Arizona men’s basketball announces non-conference schedule
Jul 19, 2018, 6:00 PM | Updated: Jul 24, 2018, 7:59 am
(AP Photo/Timothy J. Gonzalez)
The Arizona Wildcats men’s basketball team has announced their non-conference schedule.
As always, the schedule starts with the Red-Blue Game, which takes place on Oct. 14. From there, the Wildcats play two exhibition games at home before the regular season begins with three games at McKale Center.
The real start of the season will be on Nov. 19 in the Maui Invitational, the seventh time the team has been in the tournament. The Wildcats will take on Iowa State in the first round, with a Round 2 matchup with either Gonzaga or Illinois. The high level of competition includes Auburn, Duke, Gonzaga, Illinois, Iowa State, San Diego State and Xavier.
After a home game against Texas Southern on Nov. 28, Arizona’s non-conference road schedule starts with a trip to Hartford against UConn on Dec. 2.
Utah Valley comes to Tucson on Dec. 6 and then the Wildcats’ final non-conference road game follows on Dec. 9 against Alabama in Tuscaloosa.
Three home games against Baylor, Montana and UC Davis wrap up December and the non-conference schedule before Pac-12 play begins on Jan. 2.
Sean Miller’s team lost all five starters due to graduation and the NBA Draft. In its place, Miller will rely on players in lesser roles last season like Brandon Randolph and Emmanuel Akot while also bringing in the No. 21 ranked recruiting class in the country, per 247Sports.