Cats reload after Final Four run
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Arizona center Motiejus Krivas battles with San Diego State players during a preseason game Oct. 16. Photo: Chris Coduto/Getty Images
The Arizona Wildcats lost most of the players from last season's Final Four squad but should be back in the national championship conversation after bringing back two starters and reloading with highly touted recruits and transfers.
The big picture: The Cats start the men's basketball season as the No. 5 team nationally and are favored to win the Big 12 for a second consecutive year.
Catch up quick: UofA last season made its first Final Four appearance in 25 years, where they lost to Michigan.
- The Cats lost freshman phenoms Brayden Burries and Koa Peat to the NBA draft — Peat now plays for the Suns — while seniors Jaden Bradley, Tobe Awaka and Anthony Dell'Orso ran out of eligibility.
State of play: Head coach Tommy Lloyd still has some serious talent returning from last season, most notably center Motiejus Krivas.
- The 7-foot-2 Lithuanian is coming off a breakout season and is a preseason first-team Associated Press All-American and Big 12 Player of the Year going into his senior year.
- The other returning starter from last year is small forward Ivan Kharchenkov, who made a name last season as one of college basketball's best perimeter defenders and is looking to make a leap offensively.
Another important returner is Lloyd, who decided to stay in Tucson after North Carolina tried to woo him as its next head coach during the NCAA Tournament.
Zoom in: Five-star shooting guard Caleb Holt, who's already being discussed as a top-five pick in next year's NBA draft, headlines Lloyd's recruiting class this season, and much of the Cats' success could depend on him.
- The Cats loaded up in the transfer portal after last season and are likely to rely heavily on big man Ugnius Jarusevicius and guards Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit.
The intrigue: Forward RJ Godfrey transferred from Clemson to UofA in the offseason and has been awaiting a judge's ruling on whether he and other players will be eligible for a fifth year of play under a new NCAA rule.
- A federal judge last week denied Godfrey and 15 other players' request for a temporary restraining order, putting Godfrey's eligibility in doubt.
What we're watching: Bryce James, son of NBA legend LeBron James, didn't play last season after redshirting. Now he's eligible, but it remains to be seen if he'll get much time on the court.
What's next: The Cats open their season at 8pm Monday against former Pac-12 rival UCLA, the No. 22 team in the country.