Arizona's 2017-18 men's basketball schedule, updated with dates and tipoff times

Arizona and Alabama signed contracts cementing their two-year home-and-home series to to complete the Wildcats' 2017-18 nonconference schedule.

UA wound up with half of its nonconference games (other than those in the competitive Battle 4 Atlantis field) against teams who posted RPIs between 59-121 last season, though its highest-rated opponent is Cal State Bakersfield in a "guarantee" game. 

The Roadrunners were also invited to McKale last season, playing the shorthanded Wildcats within 12 points. Guarantee opponents such as Bakersfield are paid flat fees, usually between $85,000-$95,000, instead of getting the Wildcats to return the game at their home.

The one-time "guarantee" games are against NAU, UMBC (technically part of the Atlantis event), Bakersfield, LBSU, and North Dakota State.

Also in 2018-19, Arizona will open a home-and-home series with Baylor at McKale Center.

The Wildcats will also play in the 2018 Maui Invitational, as part of a loaded field that includes Duke, Xavier, Gonzaga, San Diego State, Auburn, Illinois and Iowa State.

Alabama will likely be the biggest name nonconference opponent Arizona will play at McKale. The two-year home-and-home series the Tide signed with the Wildcats was mostly negotiated between UA coach Sean Miller and Alabama AD Greg Byrne, though Reynolds said Alabama coach Avery Johnson was also interested.

If UNLV (RPI of 239 last season) and Long Beach State (213) are better next season, only NAU (335) could seriously drag the Wildcats down, though that game is played for obvious noncompetitive reasons that include the fact that Lumberjacks coach Jack Murphy is a former UA staffer.

Here is Arizona's 2017-18 schedule:

When: Oct. 20, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Notable: The Red-Blue Game serves as the unofficial start to the season. 

When: Nov. 1, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: The two teams last met in 1961. Arizona won. 

Series history: Arizona is 1-0 against Eastern New Mexico. 

Fast fact: The Greyhounds posted a 13-15 record overall last season. 

When: Nov. 5, 4 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona hosted Chico State on Nov. 6 last year for an exhibition game. Arizona won 78-70. 

Fast fact: Chico State finished last season with a 26-8 record overall. 

When: Nov. 10, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona last met the Lumberjacks on Dec. 16, 2015 at McKale Center. The Wildcats rolled to a 92-37 win. Mark Tollefsen led the way with 19 points and eight rebounds, while Ryan Anderson contributed a double-double (18 points, 12 rebounds). 

Series history: Arizona is 97-27 all-time against NAU. 

Fast fact: NAU posted a 9-23 record overall last season. 

When: Nov. 12, 4 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Series history: Arizona has never played UMBC. 

Fast fact: UMCB finished with a 21-13 record overall last season. 

When: Nov. 16, 8 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona beat CSU Bakersfield 78-66 last season on Nov. 15 at McKale Center. UA's freshman trio combined for 54 points: Lauri Markkanen (26), Rawle Alkins (15), Kobi Simmons (13). 

Series history: Arizona is 2-0 all-time against CSU Bakersfield. 

Fast fact: CSU Bakersfield posted a 25-10 record overall last season (12-2 WAC). The Roadrunners lost in the semifinals of the NIT postseason tournament. 

When: Nov. 22, 5 p.m.

Where: Imperial Island, Bahamas

TV: TBD

Notable:  The Battle 4 Atlantis is an eight-team tournament on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Arizona will face N.C. State in the first round, and with a win would face Southern Methodist or Northern Iowa. Both Villanova and Purdue loom as possible championship game opponents should the Wildcats make it that far.

When: Nov. 23, Time TBA

Where: Imperial Island, Bahamas

TV:  TBA

When: Nov. 29, 6 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona took down Long Beach State 85-70 on Dec. 22, 2015. Allonzo Trier led the Wildcats in scoring with 20 points (5-9 FGs, 3-5 3PT). Ryan Anderson posted a double-double with 11 points and 14 rebounds. 

Series history: Arizona is 6-0 all-time against the 49ers. 

Fast fact: Long Beach State finished with a 15-19 record overall last season.  

When: Dec. 2, 8 p.m.

Where: Thomas & Mack Arena, Las Vegas

TV: CBS Sports Network

Last time: Arizona beat UNLV 82-70 on Dec. 19, 2015 at McKale Center. All five Wildcats starters scored in double figures: Dusan Ristic (20), Ryan Anderson (17), Kadeem Allen (15), Allonzo Trier (15), Gabe York (11). 

Series history: Arizona is 8-12 all-time against UNLV. 

Fast fact: UNLV is the final installment of a four-year series that started between Sean Miller and then-UNLV coach Dave Rice. 

When: Dec. 5, 7 p.m.

Where: Talking Stick Arena, Phoenix

TV: ESPN2

Last time: Arizona edged Texas A&M 67-63 on Dec. 17, 2016 on a neutral court in Houston. Dusan Ristic (18 points) and Lauri Markkanen (17 points) led the way for the Wildcats.  

Series history: Arizona is 7-1 all-time against Texas A&M. 

Fast fact: Texas A&M is the final game in a semi-neutral series that put the teams in Houston last season. 

When: Dec. 9, 8 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: ESPN2 

Last time: Alabama beat Arizona 77-55 on March 18, 1990 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament. 

Series history: Arizona is 0-2 all-time against Alabama. 

Fast fact: Alabama will host a second game with UA on Dec. 9, 2018. 

When: Dec. 16, 6 p.m.

Where: The Pit, Albuquerque

TV: CBS Sports Network

Last time: Arizona rolled past New Mexico 77-46 last season at McKale Center. Chance Comanche posted 14 points and didn't miss a shot (6-6 FGs). He also grabbed eight rebounds. 

Series history: The Wildcats are 84-42 all-time against the Lobos. 

Fast fact: New Mexico is the final game of a two-year series that began at McKale last season. 

When: Dec. 18, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center 

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Series history: Arizona has never played North Dakota State. 

Fast fact: The Bison posted a 19-11 record overall last season. 

When: Dec. 21, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: ESPN2

Last time: The Wildcats fell to UConn 65-63 in the Elite Eight of the 2011 NCAA Tournament. Derrick Williams posted 20 points and five rebounds. 

Series history: Arizona has never beat the Huskies. The Wildcats are 0-5 all-time against UConn. 

Fast fact: UConn is the first game in a two-year series that will continue next season at Storrs, Conn.

Arizona Wildcats fans who prefer regular tipoff times and traditional Thursday-Saturday Pac-12 weekends will enjoy UA's 2017-18 schedule.

Even after the TV networks divvied up the Pac-12 games and released their schedule Wednesday, the Wildcats were left with:

• No games after 8:30 p.m. (even after translating from Pacific time in some cases).

• 10 games at 7 p.m.

• Five day games (starting at 4 p.m. or earlier)

• No Sunday Pac-12 games

• No Wednesday Pac-12 home games

• Only two “extra day” Pac-12 weekends – the Bay Area trip (Jan. 17-20) and the Washington trip (Jan. 31-Feb. 3).

When: Dec. 30, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona beat ASU 91-75 at McKale Center last season. 

When: Jan. 4, 7 p.m.

Where: Huntsman Center, Salt Lake City

TV: ESPN/ESPN2

Last time: Arizona did not play at Utah last season. 

When: Jan. 6, noon

Where: Coors Events Center; Boulder, Colorado

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona did not play at Colorado last year.

When: Jan. 11, 7 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona did not host Oregon State last season. 

When: Jan. 13, noon 

Where: McKale Center

TV: ESPN/ESPN2

Last time: Arizona did not host Oregon last year. The Wildcats lost at Oregon, but beat the Ducks in the Pac-12 tournament.

When: Jan. 17, 7 p.m.

Where: Haas Pavilion; Berkeley, California

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona beat Cal 67-62 when the teams met last year in Berkeley.

When: Jan. 20, 2 p.m.

Where: Maples Pavilion; Palo Alto, California

TV: Ch. 13

Last time: Arizona beat Stanford 91-52 when the teams met last year in California.

When: Jan. 25, 6:30 p.m.

Where: Pac-12 Arizona

TV: Fox Sports 1

Opponents: Colorado and Utah 

Last time: Arizona beat Colorado 82-73 last season at McKale Center. 

When: Jan. 27, 3:30 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Fox Sports 1

Last time: The Wildcats beat Utah 66-56 at McKale Center. 

When: Jan. 31, 8 p.m.

Where: Beasley Coliseum; Pullman, Washington

TV: 8 p.m. 

Last time: Arizona beat the Cougars 76-68 last season in Pullman. 

When: Feb. 3, 8:30 p.m.

When: Alaska Airlines Arena; Seattle, Washington

TV: Pac-12 Arizona 

Last time: The Wildcats beat the Huskies 76-68 in Seattle. 

When: Feb. 8, 8 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: ESPN

Last time: UCLA beat the UA 77-72 last season in McKale Center.

When: Feb. 10, 8:15 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: ESPN/ESPN2

Last time: The Wildcats beat USC 90-77 last year in McKale Center. 

When: Feb. 15, 7 p.m.

Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Tempe

TV: ESPN/ESPN2

Last time: The Wildcats beat the Sun Devils 73-60 in Tempe last season. 

When: Feb. 22, 7 p.m.

Where: Gill Coliseum; Corvallis, Oregon

TV: Fox Sports 1

Last time: The Wildcats beat the Beavers 71-54 in Corvallis last season.

When: Feb. 24, time TBA

Where: Matthew Knight Arena; Eugene, Oregon

TV: ESPN/ESPN2

Last time: Oregon beat the UA 85-58 last year in Eugene. 

When: March 1, 8 p.m.

Where: McKale Center

TV: Fox Sports 1 

Last time: The Wildcats took down Stanford 74-67 when the Cardinal came to Tucson last season. 

When: March 3, time TBA

Where: McKale Center

TV: Pac-12 Arizona

Last time: Arizona beat the Golden Bears 62-57 at McKale Center last season.