Arizona men’s basketball has finalized its 2024-25 schedule, marking an exciting new chapter as they join the Big 12 Conference.
The Big 12 announced its schedule on Thursday, revealing that the Wildcats will not play on Thursday nights for the first time in years. Instead, Arizona will compete in 20 Big 12 games split between Saturdays and other weekdays, including three games on Mondays, six on Tuesdays, and one on Wednesday.
The Wildcats will kick off their Big 12 campaign on December 30 against TCU at McKale Center. This game is part of three “Big Monday” matchups for Arizona. The Wildcats will also host Iowa State on January 27 and face Baylor on February 17.
Arizona’s schedule includes a challenging stretch with a home game against Houston on February 15, followed by a road trip to Baylor two days later. Coach Tommy Lloyd expressed his enthusiasm about the new league. “It’s incredibly challenging, but it’s an awesome opportunity,” he said. “We’re excited to be part of what’s considered the No. 1 basketball conference in the country. Now, we have to go out and prove it.”
Another benefit of the Big 12 schedule is a reduction in consecutive road trips. Arizona will only face back-to-back away games three times. The Wildcats will open their conference road play on January 4 at Cincinnati, followed by a game at West Virginia on January 7. The other back-to-back road games are scheduled against Texas Tech on January 18 and Oklahoma State on January 21, as well as ASU on February 1 and BYU on February 4. Importantly, the Wildcats will have at least one home game every week during the Big 12 season.
This change contrasts sharply with their previous Pac-12 experience, where they frequently played consecutive home or away games. Lloyd acknowledged that the new format will take some adjustment. “I’ve been doubling up my whole coaching career, so it’ll probably be weird to go play one game and come home,” he said. “But I’m not concerned about it since we managed it well at Gonzaga and during my time here.”
According to the final 2023-24 KenPom rankings, Arizona is set to host eight top-50 teams in Big 12 play, in addition to a nonconference matchup against Duke on November 22. Last season, the Wildcats faced only six top-50 opponents in the Pac-12.
However, Kansas will not visit McKale Center during Arizona’s first season in the Big 12. The Wildcats will play at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence on March 8, which will be their regular-season finale, just four days after hosting ASU.
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