Arizona and UCLA face off in Las Vegas season opener

The No. 5 Arizona Wildcats and No. 22 UCLA Bruins are set to face each other in the season opening game of the Hall of Fame Series at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. This matchup rekindles a long-standing rivalry between the two programs.

Arizona enters the season with high expectations following a 36-3 campaign and a Final Four appearance last year. While the Wildcats return key players like Motiejus Krivas and Ivan Kharchenkov, they are navigating roster changes in the backcourt and the potential absence of RJ Godfrey due to eligibility issues.

UCLA, led by head coach Mick Cronin, looks to establish itself as a national contender. The Bruins return several starters, including Trent Perry and Eric Dailey Jr., and have added Nikola Kusturica to their roster. The game is expected to be a clash of styles, pitting Arizona’s faster tempo against UCLA’s more controlled offensive approach.