Preview of Arizona Wildcats' 2018-19 nonconference schedule

Houston Baptist Huskies

Location: Houston

Date/time/TV: Nov. 7, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $100,000)

Series history: UA leads 1-0, last game in 1984-85

Last season: 6-25 (2-16 in Southland Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 346

Coach: Ron Cottrell (87-160 in eight seasons)

Go-to guys: C Josh Ibarra (Sr., 16.0 ppg, 10.0 rpg), G Ian DuBose (So., 12.5 ppg, 5.5 rpg), G Braxton Bonds (Sr., 10.3 ppg, 5.1 apg).

X-factor: F Jackson Stent (Jr, juco transfer who redshirted in 2015-16 at Nicholls).

Key newcomers: Stent, G Ty Dalton (So, juco transfer), G Qon Murphy (freshman),

Outlook: A foot injury kept Houston Baptist without Ibarra and his 6-foot-11-inch, 250-pound frame most of last season, and the Huskies suffered without his presence. Houston Baptist was one of Division I’s worst teams. But there could be some improvement this season with seven returnees who played significantly last season.

Cal Poly Mustangs

Location: San Luis Obispo, Calif.

Date/time/TV: Nov. 11, 3 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $90,000)

Series history: UA leads 3-0, last game in 2013-14

Last season: 9-22 (4-12 in Big West Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 306

Coach: Joe Callero (121-161 in nine seasons at Cal Poly; 259-291 in 10 seasons overall)

Go-to guys: G Donovan Fields (Sr., 13.0 ppg, 4.1 apg), G Marcellus Garrick (Sr., 6.5 ppg, 1.6 rpg)

X factor: F Jakub Niziol (Sr., 7.2 ppg, 2.3 rpg, .345 3FG).

Key newcomers: G Junior Ballard (freshman), G Job Alexander (Jr., juco transfer)

Outlook: After reaching the 2014 NCAA Tournament, the Mustangs have posted four straight losing seasons. Callero has tried to recruit bigger players to boost their woeful rebounding, but there’s too many newcomers for this team to make a big jump ahead. The Mustangs need Fields to be an all-Big West player. It will help if Alexander can handle some of the point guard duties, and let Fields operate off the ball.

UTEP Miners

Location: El Paso

Date/time/TV: Nov. 14, 6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $90,000)

Series history: UA leads 61-30, last game in 2014-15

Last season: 11-20 (6-12 in Conference USA)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 289

Coach: Rodney Terry (first season, 126-108 in eight seasons overall)

Go-to guys: F Paul Thomas (Sr., 8.1 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Evan Gilyard (So., 9.1 ppg, 1.9 rpg),

X factor: G Kobe Magee (So., 4.5 ppg, 53.1 3FG in conference games)

Key newcomers: G Jordan Lathon (four-star freshman), G Nigel Hawkins (freshman), F Isaiah Rhynes (Jr., juco transfer)

Outlook: The Tim Floyd era ended abruptly early last season, when the former USC coach resigned following a 1-5 start, and the Miners never really recovered. The Texas-born Terry came over from Fresno State to take the job, immediately signing a basket of freshmen and juco transfers he hopes will allow him to play an up-tempo scheme. He also pulled in six Division I transfers who will sit out the required redshirt season. That’s too bad for the Miners: In a time of immense transition, they could use the extra help right now.

Iowa State Cyclones

Location: Ames, Iowa

Date/time/TV: Nov. 19, 7 p.m., ESPNU

Game location: Lahaina Civic Center, Lahaina, Hawaii

Contract: First bracketed game of Maui Invitational.

Series history: Tied 3-3, last game in 1998-99

Last season: 13-18 (4-14 in Big 12 Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 142

Coach: Steve Prohm (60-41 in three seasons at Iowa State; 164-70 in seven seasons overall)

Go-to guys: G Lindell Wigginton (So., 16.7 ppg, 2.8 apg, .401 3FG), G Nick Weiler-Babb (Sr., 11.3 ppg, 7.0 rpg, 6.8 apg), F Solomon Young (Jr., 7.2 ppg, 5.9 rpg)

X factor: F Cameron Lard (So., 12.6 ppg, 8.1 rpg)

Key newcomers: G Marial Shayok (Sr., Virginia transfer), F Zion Griffin (four-star freshman), G Talen Horton-Tucker (four-star freshman), F Michael Jacobson (Jr., Nebraska transfer)

Outlook: After six straight seasons of NCAA tournament bids and 20 or more wins, the Cyclones stumbled badly last season after losing star Monte Morris and suffering a number of injuries. But this Iowa State team looks like an NCAA Tournament contender again, with four starters back, including Wigginton, a potential all-Big 12 pick who tested the NBA Draft waters but opted to return. Prohm also brought in several well-regarded freshmen and should get immediate help from his two Division I transfers, Shayok and Jacobson.

Other Maui Invitational Teams

Gonzaga Bulldogs

Location: Spokane, Wash.

Last season: 32-5 (17-1 in West Coast Conference)

Coach: Mark Few (535-118, 19 seasons)

Go-to guy: G Josh Perkins (Sr., 12.3 ppg, 5.3 apg)

San Diego State Aztecs

Location: San Diego

Last season: 22-11 (11-7 in Mountain West Conference)

Coach: Brian Dutcher (22-11, one season)

Go-to guy: G Devin Watson (Sr., 12.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg, 3.8 apg)

Illinois Fighting Illini

Location: Champaign, Ill.

Last season: 14-18 (4-14 Big Ten)

Coach: Brad Underwood (14-18, one season)

Go-to guy: G Aaron Jordan (Sr., 7.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 46.3 3FG)

Duke Blue Devils

Location: Durham, N.C.

Last season: 29-8 (13-5 Atlantic Coast Conference)

Coach: Mike Krzyzewski (1,207-279, 38 seasons)

Go-to guy: G R.J. Barrett (freshman)

Xavier Musketeers

Location: Cincinnati

Last season: 29-6 (15-3 Big East Conference)

Coach: Travis Steele (first season)

Go-to guy: F Naji Marshall (So., 7.7 ppg, 4.4 rpg)

Auburn Tigers

Location: Auburn, Ala.

Last season: 26-8 (13-5 Southeastern Conference)

Coach: Bruce Pearl (70-62 (four seasons)

Go-to guy: G Bryce Brown (Sr., 15.9 ppg, 2.0 rpg)

Georgia Southern Eagles

Location: Statesboro, Ga.

Date/time/TV: Nov. 29, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $90,000).

Series history: First meeting

Last season: 21-12 (11-7 Sun Belt)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 143

Coach: Mark Byington (90-72 in five seasons at Georgia Southern; 97-76 in six seasons overall)

Go-to guys: G Tookie Brown (Sr., 18.9 ppg, 4.3 apg), G Ike Smith (Sr., 12.0 ppg, 4.3 rpg), F Montae Glenn (Sr., 9.0 ppg, 8.1 rpg).

X factor: F Isaiah Crawley (juco transfer)

Key newcomers: Crawley, G David Viti (freshman), F Trey Dawkins (juco transfer), G Elijah McFadden (freshman), Calvin Wishart (freshman), G Will Dillard (freshman).

Outlook: The Wildcats made a late upgrade to their schedule, replacing Texas Southern with Georgia Southern after Mike Davis left the Houston school. The Eagles have a solid mix of experience and incoming talent, directed by a veteran point guard in Brown who has been named all-Sun Belt three times. They aren’t a great shooting team, however, making only 33.6 percent from 3-point range and 66.1 percent of their free throws last season. But they are reasonably efficient offensively and it wouldn’t be a surprise to see this team in the NCAA Tournament.

UConn Huskies

Location: Storrs, Conn.

Date/time/TV: Dec. 2, 11 a.m., ESPN2

Game location: XL Center, Hartford, Conn.

Contract: Two-game series (first game at McKale Center in 2017-18)

Series history: UConn leads 5-1, last game in 2017-18

Last season: 14-18 (7-11 in American Athletic Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 126

Coach: Dan Hurley (first season at UConn; 151-105 in eight seasons overall)

Go-to guys: G Jalen Adams (Sr., 18.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg), G Christian Vital (Jr., 14.9 ppg, 5.4 rpg),

X factor: F Josh Carlton (So., 4.4 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

Key newcomers: G Tarin Smith (Duquesne grad transfer), G Brendan Adams (freshman), F Kassoum Yakwe (St. John’s grad transfer).

Outlook: Bobby Hurley’s brother, Dan, takes over a once-proud program in the wake of a messy departure by Kevin Ollie, who has been fighting UConn’s intent to fire him for cause – and not paying his $10 million buyout. But the hard-driving Hurley might be the guy to pull it off, having firm Northeastern roots and having rebuilt programs at Wagner and Rhode Island. He’s got one of the AAC’s best players in Jalen Adams and a former McDonald’s All-American in Alterique Gilbert, who has been sidelined most of the past two seasons with shoulder issues.

Utah Valley Wolverines

Location: Orem, Utah

Date/time/TV: Dec. 6, 7 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $90,000)

Series history: UA leads 1-0, last game in 2014-15

Last season: 23-11 (10-4 Western Athletic Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 91

Coach: Mark Pope (52-46 in three seasons at Utah Valley and overall)

Go-to guys: G Conner Toolson (Sr., 12.1 ppg, 3.7 rpg, 1.6 spg), F Jake Toolson (Sr., 10.9 ppg, 4.7 rpg).

X factor: F Connor MacDougall (New Mexico transfer),

Key newcomers: MacDougall, C Baylee Steele (Eastern Michigan transfer), F Wyatt Lowell (four-star freshman), G T.J. Washington (juco transfer), F Isaiah White (juco transfer)

Outlook: Mark Pope has turned the Wolverines from what was one of Division I’s worst teams in 2014-15 into a WAC power, in part by recruiting successfully in the transfer market. However, he loses six rotation players from last season, including three players who earned all-conference recognition. But he returns a potential all-league player in Conner Toolson who is a second cousin of teammate Jake Toolson, while Lowell comes off a two-year mission after being one of Arizona’s best high school players in 2015-16. There are more transfers arriving, including MacDougall, a former South Mountain High School and ASU player.

Alabama Crimson Tide

Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Date/time/TV: Dec. 9, 11 a.m., ESPN

Game location: Coleman Coliseum, Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Contract: Two-game series (first game at McKale Center last season)

Series history: Alabama leads 2-1, last game in 2017-18

Last season: 20-16 (8-10 Southeastern Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 41

Coach: Avery Johnson (57-46 in three seasons at Alabama and overall)

Go-to guys: G John Petty (So., 10.2 ppg, 2.6 rpg), C Donta Hall (10.6 ppg, 6.6 rpg)

X factor: F Riley Norris (Sr., 4.8 ppg, coming off hip injury)

Key newcomers: F Tevin Mack (Jr., Texas transfer), G Kira Lewis (four-star freshman), G Diante Wood (four-star freshman)

Outlook: Despite being in Nick Saban’s backyard, Avery Johnson is making Tide fans pay attention to basketball. Alabama won its first NCAA tournament game since 2006 and drew some 13,000 fans per game last season. While star guard Collin Sexton has come and gone to the NBA, Johnson should be able to sustain last season’s momentum because Alabama has six of its top eight scorers returning, including slick-shooting John Petty and shot-blocking forward Donta Hall. It gets easier if the 17-year-old Lewis can help out at the point after skipping his senior season of high school.

Baylor Bears

Location: Waco, Texas

Date/time/TV: Dec. 15, 9 p.m., ESPN2

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Two-game series with second game in Waco on Dec. 7, 2019.

Series history: Arizona leads 5-3, last game in 1997-98

Last season: 19-15 (8-10 Big 12 Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 70

Coach: Scott Drew (296-195 in 15 seasons at Baylor; 316-206 in 16 seasons overall)

Go-to guys: G King McClure (Sr., 8.1 ppg, 2.5 rpg), F Mario Kegler (So., Mississippi State transfer), F Tristan Clark (So., 6.8 ppg, 4.5 rpg), G Mark Vital (So., 6.7 ppg, 5.6 rpg).

X factor: G Darius Allen (juco transfer)

Key newcomers: Kegler, Allen, G Makai Mason (Sr., Yale transfer), G Devonte Bandoo (juco transfer), G Jared Butler (four-star freshman originally signed with Alabama),

Outlook: Drew has built a remarkably consistent program in Waco, with teams lately that excel on the offensive glass, but he’s being tested now. Baylor started Big 12 play 2-7 last season, missed the NCAA Tournament and then lost its top four scorers. Baylor will also be without guard Jake Lindsey, who had hip surgery. The Bears will attempt to recover with a mix of junior college transfers, freshmen and Mason, who dropped 31 points on Baylor to lead Yale to an upset win in the first round of the 2016 NCAA Tournament. They learned in late September that Butler can play immediately. He was released from his Alabama letter-of-intent, helping offset the loss of Lindsey.

Montana Grizzlies

Location: Missoula, Mont.

Date/time/TV: Dec. 19, 6:30 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $95,000).

Series history: UA leads 1-0, last game in 1995-96

Last season: 26-8 (16-2 Big Sky Conference)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 76

Coach: Travis DeCuire (83-49 in four seasons at Montana and overall)

Go-to guys: G Ahmaad Rorie (Sr., 17.2 ppg, G Michael Oguine (Sr., 15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg, 1.4 spg), F Jamar Akoh (Jr., 12.8 ppg, 6.6 rpg), F Bobby Morehead (Sr., 7.4 ppg, 5.1 rpg).

X factor: F Donaven Dorsey (Sr., Washington transfer, sat out 2017-18 with hip injury)

Key newcomers: Dorsey, F Kelby Kramer (redshirt freshman), G Eddy Egun (freshman), F Mack Anderson (freshman), F Ben Carter (Australian forward), G Freddy Brown III (freshman)

Outlook: The final two games Arizona will play before its Christmas break, against Montana and UC Davis, could be a trap. The Grizzlies return six of their top seven players from a team that won both the Big Sky regular-season and tournament titles last season. They have an accomplished veteran backcourt in Rorie, a former Oregon player, and Oguine, who are among the Big Sky’s best. They could have another all-conference player in rugged post player Akoh, while Dorsey has shown enough promise in offseason workouts to suggest he’ll make a big difference if healthy.

UC Davis Aggies

Location: Davis, Calif.

Date/time/TV: Dec. 22, 5 p.m., Pac-12 Networks

Game location: McKale Center

Contract: Single game (UA pays $95,000)

Series history: UA leads 1-0, last game in 1974-75

Last season: 22-11 (12-4 Big West)

Final 2017-18 RPI: 101

Coach: Jim Les (109-115 in seven seasons at UC Davis; 263-255 in 16 seasons overall)

Go-to guys: G T.J. Shorts II (Sr., 14.4 ppg, 4.4 apg, 52.1 FG%), G Siler Schneider (Sr., 13.9 ppg, 3.1 rpg), F Garrison Goode (Sr., 4.8 ppg, 3.7 rpg)

X factor: F AJ John (7.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 38.5 3PT),

Key newcomers: G Stefan Gonzalez (St. Mary’s transfer), G Gio Nelson (redshirt freshman), G Damion Squire (freshman), G Caleb Fuller (English freshman), C Matt Nuefeld (Jr., Saint Louis transfer) , F Jonah Underwood (juco transfer).

Outlook: The Aggies finished last season on a sour note, losing to Cal State Fullerton in the Big West semifinals and to Utah in the first round of the NIT, but they’re a perennial Big West contender. UC Davis has won two of the past four regular-season titles, and should contend for another one this season. The Aggies return the conference player of the year in Shorts and a promising group of freshmen and transfers. Also taking nonconference trips to Arkansas, USC and Indiana, the Aggies don’t figure to be intimidated by McKale Center.