Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller converses with an official during the first half of the University of Arizona Wildcats vs. North Dakota Fighting Hawks in the first round of the NCAA Tournament on March 16, 2017, at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City, Utah. Mike Christy / Arizona Daily Star
Arizona and Alabama signed contracts cementing their two-year home-and-home series to to complete the Wildcats' 2017-18 nonconference schedule.
UA wound up with half of its nonconference games (other than those in the competitive Battle 4 Atlantis field) against teams who posted RPIs between 59-121 last season, though its highest-rated opponent isΒ Cal State Bakersfield in a "guarantee" game.Β
The Roadrunners were also invited to McKale last season,Β playing the shorthanded Wildcats within 12 points. Guarantee opponents such as Bakersfield are paid flat fees, usually between $85,000-$95,000, instead of getting the Wildcats to return the game at their home.
The one-time "guarantee" games are against NAU, UMBC (technically part of the Atlantis event), Bakersfield, LBSU, and North Dakota State.
Also in 2018-19, Arizona will open a home-and-home series with Baylor at McKale Center.
The Wildcats will also play in the 2018 Maui Invitational, as part of a loaded field that includes Duke, Xavier, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Auburn, Illinois and Iowa State.
