Better late than never.
Arizona has formally announced its nonconference slate for the 2025-26 season, one that includes seven high-profile contests against some of the top college basketball programs in the country. But it also includes a still-not-finalized matchup against a low-major opponent where the date is listed as TBD.
The UA will play 13 nonconference games, eight at McKale Center with the highlight of that group a Dec. 6 visit from Auburn as part of a new home-and-home series. The Wildcats’ lone true road game outside of Big 12 Conference play is Nov. 19 at UConn, with the other four contests at neutral sites.
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That includes the season opener Nov. 3 against defending NCAA champion Florida in Las Vegas. The game is part of a doubleheader (along with BYU against Villanova) at T-Mobile Arena, the old home of the Pac-12 Tournament.
Matchups with UCLA (in Los Angeles), Alabama (in Birmingham) and San Diego State (in Phoenix) also highlight the slate.
The home opener is Nov. 7 against Utah Tech, one of four games the UA will play at McKale the first month. The last of those, against Norfolk State, is part of the “Wildcat Classic” mult-team event set for the week of Thanksgiving.
The Wildcats host Denver on Nov. 24 while the date for their game with Norfolk State, previously announced by the opponent as Nov. 29, is yet to be finalized. It could end up being on Nov. 26, the day before Thanksgiving.
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The full Big 12 schedule is set to be announced by the league later this month but Arizona already knows it will be playing three times on Big Monday: visiting BYU on Jan. 26 and Kansas on Feb. 9 while hosting Iowa State on March 2.
It is expected that, when the Big 12 announces the league slate, TV info and start times for all Arizona games will be included.
Preseason practice officially begins next week, with the UA holding its annual Red-Blue Showcase on Oct. 3.
2025-26 Arizona MBB schedule
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Oct. 18 vs. Saint Mary’s (exhibition)
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Oct. 27 vs. Embry-Riddle (exhibition)
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Nov. 3 vs. Florida (T-Mobile Arena, Las Vegas)
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Nov. 14 vs. UCLA (Intuit Dome, Los Angeles)
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Dec. 13 vs. Alabama (Legacy Arena, Birmingham)
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Dec. 16 vs. Abilene Christian
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Dec. 20 vs. San Diego State (Phoenix)
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Dec. 22 vs. Bethune-Cookman
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Dec. 29 vs. South Dakota State
Other Big 12 games (dates TBD)
Home: ASU, BYU, Cincinnati, Kansas, Kansas State, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech, West Virginia
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Away: ASU, Baylor, Colorado, Houston, TCU, UCF, Utah
