After both spent most of this season in the top 10, Arizona and Alabama have agreed to renew their nonconference series, starting with a game in Phoenix next season.
The two "UAs" completed a two-year home-and-home series in 2018-19, and Arizona confirmed Monday that this time they'll play at semi-neutral sites: Arizona will face Alabama on Dec. 20 at Phoenix’s Footprint Center and return the game to Birmingham, Alabama, on a date to be determined in the 2024-25 season.
The series underlines the strong relationship between Alabama AD Greg Byrne and Arizona AD Dave Heeke, both of whom are serving on this season’s NCAA basketball committee. Byrne was Arizona’s athletic director until January 2017, while Heeke, who once worked for Byrne’s father in Oregon’s athletic department, took over at Arizona two months later.
During the first basketball season the ADs were in their new roles, Arizona and Auburn began a two-year home-and-home series in which each team won on its home floor. The Wildcats won 88-82 at McKale Center on Dec. 9, 2017, and the Crimson Tide took the return game in Tuscaloosa 76-73 on Dec. 9, 2018.
Arizona will add the Alabama game to a 2023-24 nonconference schedule that already includes a Nov. 10 game at Duke and participation in the Thanksgiving week Wooden Legacy event in Anaheim, California. The Wildcats are also scheduled for a return game at Southern on Nov. 12 as part of the Pac-12/SWAC Legacy Series after beating the Jaguars 95-78 at McKale Center early this past season.
Arizona is scheduled to open the 2023-24 season at home on Nov. 6 against a team to be determined.
Rim shots
• UA coach Tommy Lloyd and several of his staffers are scheduled to attend the Final Four in Houston this weekend.
• The Pac-12 announced the retirement of Bobby Dibler, the coordinator of officials for the Western Basketball Officiating Consortium.
Day two of the NCAA tournament Elite Eight delivered some unforgettable action including a gritty defensive battle between San Diego State and Creighton as well as a dramatic comeback win by Miami to secure its first Final Four appearance in program history.
