Arizona Portal Target Cancels Much-Anticipated Visit

For now, it looks like Tiller will be snubbing the Wildcats from consideration for his services. Which could be a tremendous whiff if Tiller takes the leap he is expected to take next season. Tiller played a role in ending Arizona’s bid for an undefeated season on Feb. 9, scoring 18 points and grabbing 8 rebounds in an 82-78 Kansas victory. 

Uncertainty in Tucson 

Adding Tiller to the Wildcats frontcourt would have helped tremendously if Tommy Lloyd had been able to land him.

The Wildcats are potentially going to lose a lot of production this offseason, as their entire starting backcourt in Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries are likely departing for the NBA Draft, and forwards Koa Peat, Motiejus Krivas, and Ivan Kharchenkov have yet to indicate whether they are staying in Tucson, or departing, which could either throw a wrench in the team’s plans, or play right into them. 

Arizona’s Losses and Additions 

The Wildcats have been hit by the transfer portal a bit so far this offseason. Dwayne Aristode opted to depart, and Tommy Lloyd has brought in UNC transfer Derek Dixon and Washington transfer JJ Mandaquit through the portal so far. They haven’t had to suffer as many losses as some other teams in the college basketball realm, but their roster will certainly look much different next year than it did this past season. 

After one of the best seasons in program history last season which saw the Wildcats win 36 games, sweep the Big 12 in both the regular season, and in the conference tournament, and advance all the way to the Final Four for the first time since 2001, the Wildcats are looking to load up once again to embark on another memorable season in 2026-27.

Losing out on Tiller certainly hurts, but the Wildcats have proven that they can find diamonds in the rough before, and they’ll need to work that magic once again this offseason.