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STORRS, CONNECTICUT - NOVEMBER 19: Ivan Kharchenkov #8 of the Arizona Wildcats is defended by Eric Reibe #12 of the Connecticut Huskies during the second half at Harry A. Gampel Pavilion on November 19, 2025 in Storrs, Connecticut. (Photo by Joe Buglewicz/Getty Images) | Getty Images
Navigating a tough nonconference schedule a year ago helped set the stage for Arizona’s return to the Final Four. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
The UA announces its non-league slate on Wednesday, a 17-game schedule that features 10 contests at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena. That includes three exhibition games against Division I opponents.
2026-27 Non-Con Schedulepic.twitter.com/bvvwok5vAI
— Arizona Basketball (@ArizonaMBB) July 29, 2026
Like last season, Arizona will open play in Las Vegas in a Hall of Fame Series game, one of three on the schedule. The Wildcats will face longtime Pac-12 rival UCLA on Nov. 2 at T-Mobile Arena, the finale of a 3-game series that saw UCLA win in 2024 in Phoenix and the UA take the middle game last November in Los Angeles.
Arizona also has HOF Series games at Madison Square Garden against St. John’s on Dec. 5 and at Mortgage Matchup Center in Phoenix Dec. 19 against Arkansas.
The regular season home opener is Nov. 5 against Cal Poly, followed by a matchup with NAU on Nov. 10 before heading to Auburn Nov. 13 for the return of a home-and-home series began last season. Five days later the Wildcats host UConn, which reached last year’s NCAA final.
Arizona won at UConn last November, one of five wins over ranked opponents in nonconference play in 2025-26.
Arizona is headed to the Maui Invitational for the 10th time the week of Thanksgiving, seeking its fourth title in the event. The Wildcats open the tourney Nov. 23 against Colorado State, then will face either Providence or VCU on Nov. 24. Their final game will be against either Clemson, Ole Miss, former Pac-12 rival Washington or current Big 12 foe BYU.
The UA’s other regular season home games are against LSU-New Orleans (Dec. 1), Tennessee Tech (Dec. 12), Northern Illinois (Dec. 21) and Incarnate Word (Dec. 29). Big 12 play is expected to begin Jan. 2.
A change in NCAA rules allowed for a third preseason exhibition, with each allowed to be against Division I opponents. The Wildcats will host San Francisco (Oct. 13), San Diego State (Oct. 16) and Eastern Washington (Oct. 23) after opening the preseason Sept. 26 with the Red-Blue Showcase.
2026-27 Arizona MBB nonconference schedule
- Oct. 13 vs. San Francisco (exhibition)
- Oct. 16 vs. San Diego State (exhibition)
- Oct. 23 vs. Eastern Washington (exhibition)
- Nov. 2 vs. UCLA (Las Vegas)
- Nov. 5 vs. Cal Poly
- Nov. 10 vs. NAU
- Nov. 13 at Auburn
- Nov. 18 vs. UConn
- Nov. 23 vs. Colorado State (Maui Invitational)
- Nov. 24 vs. Providence/VCU (Maui Invitational)
- Nov. 25 vs. TBD (Maui Invitational)
- Dec. 1 vs. LSU-New Orleans
- Dec. 5 vs. St. John’s (New York City)
- Dec. 12 vs. Tennessee Tech
- Dec. 19 vs. Arkansas (Phoenix)
- Dec. 21 vs. Northern Illinois
- Dec. 29 vs. Incarnate Word
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