Arizona Wildcats sandwich meat of nonconference schedule with lighter competition

Announcing the dates of its previously agreed upon games Monday, Arizona listed a Nov. 4 season opener against Canisius and a Nov. 9 home game against Old Dominion before the meat of its nonconference schedule hits.

The Wildcats will then play at Wisconsin on Nov. 15, host Duke on Nov. 22 and play three games in the Battle 4 Atlantis in the Bahamas from Nov. 27-29.

After a weeklong break, Arizona will host Southern Utah on Dec. 7 before facing UCLA on Dec. 14 in Phoenix and returning home for two final nonconference games: On Dec. 18 against Samford and on Dec. 21 against Central Michigan.

The Big 12 has not announced dates for conference play, but no men’s basketball games are expected to be scheduled before Christmas.

The Wildcats will also make four preseason appearances, including two Red-Blue Showcase intrasquad games, on Oct. 4 at McKale Center and Oct. 11 at Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena. They will also host two exhibition games against Division II teams: on Oct. 21 against Eastern New Mexico and on Oct. 28 against Point Loma, which returns 12 players from its PacWest championship team last season.

Gonzaga’s new HC-in-waiting

UA coach Tommy Lloyd once had it worked into his Gonzaga contract that he would be the Bulldogs’ next head coach if Zags coach Mark Few retired, but another media report Monday confirmed that Gonzaga assistant Brian Michaelson is now in that position.

College Sports Today reported that Few said that Michaelson “will be the guy that takes over for me.” Few had already told SI.com’s Gonzaga fan site, Gonzaga Nation, as much in May.

“Obviously he’ll be the next head coach at Gonzaga,” Few told Gonzaga Nation in May. “He’s experienced. He’s a great recruiter. He has great relationships with our players. He understands the whole thing.”

Lloyd, in February, agreed to a reworked five-year contract through 2028-29 that will pay him $5.25 million in guaranteed compensation at UA this season.

Red-Blue prices vary

It will likely cost fans more to attend the Red-Blue Showcase in Glendale instead of at McKale, barring promotions that could change the equation.

The most expensive lower seats for the Oct. 4 event at McKale were $32; all remaining seats are either $20 or $10, including a $3 ticket fee.

At Glendale’s Desert Diamond Arena, remaining seats in the lower bowl are selling at tiers of $200, $75, $60, $35 and $20 plus Ticketmaster fees that increase along with the price of a ticket (a single $20 ticket sells for $40.10 with fees).

Dixon set to visit

After touring North Carolina last weekend, four-star class of 2025 point guard Derek Dixon is scheduled to visit Arizona next weekend as he closes in on college choice. Already having visited his other four finalists — Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Virginia and Vanderbilt — Dixon has told Zagsblog he is aiming for a Sept. 27 commitment.

A 6-3 guard now playing for Gonzaga College High School in Washington, D.C., Dixon told Zagsblog his visit to North Carolina was “good.”

“I like all the guys on the team, the facilities were nice and their main message was that I’m their priority and there’s a want and need for what I bring,” Dixon said.

McKale doors closed

McKale has long been a popular place to walk or visit on hot days, with selected doors open during business hours in recent years. That option is trickier now.

UA’s Office of Public Safety posted signs indicating that on Monday, all doors would be closed permanently and directed visitors seeking entrance to contact the party they are meeting or visit a “Welcome Window” on the south side of the arena.

UA Public Safety official Tamra Ingersoll said the move was made to protect UA students, faculty and staff.

“Keeping McKale secure during non-event times helps the university maintain a safe environment and prevents unauthorized access,” Ingersoll said via email. “This is particularly important for protecting our athletes, maintaining equipment, and safeguarding McKale. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation around these necessary changes. The support of University of Arizona Athletics and the commitment to campus safety are invaluable.”