The Arizona men's basketball team's 2024-25 nonconference slate is highlighted by Duke's appearance in Tucson, the Wildcats visiting Madison, Wisconsin, and the UA and UCLA keeping their West region rivalry alive in Phoenix.
Here's a look at those three, and the rest (listed in order of game date) before the Wildcats open up their first Big 12 schedule:
CANISIUS GOLDEN GRIFFINS
Date/time/TV: Nov. 4, 8 p.m., ESPN+
Game location: McKale Center
School location: Buffalo, N.Y.
Series history: Arizona is 1-3 against Canisius but hasn’t played the Griffins in 71 years and all the games were in Buffalo. Arizona lost on New Year’s Day 1948 as well as during the 1950-51 and 1953-54 seasons but beat Canisius 79-58 in their last matchup, on Dec. 21, 1953.
Coach: Jim Christian (first season at Canisius; 320-286 in 19 seasons overall)
Last season: 14-18 overall, 8-12 MAAC (9th), KenPom ranking 278
Big losses: G Tre Dinkins (15.4 ppg, 2.7 rpg, 3.6 apg), F Frank Mitchell (12.1 ppg, 11.6 rpg), G Siem Uijtendaal (13.3 ppg, 3.4 rpg).
Top returnee: G Cam Palesse (6.8 ppg, 3.6 rpg),
Impact additions: G Anthony Benard (2.3 ppg, 2.0 apg at Mercer), G Paul McMillan (8.3 ppg, 2.1 rpg at Central Michigan), G Tana Kopa (12.9 ppg, 3.9 rpg at Long Island), F Jasman Sangha (6.4 ppg, 2.3 rpg at Cal State Northridge).
Outlook: A veteran head coach who has made stops at Kent State, TCU, Ohio and Boston College, Christian immediately hopped on the transfer portal upon taking his new job. He added versatility and offensive skill to a roster that lost four starters but still has enough new players and uncertainty that Canisius won’t be expected to compete in the MAAC.
He said it: “We’re going to have a blend of guys. I think everyone fits, and the one thing I like is there’s a lot of versatility on the roster. It was done by design that there are a lot of guys who can play multiple positions.” — Christian, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook
OLD DOMINION MONARCHS
Date/time/TV: Nov. 9, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Game location: McKale Center
School location: Norfolk, Va.
Series history: Arizona beat the Monarchs the only time they have played before, 88-74 on Dec. 22, 1975 at McKale Center.
Coach: Mike Jones (first season at Old Dominion and overall)
Last season: 7-25 overall, 3-15 Sun Belt (14th), KenPom ranking 287
Big losses: G Vasean Allette (17.4 ppg, 5.7 rpg), G Chaunce Jenkins (15.9 ppg, 3.8 rpg), F Tyrone Williams (13.5 ppg, 5.6 rpg)
Top returnees: G Devin Ceasar (9.3 ppg, 1.9 rpg), F R.J. Blakney (7.9 ppg, 4.4 rpg), S Imo Essien (4.3 ppg, 39.3% 3FG)
Impact additions: G Sean Durugordon (18.0 ppg,7.3 rpg at Siena), F Stephaun Walker (9.9 ppg, 6.2 rpg at Robert Morris), F Caden Diggs (three-star freshman), F Robert Davis (4.1 ppg. 1.6 rpg), G Jaden Johnson (freshman).
Outlook: A former star player at Old Dominion, Jones returned to take over the program after longtime coach Jeff Jones was forced to retire because of health issues. It’s the first head coaching job for Mike Jones (no relation) but he has a track record at Washington, D.C. prep power DeMatha and was an associate head coach at Virginia Tech. He’ll have low expectations with a team that lost three starters though Durogorder was a high-level scorer at Siena last season.
He said it: “I love this place. Some of the best years of my life, especially as a basketball player, were here. The Old Dominion men’s basketball that I know has always been successful, has always won. I’m happy and honored to be tasked with the job to get it back to that.” — Jones, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook
Arizona guard Caleb Love dunks over Wisconsin guard Max Klesmit during the first half of last season's matchup between the Wildcats and Badgers in Tucson.
WISCONSIN BADGERS
Date/time/TV: Nov. 15, 7 p.m., Peacock
Game location: Kohl Center, Madison, Wis.
School location: Madison, Wis.
Series history: Arizona made up for some long-ago heartbreak by smashing Wisconsin 98-73 last Dec. 9 at McKale Center. The Badgers entered that game having won three straight games in the series, including Elite Eight wins over the Wildcats in 2014 and 2015. They also eliminated UA from the 2000 NCAA Tournament and UA still trails the series 3-5.
Coach: Greg Gard (186-107 in nine seasons at Wisconsin and overall)
Last season: 22-14 overall, 11-9 Big Ten (tie/5th), NCAA first round, KenPom ranking 17
Big losses: G A.J. Storr (16.8 ppg, 3.9 rpg), F Tyler Wahl (10.6 ppg, 5.4 rpg), G Chucky Hepburn (9.2 ppg, 3.3 rpg).
Top returnees: G Max Klesmit (9.9 ppg, 2.1 rpg, 39.8% 3FG), C Steven Crowl (11.2 ppg, 7.3 rpg), G John Blackwell (8.0 ppg, 3.2 rpg).
Impact additions: G Camren Hunter (16.9 ppg, 5.0 rpg, 3.0 apg at Central Arkansas), F Xavier Amos (13.8 ppg, 5.8 rpg) at Northern Illinois), G John Tonje (2.6 ppg at Missouri)
Outlook: Traditionally one of the more stable programs in high-major college basketball, the Badgers proved even they weren’t immune to the transfer portal/NIL bug last spring, when leading scorer AJ Storr accepted a reported deal worth north of $1 million at Kentucky, while veteran point guard Chucky Hepburn took off for an expected payday at Louisville and two other promising players transferred. Gard responded by taking in three transfers and, considering his track record, the Badgers are likely to remain nationally competitive somehow.
He said it: “We’re not getting talked about a lot, which is fine. I like what I see here. We’ve got a group that’s egoless and committed to winning. That’s, really, at the end of the day what matters.” — Gard, to Lindy’s College Basketball
DUKE BLUE DEVILS
Date/time/TV: Nov. 22, 8:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game location: McKale Center
School location: Durham, N.C.
Series history: UA pulled off a 78-73 victory at Duke last season to take a 6-4 lead in the series and rekindle what was once one of college basketball’s biggest cross-country rivalries. Duke and Arizona each won on their homecourts during the 1989-90 and 1990-91 seasons, while Duke beat the Wildcats in the 1997-98 Maui Invitational and then 82-72 in the 2001 national championship game. UA defeated Duke 93-77 in the 2011 Sweet 16.
Coach: Jon Scheyer (54-18 in two seasons at Duke and overall)
Last season: 27-9 overall, 15-5 (2nd) in ACC, NCAA Elite Eight, KenPom rating 7
Big losses: C Kyle Filipowski (16.4 ppg, 8.3 rpg), G Jeremy Roach (14.0 ppg, 2.5 rpg), G Jared McCain (14.3 ppg, 5.0 rpg), F Mark Mitchell (11.6 ppg, 6.0 rpg)
Top returnees: G Tyrese Proctor (10.5 ppg, 3.0 rpg), G Caleb Foster (7.7 ppg, 2.4 rpg, 2.1 apg, 40.6% 3FG).
Impact additions: F Cooper Flagg (five-star freshman), G Sion James (14.0 ppg, 5.4 rpg, 1.6 spg at Tulane), F Maliq Brown (9.5 ppg, 7.2 rpg) at Syracuse), C Khaman Maluach (five-star freshman), F Mason Gillis (6.5 ppg, 3.9 rpg at Purdue), F Isaiah Evans (five-star freshman), F Kon Knueppel (five-star freshman)
Outlook: Duke just missed the 2024 Final Four in a two-point loss to N.C. State in the Elite Eight, and then lost four starters last spring. Oh well. The Blue Devils reloaded with the No. 1 player in the class of 2024, Cooper Flagg, plus another three five-star freshmen and three high-major transfers. Scheyer just has to mix it all up and find out what works best before another Final Four opportunity could present itself again.
He said it: “We have a lot of size. We have a lot of different groups we can run with Maliq, Khaman, Sion … and then us bigger guards, we can be switching too. We have so many different options I feel we can go to and it’s just a matter of us getting on the same page.” — Proctor, at Duke’s preseason media day
Arizona guard KJ Lewis chases a loose ball against Duke guard Jeremy Roach during the first half of the Wildcats’ 78-73 win over the Blue Devils in Durham, North Carolina, on Nov. 10, 2023.
DAVIDSON WILDCATS (Battle 4 Atlantis)
Date/time/TV: Nov. 27, 5:30 p.m., ESPN2
Game location: Imperial Arena, Nassau, Bahamas
School location: Davidson, N.C.
Series history: Arizona has only faced Davidson once before, beating the Wildcats of North Carolina 95-69 in the 2002-03 Fiesta Bowl Classic at McKale Center.
Coach: Matt McKillop (31-33 in two seasons at Davidson and overall)
Last season: 15-17 overall, 5-13 (tie/12th) in Atlantic 10, KenPom rating 125
Big losses: C David Skogman (13.3 ppg, 4.9 rpg, 47.1% 3FG), G Grant Huffman (12.8 ppg, 5.3 apg), G Angelo Brizzi (5.6 ppg, 2.0 rpg).
Top returnees: F Reed Bailey (12.7 ppg, 5.8 rpg), G Connor Kochera (13.2 ppg, 4.3 rpg), F Bobby Durkin (8.5 ppg, 4.4 rpg).
Impact additions: C Joe Hurlburt (0.0 ppg at Colorado), G Zach Laput (18.4 ppg at Division II Bentley), G Nick Coval (freshman), G Roberts Blums (freshman from Latvia), F Manie Jones (freshman from England).
Outlook: After starting strong last season, Davidson bombed out of the A-10 in part because of uncharacteristically dismal 3-point shooting (30.7%). But the Wildcats’ defense made up for part of that trouble and four starters return. Former Colorado big man Joe Hurlburt, who barely got off the bench last season in Boulder, is among those with a chance to turn things around.
He said it: “That’s as bad as we’ve ever been from 3 (last season). We had probably the best defensive team we’ve had in 20 years and the worst in 3-point shooting in 20 years. We have these new guys. Hopefully their defensive abilities allow us to stay punch-for-punch in that area. But I know our shooting ability has improved.” — McKillop, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook
OTHER BATTLE 4 ATLANTIS TEAMS
(Second games Nov. 28, final games Nov. 29)
PROVIDENCE FRIARS
Location: Providence, R.I.
Last season: 21-14 overall, 10-10 Big East (tie, 6th), NIT first round, KenPom ranking 59
Coach: Kim English (21-14 in one season at Providence, 55-43 in three seasons overall)
Go-to guy: F Bryce Hopkins (15.5 ppg, 8.6 rpg)
OKLAHOMA SOONERS
Location: Norman, Okla.
Last season: 20-12 overall, 8-10 Big 12 (9th), KenPom ranking 46
Coach: Porter Moser (54-45 in three seasons at Oklahoma, 347-287 in 20 seasons overall)
Go-to guy: F Jalon Moore (11.2 ppg, 6.7 rpg)
GONZAGA BULLDOGS
Location: Spokane, Wash.
Last season: 27-8 overall, 14-2 WCC (2nd), NCAA Sweet 16, KenPom ranking 12
Coach: Mark Few (746-143, 25 seasons at Gonzaga and overall)
Go-to guy: G Ryan Nembhard (12.6 ppg, 4.0 rpg, 6.9 apg)
WEST VIRGINIA MOUNTAINEERS
Location: Morgantown, WVa.
Last season: 9-23 overall, 4-14 Big 12 (tie, 13th), KenPom ranking 144
Coach: Darian DeVries (first season at WVU, 150-55 in six seasons overall).
Go-to guy: G Javon Small (15.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.1 apg at Oklahoma State)
INDIANA HOOSIERS
Location: Bloomington, Ind.
Last season: 19-14 overall, 10-10 Big Ten (tie, 6th), KenPom ranking 91
Coach: Mike Woodson (63-40 in three years at Indiana and overall)
Go-to guy: C Oumar Ballo (12.9 ppg, 10.1 rpg at Arizona)
LOUISVILLE CARDINALS
Location: Louisville, Ky.
Last season: 8-24 overall, 3-17 ACC (15th), KenPom ranking 185
Coach: Pat Kelsey (first season at Louisville, 261-122 in 12 seasons overall)
Go-to guy: F Terrence Edwards (17.2 ppg, 4.4 rpg, 3.4 apg at James Madison)
SOUTHERN UTAH THUNDERBIRDS
Date/time/TV: Dec. 7, Noon, CBSSN
Game location: McKale Center
School location: Cedar City, Utah
Series history: UA beat Southern Utah 95-78 on Nov. 11, 2022 in the only game the teams have played.
Coach: Rob Jeter (10-21 in one season at SUU, 233-236 in 15 seasons overall)
Last season: 10-21 overall, 5-15 WAC (10th), KenPom rating 242
Big losses: G Zion Young (13.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg), F Parsa Fallah (13.2 ppg, 6.0 rpg), G Braden Housley (10.8 ppg, 3.5 rpg).
Top returnees: G Dominique Ford (15.9 ppg, 4.0 rpg), F Jamari Sibley (9.6 ppg, 5.5 rpg).
Impact additions: G Xavier Sykes (juco transfer), G Tavi Jackson (2.0 ppg, 1.5 rpg at Colorado State), F Mason Johnson (Division II transfer), F Terrance Thompson (5.6 ppg, 4.1 rpg at Southern Illinois Edwardsville), G Hercy Miller (1.1 ppg at Louisville).
Outlook: After winning 20 or more games in three straight seasons through 2023, Thunderbirds crashed and burned during Jeter’s debut, losing eight straight in February and finishing second to last in the WAC. They shot only 29.4% from 3-point range, the 22nd worst mark out of 362 Division I teams. But the Thunderbirds should be improved with two starters back and a mix of experience and potential.
He said it: “The focus (last season) was to get a really good coaching staff and put together a good foundation with some quality pieces that we could keep for year two. That’s where we feel we are right now.” — Jeter, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook
Arizona guard Jaden Bradley, left, bounces off UCLA guard Lazar Stefanovic in a January 2024 game at McKale Center. The Wildcats and Bruins will meet in three nonconference games in upcoming years, in part to help raise money for NIL for both schools.
UCLA BRUINS
Date/time/TV: Dec. 14, 1 p.m., ESPN2
Game location: Footprint Center, Phoenix
School location: Los Angeles
Series history: Arizona swept both regular-season games against UCLA in the team’s final run through the Pac-12 last season, and has won six of the past seven games, but the Bruins still lead the series overall 50-63.
Coach: Mick Cronin, 115-53 in five seasons at UCLA; 480-224 in 21 seasons overall)
Last season: 16-17 overall, 10-10 Pac-12 (5th), KenPom rating 98
Big losses: F Adem Bona (12.4 ppg, 5.9 rpg), G Will McClendon (4.1 ppg, 3.3 rpg)
Top returnees: G Dylan Andrews (12.9 ppg, 2.2 rpg, 3.7 rpg), G Sebastian Mack (12.1 ppg, 3.6 rpg), F Lazar Stefanovic (11.5 ppg, 6.1 rpg, 38.2% 3FG),
Impact additions: G Kobe Johnson (10.9 ppg, 4.6 rpg, 3.3 apg at USC), F Tyler Bilodeau (14.3 ppg, 5.7 rpg at Oregon State), G Skyy Clark (13.2 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 3.0 apg at Louisville), G Trent Perry (four-star freshman), G Eric Freeny (four-star freshman), G Dominick Harris (14.3 ppg, 3.3 rpg, 44.7% 3FG at LMU).
Outlook: A rare losing season with a roster of promising but too young talent last season led to the supercharging of UCLA’s NIL collective efforts. Now Mick Cronin will head into the Big Ten with a more powerful roster filled with more experienced players that include key transfer portal additions such as Johnson, Clark and Bilodeau.
He said it: “I like the portal if you have the money to get guys in the portal. … You gotta try to get some guys who are going to run to a place where there’s high expectations of winning and they actually have the humility and self-awareness to know that they need to get better to get to where they want to go.” — Cronin, at UCLA’s preseason media availability.
SAMFORD BULLDOGS
Date/time/TV: Dec. 18, 7 p.m., ESPN+
Game location: McKale Center
School location: Birmingham, Ala.
Series history: UA has only faced Samford once, beating the Bulldogs 86-57 on Nov. 22, 2006.
Coach: Bucky McMillan (77-41 in four seasons at Samford and overall)
Last season: 29-6 overall, 15-3 Southern (1st), NCAA first round, KenPom rating 81
Big losses: F Achor Achor (16.1 ppg, 6.1 rpg), G A.J. Staton-McCray (11.5 ppg, 4.5 rpg), G Jaden Campbell (11.3 ppg, 3.2 rpg).
Top returnees: G Rylan Jones (9.4 ppg, 3.0 rpg, 4.9 apg, 37.7% 3FG), C Riley Allenspach (5.6 ppg, 3.1 rpg),
Impact additions: F Collin Holloway (12.8 ppg, 4.3 rpg at Tulane), G Trey Fort (5.0 ppg, 1.8 rpg at Mississippi State), G Isaiah West (2.8 ppg, 1.0 rpat at Vanderbilt), G Julian Brown (7.8 ppg, 2.1 rpg at UIC).
Outlook: The Bulldogs nearly pulled off a shocker in last season’s NCAA Tournament, erasing a 22-point second-half deficit to Kansas before losing 93-89, and then appeared to lose the entire starting five from that bunch. But Jones, the Bulldogs’ reliable point guard, was granted a sixth year of eligibility in June and McMillan reloaded his new roster with experienced transfers.
He said it: “We want to have that balance where we can win all kinds of ways. In some games, you have to win from the perimeter; in some, it will be grimy and slimy with tip-ins and loose balls and all that stuff. In some games, you beat a team with your full-court press but in others, it may be with your halfcourt offense. I think that’s why we’ve been so consistent in league play – we’re a very adaptable team based on our personnel.” — McMillan, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook
CENTRAL MICHIGAN CHIPPEWAS
Date/time/TV: Dec. 21, 2 p.m., ESPN+
Game location: McKale Center
School location: Mount Pleasant, Mich.
Series history: UA has never faced Central Michigan in men’s basketball.
Coach: Tony Barbee (35-58 in three seasons, 166-185 in 11 seasons overall).
Last season: 18-14 overall, 12-6 MAC (4th), KenPom rating 277
Big losses: F Brian Taylor (11.4 ppg, 8.1 rpg), F Markus Harding (10.2 ppg, 5.2 rpg), G Derrick Butler (10.7 ppg, 4.2 rpg).
Top returnees: G Anthony Pritchard (12.8 ppg, 5.1 rpg, 4.7 apg), G Cayden Vasko (4.1 ppg, 3.1 rpg, 1.2 apg),
Impact additions: F Jakobi Heady (15.4 ppg, 4.4 rpg at Bethune-Cookman), F Damarion Bonds (juco transfer), C Armani Mighty (0.8 ppg, 1.2 rpg at Boston College), F Mohammad Habhab (freshman), G Kyler VanderJagt (2.2 ppg, 1.0 rpg at Belmont).
Outlook: The Chippewas had a remarkable knack for winning last season, going 8-1 in games that went to overtime or were decided by five points or less. Then – you guessed it – the transfer portal took their roster apart, with six of the top seven scorers departing. But point guard Anthony Pritchard returns to add leadership, playmaking and experience on a roster Barbee says is markedly more talented.
He said it: “Our staff and I have to do a good job of building our team again. But on paper and in practice, this team is the most talented one I’ve had from top to bottom since I’ve been at Central Michigan.” — Jeter, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook
