Arizona Wildcats basketball programs prepare for upcoming seasons

The Arizona Wildcats men's and women's basketball programs are entering new phases of competition. Women's head coach Becky Burke stated during Big 12 Basketball Media Days that her primary objective for the 2026-27 season is to return the team to the NCAA tournament. Burke noted that the program addressed previous talent deficits through a combination of freshman recruiting and the transfer portal, specifically highlighting additions such as Lithuanian forward Gerda Raulušaitytė and former Cal standout Aliyahna Morris.

On the men's side, the Wildcats are preparing for their final exhibition game against Eastern Washington. This matchup serves as a final tune-up before the regular season begins on November 2 against UCLA. The game provides an opportunity for depth players and transfers, including Ugnius Jarusevicius and Evan Otten, to compete for roles while power forward RJ Godfrey remains ineligible.