Arizona didn’t just get a glimpse of Maksim Brnovic on Friday night. It got a reminder of why the freshman forward is in the mix for a major role.
With a 2026-27 frontcourt spot hanging in the balance, Brnovic turned in one of the cleaner performances in Arizona’s 82-67 win over San Diego State. The 6-foot-10 Montenegrin scored 10 points on 4-for-6 shooting, knocked down 2 of 3 from beyond the arc, added four rebounds and a steal, and did it all in 19 minutes. His most electric stretch came in the first half, when he drilled a three, came up with a steal at the other end and finished the sequence with a transition dunk that lit up the building.
It also made him the only Wildcat to shoot better than 50 percent from the field.
Afterward, Tommy Lloyd made it clear he saw the upside right away.
"He's got a world of potential," Lloyd said after the game. "It'll be interesting to see how long it kinda takes him to get closer to his ceiling. It could take him a while, but he's showing that he's not scared out there, and he was able to make some critical plays in the game."
Brnovic arrived at Arizona in early June from Zalgiris, after Koa Peat kept his name in the NBA draft and before RJ Godfrey entered the picture. At the time, he looked like a possible starter alongside Mo Krivas, and that possibility is still alive if Godfrey is not eligible.
Arizona has other options, too. Lloyd could lean into a two-point-guard look with Derek Dixon and JJ Mandaquit, both of whom scored 12 on Friday, or turn to freshman wing Cameron Holmes. Either path would slide Ivan Kharchenkov from the wing to the four.
That move can work, but Arizona’s best version may still feature Kharchenkov at small forward, especially if Brnovic keeps stretching the floor and creating space for Krivas inside.
For Lloyd, the bigger point is that Brnovic is getting exactly what a freshman needs: reps.
"I'm really excited about the progress he's making and all the reps he's getting," Lloyd continued. "And I think we're really gonna be able to hone in on some growth areas in the coming weeks."
Arizona’s final exhibition is Friday, Oct. 23 against Eastern Washington. Tip is set for 7:00 PM MST on ESPN+.