Ad Disclosure
Alabama is reportedly finalizing an agreement to play Arizona in a neutral site non-conference game on Dec. 20th at Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona next season.
CBS Sports’ Jon Rothstein reported on the news Monday, adding there is no current timetable for an official announcement from either side. Should the two sides cross the finish line on the game, it will be just the 5th meeting all-time between the programs and the 3rd since the 2017-18 season.
The two played in Tucson, Arizona, on Dec. 9, 2017, a game Arizona won 88-82 in a classic. Wildcat center Deandre Ayton scored 29 points and grabbed 18 rebounds while Allonzo Trier scored 20 of his 25 points in the second half.
A year later to the date, Arizona made its way to Tuscaloosa and left with a 76-73 defeat in a game that featured drama right at the end. Kira Lewis Jr. made a 3-pointer and a pair of free throws over the final 13 seconds to help the Tide hold off a charging Arizona team for the victory.
The 2 previous meetings came in 1985 and 1990 — both Alabama wins.
Alabama, the No. 1 overall seed in the field, made it to the Sweet 16 before falling to 5-seed San Diego State. The Crimson Tide finished the year 31-6.
Arizona went 28-7 this past season, winning the Pac-12 Tournament championship before getting upset in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament by 15-seed Princeton.
Derek Peterson does a bit of everything, not unlike Taysom Hill. He has covered Oklahoma, Nebraska, the Pac-12, and now delivers CFB-wide content.
