Arizona ranks fourth in the Big 12 for the percentage of scoring it returns for the 2025–26 men’s basketball season, bringing back 38.6% of last year’s production .
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🌟 Context in the Big 12 Hierarchy
Iowa State leads at 49.6%, followed by Houston with 49.4%, and BYU at 47.2%.
Arizona slots in at 38.6%, ahead of Texas Tech (36.6%), Colorado (34.1%), Cincinnati (33.4%), and TCU (28.1%).
At the bottom, Kansas returns only 16%, with Utah at 10.7%, Oklahoma State at 9%, Kansas State at 5.9%, Arizona State at 1.7%, and both Baylor and West Virginia at 0% .
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🔑 Arizona’s Returning Production Breakdown
From last season’s rotation, Arizona is seeing the return of three key perimeter players: Tobe Awaka, Jaden Bradley (team’s second-leading scorer at 12.1 ppg), and Anthony Dell’Orso (7.2 ppg), along with Motiejus Krivas (7.9 ppg in limited action) . Beyond them, walk-on Addison Arnold chipped in minimally (3 points), contributing to the 38.6% total.
🔄 Offseason Changes
Arizona lost six players via the transfer portal, including significant contributors Henri Veesaar and K.J. Lewis. Incoming is Harvard transfer Evan Nelson, a competent point guard who averaged 9.1 ppg in 2024–25, and a strong freshman class headlined by five-stars Brayden Burries and Koa Peat .
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📊 Significance & Outlook
Returning 38.6% places Arizona solidly mid-tier, fifth-highest among 16 teams (some sources use 16 when including expansion schools) .
While it trails the top trio, Arizona’s retention of its core—especially Bradley and Awaka—positions them well for consistency.
The infusion of experienced transfer guard Nelson and high-end freshmen offers a balanced shot to offset lost production.
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✅ Final Take
Despite losing notable pieces, Arizona’s fourth-place percent-return ranking underscores a measure of continuity. With a mix of returning talent, a savvy transfer, and heralded freshmen, the Wildcats seem poised to build on last season’s Sweet 16 appearance. Their performance next season may hinge on how quickly newcomers mesh with the established nucleus—and whether they can ramp their return percentage into the upper tier of Big 12 squads.
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