Some college basketball seasons start quietly. This one starts with a rivalry, a national TV slot, and two teams that look very different on paper.
Arizona and UCLA open the 2026-27 season on Monday, November 2, at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas as part of the Hall of Fame Series opening-night doubleheader. It will air across TNT Sports' networks, and it's the kind of game that sets the tone for both programs.
A Rivalry That Goes Back a Century
Arizona and UCLA first met in 1923, and for decades they played every year. Lately, the series has moved to neutral sites, with this game marking the third straight meeting away from either campus. The last two games were split: UCLA won in Phoenix, and Arizona won in Inglewood, 69-65, in the most recent meeting.
Arizona: Top-Five Expectations
The Wildcats arrive with real hype. Arizona is ranked No. 5 in the AP preseason poll and No. 4 in the USA Today Coaches poll, and media members picked it to win the Big 12. That's what happens after a Final Four run last season.
Tommy Lloyd's team is led by:
- Motiejus Krivas, a forward named to the AP Preseason All-American Team
- Caleb Holt, a guard on the preseason Jerry West Award watchlist
- Ivan Kharchenkov, a key piece of the rotation
Lloyd called the matchup a great way to open the season and said "the history between the two programs speaks for itself."
UCLA: Young, Talented, and Still Forming
Mick Cronin's Bruins have a very different profile. UCLA is projected as a top 15 to 20 team in most preseason rankings, but the roster is young, with no seniors expected in the rotation. Cronin is expected to lean on defense and floor spacing.
The projected starting five includes:
- Trent Perry, the leading returning scorer at 12.6 points per game
- Eric Dailey, who averaged 11.6 points and 5.8 rebounds last season
- Xavier Booker, a returning big man
- Jaylen Petty, a Texas Tech transfer
- Nikola Kusturica, a five-star signee from Serbia
Auburn transfer Filip Jovic is expected to be the first big man off the bench. It's a mix of returning production and new faces, and opening night is the first real test of how it all fits.
What to Watch
- Experience vs. youth. Arizona returns the core of a Final Four team, while UCLA is still figuring out its rotation.
- Frontcourt battle. Krivas against Booker and Jovic is one of the more interesting matchups inside.
- Early-season rust. Opening night games are unpredictable. Shooting touch and chemistry take time.
- Cronin's defense. UCLA wants to slow the game down and grind. Arizona will want to push the pace.
- Neutral-court energy. Las Vegas will be loud, and it won't be a clear home court for either side.
Why This One Is Tricky
On paper, Arizona has the edge in rankings, experience, and recent success. But season openers are a different animal, and a UCLA team with a lot of new faces can play loose, especially in a rivalry game against a ranked opponent.
We ran the numbers and landed on a pick we feel good about, complete with the moneyline, expected value, and edge that our subscribers see before tip-off.
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This preview is based on information available before the game. Lineups, injuries, and odds can shift, so always double-check the numbers before you bet. Sports predictions aren't guarantees, and betting carries risk.
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