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TUCSON, AZ - MARCH 02: Players and coaches celebrate after defeating the Iowa State Cyclones 73 - 57 and clinching the Big 12 conference championship on March 2, 2026, at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena in Tucson, AZ. (Photo by Christopher Hook/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images
Arizona men’s basketball finished up a historical regular season on Saturday night with a win over Colorado. The victory marked win number 29, the most in a regular season for the program.
With a perfect balance of veteran leadership and freshman talent, the Wildcats are set up for a potentially long post season run. This is the best regular season in head coach Tommy Lloyd’s five years, and arguably his most talented roster.
Here are the season grades for Arizona’s players, bench rotation, and coaching for the 2025-26 regular season:
Jaden Bradley: A+
Death, taxes, and Jaden Bradley making shots in the clutch. Time and again he was the guy taking the shots late in games to help get Arizona to the finish line. Whether the shots were in the final minute, or down the stretch of the game, the ball was in Bradley’s hands.
Finishing the season averaging 13.4 points per game and shooting 46.1%, Bradley had consistent performances throughout the season. His season high came against Florida in the season opener where he scored 27 points.
Bradley shot 79.9 percent from the line and attempted the most free throws this season. He also had the most assists on the team this season with 142. If Arizona wants to keep playing games into April, the ball will be in Bradley’s hands.
Oh yeah, he was also named the Big 12 Player of the Year. The toughest player in the toughest conference.
Brayden Burries: A+
If Bradley is the first option in the clutch, Brayden Burries is not a bad option at the number two spot. If anything, most would probably consider him 1B. He finished as the Wildcats’ leading scorer this season with 16 points per game on 49.7 percent shooting.
While Burries may have had a slow start to the season, he found his groove when Arizona needed him to. His introduction to the basketball world came on the road in Birmingham against Alabama when he scored 28 points and hit five threes.
Burries’ season high came on Saturday when he helped the Wildcats overcome a sluggish start when he scored 31 points. One aspect of his game that really shined down the stretch of the season was his ability to rebound. He finished third on the team with 154 and averaged five rebounds per game
He also hit the most 3-pointers this season with 50, so if UA needs a shot from long distance, Burries will be the guy to go to.
Ivan Kharchenkov: A
I’m not sure going into this season anyone had him as a starting player, but it did take long for people to figure out why he is. He can guard ball handlers, he can guard bigs, he is Arizona’s most underrated player this season. Ivan Kharchenkov has done everything that has been asked of him. Taking on assignments from AJ Dybantsa to Darryn Peterson, he has limited opponent’s best players on multiple occasions.
While his offense might not be entirely there yet, his defense made up for it. Still, there were many moments this season where Kharchenkov made timely baskets. He finished the season averaging 9.8 points per game on 47.9 percent shooting. When March Madness comes, he will draw the assignment of every team’s best player.
Koa Peat: A
His introduction to the basketball world was put on blast. In the shining lights of Las Vegas against Florida, Koa Peat dropped 30 points in his debut. He has been dubbed “Mr. Arizona” since then and has been a large part of the Wildcats’ success this season.
Averaging 13.8 points on 54.8 percent shooting, he made a living in the paint. Whether it was off a lob pass, a post move, or his unmistakable jump shot, Peat was nearly unstoppable down low. Peat was fourth on the team in rebounds with 149.
Unless he is flying through the air, his stats aren’t necessarily eye-opening. However, Peat’s performances are consistent. That consistency will be key going into the postseason.
Motiejus Krivas: A
There was a lot of uncertainty going into this season surrounding Motiejus Krivas. Coming off of his injury last season, most were unsure if he could overcome his lack of experience and if he could produce enough for the Wildcats.
Safe to say Krivas has exceeded those expectations and uncertainties with a stellar season. Averaging 10.8 points per game on 58.8 percent shooting, he became a large part of the offensive gameplan for Arizona. He had a career-high 25 points against Kansas State.
Once he was able to find his touch around the rim, he became a force to reckon with. Krivas also became a force to reckon with at the rim. He led the team in blocks with 57 on the season. It became more and more difficult for opponents to have success at the rim as the season went on and that was due to Krivas becoming an elite rim protector.
Tobe Awaka: A+
The Big 12 Sixth Man of the Year, one of the nation’s best rebounders, and Arizona’s hardest worker. Tobe Awaka has made the most of his minutes coming off the bench. Averaging 9.6 points per game on 59.1 percent shooting, his production came off of the glass.
He led the Wildcats in rebounds with 296 on the season and averaged 9.5 per game. Awaka was basically an automatic double-double every game. Similar to Peat, he did most of his work down low. His season high came against ASU when he scored 25 points.
One thing that did not show up on the stat sheet this season is the sacrifice he made at the beginning of the season. After starting almost all of last season, Awaka gave Krivas the space he needed to grow, even if that meant giving up his starting spot. He knew that in the long run that his sacrifice would pay dividends in the long run.
Anthony Dell’Orso: B+
Another player that made the sacrifice of being a starter to a key piece off the bench, Anthony Dell’Orso had brought a little bit of everything to the table for Arizona. In some of the more critical games this season, it was Dell’Orso who stepped up.
Against UCLA, he had 20 points and helped keep the Wildcats within range of the Bruins. When Arizona was down two players in its rotation, Dell’Orso had the week of his career. In the BYU game, he had a UA-best 22 points. He followed up that performance with another 22 point outing against Houston.
It was two of the more impressive performances of the season, but his season was not always sunshine and rainbows. For most of the games Dell’Orso struggled offensively. However, that did not stop him from being the best free throw shooter on the team. He shot 83.3% on the season. If Arizona wants to make it far into March, they will need Dell’Orso to be at his best.
Dwayne Aristode: B
Part of a class of star-studded freshmen, Dwayne Aristode was not asked to do much this season. Coming off the bench, he was quickly one of the go-to options when you need a shot from beyond the arch.
Shooting 45.9 percent from three, Aristode’s ability to shoot from deep kept defenses on their toes while also helping to open up the inside. His season high in points came early in the season against NAU when he had 18 points and all 18 came from beyond the three point line.
Similar to Dell’Orso, his contributions off the bench will be a big factor into how far Arizona can go in the NCAA tournament.
Coaching: A+
In his five years in Tucson, this is by far and away Lloyd’s best year. The evidence lies in some of the achievements the Wildcats earned this year. This season had the best start in program history, as well as the most consecutive wins in program history.
The Wildcats held the No. 1 ranking in the AP poll for nine consecutive weeks, yet another program record. These records were all accomplished while playing in the Big 12 (arguably the toughest conference), but possibly the toughest schedule in Arizona history.
Starting the season off with a win in Las Vegas against the reigning national champions in Florida set the tone for the season. The Wildcats went on to beat UCLA and Alabama on neutral courts as well as UConn in Storrs. Then came the gauntlet of the Big 12.
While it may have taken its only two losses in conference play, it helped Arizona in the long run. UA went on to sweep BYU, beat Houston on the road, and capped the home season off with a Big 12 regular season title against Iowa State.
For Lloyd personally, the evidence lies in winning the Big 12 coach of the year. It’s his second conference head coach of the year award. His first came during his first year when Arizona was in the Pac-12.
At 141 career wins, it is the most for a head coach in his first five seasons. Lloyd has not only won in his time at Arizona, he has proven he can adjust his coaching style. From being a high flying offensive team, to being a physically dominant team. The expectations for the postseason are high, but it should not be lost on people how historical this year’s regular season was.
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