The 2026‑27 men’s basketball season is just weeks away, and Arizona is kicking off its preparation with a trio of Division I exhibition games. The first contest arrives Tuesday night when the San Francisco Dons travel to ALKEME Arena at the McKale Center. Tip‑off is scheduled for 7 p.m. PT and the game will be streamed on ESPN+.
Why the exhibition matters
Assistant coach Jack Murphy emphasized the value of the matchup, noting, “These are tough, competitive games. If the NCAA Tournament were at 76 teams the last few years, I think San Francisco probably is in it. We already know San Diego State is a perennial tournament team, and Eastern Washington is one of the more talented programs in the Big Sky.” He added that the early test is “exciting” and gives the Wildcats an opportunity to sharpen their play before the November opener.
Schedule of preseason contests
After the Dons visit, Arizona will host San Diego State on Friday and travel to Eastern Washington on Oct. 23. Both games will follow the same 7 p.m. PT start time and will also be available on ESPN+.
What to watch on the court
Arizona’s roster still has a few pieces in flux. The Wildcats traveled to Lithuania in August for three games, rotating two different starting lineups and swapping Bryce James for freshman guard Cameron Holmes at one of the guard spots. Injuries and eligibility issues kept some players out then, and similar concerns could affect Tuesday’s lineup.
Transfer RJ Godfrey, who moved from Clemson, remains ineligible while his NCAA case proceeds in Georgia. Idaho State transfer Evan Otten and freshman forward Endurance Aiyamenkhue missed the Red‑Blue Showcase with minor injuries. Assuming all is cleared, the most likely starting five would be Holmes, fellow freshman Caleb Holt and North Carolina transfer Derek Dixon in the backcourt, with Ivan Kharchenkov and Motiejus Krivas anchoring the frontcourt.
James and Washington transfer JJ Mandaquit, who was unavailable in Lithuania, are expected to be the first backcourt substitutes. In the frontcourt, Nebraska transfer Ugnius Jarusevicius and freshman Maksim Brnovic should provide depth.
San Francisco Dons profile
The Dons finished 17‑16 last season, landing in the middle of the West Coast Conference. Under coach Chris Gerlufsen, who took over in 2022 after Todd Golden departed for Florida, the program had posted 20‑plus win seasons for three straight years. This year, however, the roster is essentially brand new, with only two players returning from the previous campaign and one of those taking a medical redshirt.
Forward Ndewedo Newbury, a starter in 2023‑24 and 2024‑25, boasts a career 38.1 % three‑point shooting rate. The Dons also feature a sizable freshman class—eleven newcomers—plus four transfers. Notable among them is former St. Thomas wing Ben Oosterbaan, who averaged 7.6 points and 4.2 rebounds as a sophomore. The team has two players taller than 6‑9: Slovenian freshman Ziga Daneu (6‑11) and 7‑foot Gonzaga transfer Ismaila Diagne.
Key storylines
- How Arizona’s new guard rotation performs against a Dons squad that relies heavily on freshman talent.
- Whether the Wildcats can exploit the Dons’ limited experience and size advantage in the frontcourt.
- How the exhibition will shape the coaching staff’s decisions on the regular‑season starting lineup.
- Potential adjustments after the game as the Wildcats prepare for their November season opener.
Both teams will also be reviewing film from recent outings—Arizona from its Lithuania tour and the Dons from the Red‑Blue Showcase—adding another layer of preparation to the matchup.
Looking ahead
After Tuesday’s game, Arizona will face San Diego State on Friday, a program that consistently earns NCAA Tournament bids. The final exhibition against Eastern Washington on Oct. 23 will round out the preseason schedule, giving the Wildcats multiple opportunities to fine‑tune their play before the official season begins.
Fans can catch the Tuesday night exhibition live on ESPN+ and at the McKale Center, where the Wildcats hope to showcase the depth and talent that could carry them deep into the upcoming season.
Original reporting: Arizona Desert Swarm (Tucson Sports) — read the source article.
