No. 5 Arizona gets its first shot at home Thursday night, and the Wildcats are trying to turn the page quickly after an 84-75 loss to UCLA in Las Vegas, Nevada. California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo comes to Tucson for the Nov. 5 opener at 8:30 p.m., with Cal Poly arriving at 1-0.
The matchup is a familiar one, even if it doesn’t come around often. Arizona and Cal Poly have met just three times before, with the latest clash coming in the 2018-19 season.
Their first meeting dates all the way back to 1949-50, when Arizona won 63-53. Every game in the series has been played at Arizona, and the Wildcats are 3-0 in those meetings.
Arizona’s first game offered one major bright spot: sophomore Ivan Kharchenkov. He powered the Wildcats with 38 points and 10 rebounds against UCLA and heads into the home opener as one of two returning starters. Senior Motiejus Krivas is the other.
Bryce James also made his collegiate debut in the start against UCLA after redshirting last season. Arizona’s other starters were transfer sophomore Derek Dixon and freshman Caleb Holt, and the pair combined for 25 points.
Cal Poly brings a win into the building after beating California State University San Marcos 78-62 at home on Monday, Nov. 2. The Mustangs had opened their season with an exhibition against Westmont College and lost that one 105-93.
Junior Hamad Mousa led Cal Poly in the win with 18 points and seven rebounds, while Cayden Ward added 15 points, 11 rebounds and five assists.
The Mustangs’ roster features 13 returning players from last season, plus two newcomers. They also lost Peter Bandelj, who entered the transfer portal and went to the University of Nevada.
In Other News...
Arizona Faces A Pressure Point As TCU Tests Two Lingering Issues
Arizona heads into the final stretch of its regular season at 6-2 and No. 24 in the AP poll, with TCU coming to Tucson as the next test of how steady this group really is. Brent Brennan and offensive coordinator Seth Doege have both pointed to the importance of staying locked in, especially with the Wildcats trying to keep their momentum after a stretch that has shown both promise and some familiar offensive friction.
The pressure point is twofold: Arizona has had trouble getting its ground game consistently moving, and the defense is still sorting out how well it handles quarterbacks who can hurt you with their legs. Danny Gonzales has made clear that TCUs quarterback run game is part of what Arizona has to prepare for, and with a few weeks left in the regular season, this matchup offers another chance to see whether the Wildcats can clean up those issues before they become a bigger problem. [Read more 🡒]
Arizona Delivered The Response Tommy Lloyd Needed After UCLA
Arizona finally got the kind of bounce-back performance Tommy Lloyd was looking for, and it came with a much-needed offensive surge in a 104-84 win over Cal Poly for the Wildcats first victory of the season. After the disappointment against UCLA, Arizona played with better energy and effort from the start, and the scoring was spread around enough to show the group had more life than it did a few nights earlier.
Motiejus Krivas set the tone inside, while Caleb Holt and Ivan Kharchenkov joined him in double figures, and Cameron Holmes gave the bench a useful lift as well. The bigger question now is whether this was a one-night reset or the start of Arizona finding a more reliable rhythm, because the Wildcats still need this level of balance and urgency to carry over once the schedule tightens again. [Read more 🡒]
Arizonas Frontcourt Wait Just Took Another Turn With RJ Godfrey
RJ Godfreys wait to get on the floor for Arizona has now moved from the practice court to the courtroom. The transfer forward and his attorneys filed a lawsuit in Pima County Superior Court as they seek a path to a fifth season, challenging the NCAAs five for five eligibility rule and asking for a temporary restraining order and injunction tied to his status.
Godfrey still has not played for the Wildcats this season, though he has been around the program, practicing with the team and sitting on the bench during games. For Arizona, the frontcourt picture remains in limbo until the legal process plays out, with the university now being asked to determine his eligibility under the NCAA bylaw at the center of the dispute. [Read more 🡒]