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Arizona Basketball projected as a 5-seed in latest Bracketology

By Eric Townsend

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats stands with assistant coaches during a time out against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA - MARCH 20: Head coach Tommy Lloyd of the Arizona Wildcats stands with assistant coaches during a time out against the TCU Horned Frogs during the first half in the second round game of the 2022 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Viejas Arena at San Diego State University on March 20, 2022 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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With a few months to go until the start of the 2022-23 Arizona Basketball season, the Wildcats are currently projected as a 5-seed in the latest Bracketology. 

Even with college basketball still, a few months away, we are quickly approaching the 2022-23 Arizona Basketball season.

Already, Tommy Lloyd and the Wildcats are beginning to make preparations for the upcoming season as the team best tried to replicate its success from 2021-22.

As we are all too aware by now, it is that Arizona is coming off an impressive 28-3 regular season finish while winning the Pac-12 regular season and conference tournament championships. This was all en route to earning a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament this past March.

Unfortunately, the season came to a disheartening end in the Sweet 16 as the Wildcats fell to then No. 4 seed Houston in the Midwest Regional.

While replicating that success may be challenging, Arizona Basketball is drawing preseason hype as they are projected as a 5-seed in the latest Bracketology. 

Just as he does every year, ESPN College Basketball Insider Joe Lunardi released his way-too-early Bracketology, and coming as a No. 5 seed in the West region are our beloved Wildcats.

https://twitter.com/ESPNLunardi/status/1557020083750330368?s=20&t=XarrxkLPhjjnu0rUGgqTaA

A rather respectable prediction, Arizona is replacing several key departures, including three NBA draft picks from last season.

Based on Lunardi’s latest projection, the Wildcats would face 12th-seeded Drake in the opening round of the Tournament. And if they were to win that hypothetical matchup, Arizona would then have a possible matchup against No. 4 seed TCU (a rematch of the Round of 32 matchup from last year).

The road for the Wildcats from there would possibly include matchups against No. 1 seed Gonzaga in the Sweet 16, followed by possible matchups against No. 2 UCLA, No. 3 Arkansas, No. 6 Texas Tech, or possibly even No. 7 seed Xavier (Sean Miller’s current team).

Coming into the season, the Wildcats are considered a fringe Top 25 team, a stark contrast from last year when Arizona was unranked and considered an NCAA Tournament long shot.

Either way, we are excited about the upcoming season and cannot wait to see what the Wildcats can do in year two of the Coach Lloyd era.

light. Related Story. Arizona Basketball draws Cincinnati in first round of Maui Invitational

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