a one-year deal. So I’m excited to coach this group.” — Hurley, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

 15. UTAH UTES

Game with UA: Jan. 3 at Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City (2 p.m., Peacock)

School location: Salt Lake City

Series history: Facing Utah in its first game after the school fired coach Craig Smith last season, Arizona rolled to an 83-66 win thanks partly to seven assists and 23 points from Caleb Love. UA now leads its former Border Conference, Pac-12 and now Big 12 counterpart 41-32 overall, though the Wildcats needed triple overtime to beat the Utes in their last visit to the Huntsman Center in February 2024.

Coach: Alex Jensen (first season at Utah and overall)

Last season: 16-17 overall, 8-12 Big 12 (11th), Crown first round, Kenpom rating 76

Big losses: G Gabe Madsen (15.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), F Ezra Ausar (12.5 ppg, 5.0 rpg), C Lawson Lovering (8.4 ppg, 5.0 rpg)

Top returnee: F Keanu Dawes (8.3 ppg, 6.4 rpg)

Impact additions: Babacar Faye (15.2 ppg, 7.8 rpg at Western Kentucky), F Seydou Traore (5.9 ppg, 3.0 rpg at Iowa), F Jahki Howard (4.2 ppg, 1.1 rpg at Auburn), G Terrance Brown (20.6 ppg, 5.6 rpg, 3.2 apg at FDU), G Don McHenry (17.0 ppg, 3.3 rpg at Western Kentucky), G Elijah Moore (5.2 ppg, 1.5 rpg at Syracuse)

Outlook: If it isn’t enough that the Utes struggled during their final Pac-12 seasons and into Big 12 play last season, it’s that rival BYU has far surpassed them into the Big 12’s upper echelon. That pressure drove the Utes to fire Smith and seek out Jensen, a former standout during the Utes’ glory days under Rick Majerus. Jensen is a well-seasoned coach at multiple pro levels, but it will take time, at least.

He said it: “I go back to the teams that have had success at Utah and there have been not many top 50, top 100 players but always guys who have wanted to come to play, wanted to get better and then you see where that takes you.” — Jensen, at Big 12 preseason media day

 16. UCF KNIGHTS

Game with UA: Jan. 17 at Addition Financial Arena, Orlando, Fla. (2 p.m., ESPN, ESPN2 or ESPNU)

School location: Orlando, Florida

Series history: Arizona had five players score in double figures while beating UCF 88-80 at McKale Center last Jan. 11 in the only previous matchup between the two teams. UCF didn’t become a Division I program until 1985.

Coach: Johnny Dawkins (168-119 in nine seasons at UCF, 324-234 in 16 seasons overall)

Last season: 20-17 overall, 7-13 Big 12 (tie/12th), Crown runner-up, Kenpom rating 67

Big losses: F Keyshawn Hall (18.8 ppg, 7.3 rpg), G Darius Johnson (17.4 ppg, 3.4 rpg), C Moustapha Thiam (10.4 ppg, 6.4 rpg), G Jordan Ivy-Curry (13.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg)

Impact additions: G Themus Fulks (14.6 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 5.9 apg at Milwaukee), G George Beale (13.0 ppg, 2.3 rpg at Hampton), G Riley Kugel (9.3 ppg, 3.0 rpg at Mississippi State), G Carmelo Pacheco (9.5 ppg, 1.7 rpg, 46.4% 3FG at Mount St. Mary’s), G Kris Parker (2.6 ppg, 1.4 rpg at Villanova), F Jamichael Stillwell (13.0 ppg, 10.7 rpg), F Jordan Burks (5.7 ppg, 3.4 rpg at Georgetown), F Devan Cambridge (5.5 ppg, 3.5 rpg at Texas Tech)

Outlook: The Knights picked up three wins in the Crown, but have only made the NCAA Tournament once under Dawkins, who took over UCF in 2016-17 after facing Arizona regularly at Stanford. A second appearance looks unlikely, considering Dawkins has an entirely new roster of recruited scholarship players.

He said it: “This is like free agency every year. Players can go and see what they can get. Some want to return, but they all want to know their value. I’ve had it both ways. Some kids have stayed. This year, they all decided to do something different.” — Dawkins, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook

Contact sports reporter Bruce Pascoe at bpascoe@tucson.com. On X(Twitter): @brucepascoe

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