NCAA basketball rankings show Arizona won’t give up No. 1 at 21-0

Arizona refuses to blink. With a perfect 21-0 record and freshly minted unanimous No. 1 ranking, the Wildcats are on pace for something special in the 2025-26 season. But can they keep the streak alive through March?

The Perfect Start No One Expected

Arizona opened the 2025-26 season at No. 13 in preseason polls. Few saw a juggernaut coming. Now, 13 games into the run, the Wildcats have silenced every skeptic with dominant wins over ranked opponents. The 21-0 record equals their 2013-14 start, the year they ultimately finished undefeated through February before falling in tournament play.

Coach Tommy Lloyd has constructed a machine that shoots 51.6 percent from the field, on pace for a top-5 finish in school history. This version is deeper, faster, and more polished than last year’s squad. The Big 12 competition has exposed zero weaknesses so far.

Jaden Bradley Emerges as the X-Factor

Senior point guard Jaden Bradley has become the heartbeat of this offense, averaging 12.1 points, 3.7 assists, and 1.8 steals per game. In the BYU victory, Bradley dropped 26 points on 10-of-15 shooting, showcasing the mid-range mastery that defines his game. The 6-3 guard plays with calm precision, turning on late-game heroics when pressure mounts.

His floor leadership runs deeper than stats. Bradley controls tempo, makes tough reads, and competes defensively. For a team chasing March glory, having a seasoned ball handler who thrives in crunch moments is invaluable. Lloyd trusts him implicitly.

Conference Schedule Enters Critical Phase

Factor	Arizona	Key Challengers
Record	21-0 overall, 8-0 conference	UConn 20-1, Duke 19-1
Remaining Tests	Kansas, Texas Tech, Houston, Baylor, Iowa State	Feb-Mar schedule brutal
Projected Seed	No. 1 seed locked in	Bracketology consensus
Tournament Advantage	Elite seeding, weak path	First-round bye likely

Arizona saved the toughest portion for late February. Kansas, Texas Tech, Houston, Baylor, and Iowa State have all been postponed until February and March. This schedule design means Lloyd’s team can build momentum through mid-January before real storms arrive. The Big 12 should expect nothing less than 8-0 or 7-1 from Arizona down the stretch.

“Still, head coach Tommy Lloyd believes his team has another level to reach off the court if it wants to become truly elite.”

— Sports Illustrated, January 2026

Can They Handle March Pressure Without Slipping?

History haunts Arizona fans. The 2013-14 squad started 21-0, only to stumble in tournament play. That team had elite talent but missed opportunities when it mattered most. This year feels different, though. Lloyd’s program operates with veteran awareness that Pac-12 era squads lacked.

ESPN projects Arizona at around 22 percent odds to win the national championship. That ranks them third behind Duke and a few others. The path exists. The tournament seeding will be friendly. Everything points toward Arizona competing in April. The question remains simple: Can discipline hold through February chaos and tournament intensity?

Will Tommy Lloyd Finally Deliver His First Championship?

Coach Lloyd took over in 2021 and has compiled a stunning .794 winning percentage. Yet he chases his first national title. The 2025-26 roster might be his best. With Bradley running point, balanced scoring threats, and elite defense, the pieces align in uncommon ways. USA Basketball awarded Lloyd Junior Coach of the Year honors, recognizing his trajectory.

Will Arizona finish the job that starts so perfectly? Stay tuned as the Wildcats navigate treacherous February showdowns and the March gauntlet ahead. The next 10 games will define their season.

Sources

• ESPN – Arizona Wildcats 21-0 ranking and championship odds analysis
• AP News – Unanimous No. 1 ranking confirmation and historical context
• CBS Sports – Complete team stats, player performance, and tournament projections