Here's a look at Arizona's nonconference opponents.
Game location: McKale CenterLast season: 21-12 overall, 11-3 in SouthlandKey returnees: G Pierce Spencer , G Caleb Huffman , F Mekhi Collins , G Jalen White , F Ryan Maxwell , Eduardo De Cadia
He said it: We lost four really good guys but we have a great core coming back. We’ve won back-to-back championships but feel like we haven’t gotten the job all the way done. We want to make the NCAA Tournament and this team is very hungry to do that. — Claunch, to Blue Ribbon YearbookSchool location: Baton Rouge, Louisiana
Upside: Playing Pac-12 teams as part of a new partnership with the SWAC will elevate Southern’s profile on and off the court, with Arizona scheduled to visit next season in a return game. He said it: “It’s been a tough thing to do, but our community has been great, and I think the Division I thing has helped a lot. The Division II thing was probably harder going from a top juco program to a D-II that nobody knew who the schools were. It was a tough move there, but Division I is a lot better because they know who we’re playing.” — Judkins, at WAC media day.
He said it: “Everybody knows we went to the NCAA Tournament, so we’re going to get their best shot every night. If we can continue with the same mindset we had last year and keep working to make ourselves better, I think the sky is the limit for us.” — Lutz, to Blue Ribbon Yearbook.School location: Knoxville, Tennessee
Downside: Montana State lost three starters off that tournament team, including versatile scorer and defender Amin Adamu, while point guards Ford and Brown are both coming off injury plagued seasons.