Joe Lunardi of ESPN projects Arizona as the one seed in the West Regional in his first December Bracketology posted on Tuesday. Arizona is sixth in the initial 2025-26 NCAA Net Ratings released on Monday. The Wildcats are only one of six teams that are undefeated in quadrant one with multiple wins.
Arizona is projected to play 16th-seeded Tennessee State in the first round in San Diego. The winner between Arizona and Tennessee would play either eighth-seeded Nebraska or ninth-seeded SMU. A matchup against SMU would reunite Arizona against former USC head coach Andy Enfield, now leading the Mustangs.