Ranking Final Four starters underscores Arizona’s biggest advantage

Arizona has three of the top six and four out of the top 10 in the "Ranking every starter in the men's Final Four" by ESPN, which was published on Wednesday. The depth Arizona has utilized throughout the 2025-26 season has been its biggest advantage.

The depth Arizona has played with during the 2025-26 season means that they do not have to rely on one player to take over a game. Yaxel Lendeborg of Michigan, Keaton Wagler of Illinois and Tarris Reed of Connecticut are ranked as the top three starters in the 2026 Final Four by ESPN.

Guard Brayden Burries is fourth, forward Koa Peat fifth and point guard Jaden Bradley sixth among the Final Four starters as ranked by ESPN. Alex Karaban of Connecticut is seventh, Aday Mara of Michigan eighth and Silas Demary of UConn is ninth in the starters rankings.

Arizona center Motiejuas Krivas is the 10th-ranked player in the ESPN starters rankings. Freshman forward Ivan Kharchenkov is the final Arizona starter in the rankings at 14. Connecticut, Michigan and Illinois all have starters ranked between 15 and 20 by ESPN. That includes former Arizona guard Kylan Boswell at 18.

Offensive balance advantage

With all five Arizona starters averaging in double figures, it is difficult for opponents to prepare for the Wildcats. Arizona also brings Tobe Awaka (9.3 points per game, 9.1 rebounds) and Anthony Dell'Orso 8.6 PPG) off the bench. Awaka and Dell'Orso were starters for most of the 2024-25 season.

While oddsmakers and metrics slightly favor Michigan over Arizona in the National Semifinal on Saturday, the rankings underscore that the Wildcats should have the best Final Four starting five. Analytics guru Evan Miyakawa posted the best lineups nationally throughout the 2025-26 season. Arizona is fourth nationally and first among Final Four teams.