The official start of the 2025-26 season is just over a week away, but before Arizona gets into the games that count it has one more that doesn’t. The Wildcats host Embry-Riddle on Monday night in their final preseason tuneup.
Arizona beat Saint Mary’s 81-68 in its first exhibition on Oct. 18, a game it led wire to wire against a program coming off a fourth consecutive NCAA Tournament appearance. Now it faces a team from the NAIA ranks that was picked to finish fourth in its conference.
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Here’s what to watch for when the Wildcats battle the Eagles at McKale Center:
A healthy roster?
Arizona beat Saint Mary’s despite missing two players due to minor injuries. Tommy Lloyd said senior forward Tobe Awaka could have played if it were a regular season game, such as the opener Nov. 3 against defending NCAA champion Florida in Las Vegas, and the expectation is he’ll be good to go this time around.
Also missing the first exhibition was freshman wing Sidi Gueye, who is expected to be part of the frontcourt rotation this season despite arriving in August after visa problems slowed his journey to the US.
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Different rotations
Awaka’s absence moved junior center Motiejus Krivas into the starting lineup and he responded with 11 points, 17 rebounds and two blocks in 33 minutes against Saint Mary’s. It was basically an 8-man rotation, with Krivas and freshman Koa Peat playing the bulk of the frontcourt minutes.
If Gueye is also able to go there will be better opportunities to mix and match up front, while freshmen wings Dwayne Aristode and Ivan Kharchenkov can work into that mix as well. They played 20 and 24 minutes, respectively, but combined for only one rebound.
The second exhibition will also likely provide a greater opportunity for freshman guard Bryce James to get some run. He played the final 92 seconds against Saint Mary’s, during which the Zona Zoo went bonkers every time he touched the ball and they erupted in cheers when he made a free throw.
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Threes and frees
With Embry-Riddle not sporting any player taller than 6-foot-7, Arizona should dominate on the boards and be able to score at will. But after Arizona struggled from the 3-point line against Saint Mary’s there could be a concerted effort to hunt shots from the perimeter in this one.
The Wildcats were 4 of 16 from deep in that first exhibition, with Anthony Dell’Orso 1 for 7 (but 5 for 5 from 2). Jaden Bradley made both 3-point attempts and Evan Nelson was 1 for 2 but everyone else went 0 for 5.
Embry-Riddle may have to foul a lot to keep Arizona from scoring inside at will, which will give Arizona a chance to work on its free throw shooting in a game setting. The UA was 13 of 25 from the line against Saint Mary’s, with freshmen Peat and Brayden Burries missing all five of their foul shots.
