2026 NCAA Basketball West

Overview

THE ARIZONA WILDCATS ARE YOUR 2026 NATIONAL CHAMPIONS

Arizona's triumph in the 2026 NCAA Tournament capped off a basketball season no fan will ever forget. The Wildcats arrived ready to dominate and achieved what so many before could not, capturing the legacy program's first national championship since 1997.

Anchored by Big 12 Player of the Year Jaden Bradley and the outstanding freshman trio of Bryaden Burries, Koa Peat and Ivan Kharchenkov, head coach Tommy Lloyd's squad raced to an astounding 23-0 start in the regular season en route to a Big 12 conference title. In March, they fought past LIU, Utah State, Arkansas and Purdue to set up a Final Four thriller against top seed Michigan, the ultimate test which punched their ticket to the championship game.

Packed with expert analysis from The Arizona Republic alongside stunning action photography, Top Cats: Arizona's Unforgettable 2026 Championship Season traces this long-awaited journey, from a daunting non-conference schedule that announced the arrival of the young Cats to ripping through the Big 12 Conference gauntlet, all the way to the final seconds in Indianapolis. Bear down!

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