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In their first exhibition game of the season, the Arizona Wildcats defeated the San Francisco Dons 93-69 on Tuesday night at home. The Wildcats, under head coach Tommy Lloyd, are aiming for another deep NCAA tournament run, and they looked impressive in their opening tune-up.
Arizona will play two more exhibition games before tipping off the regular season against UCLA in Las Vegas on Monday, Nov. 2.
In a surprising move, Bryce James started alongside Derek Dixon, Caleb Holt, Ivan Kharchenkov, and Mo Krivas. James contributed three points and one steal in 14 minutes, but the night belonged to Arizona's stars. Krivas and Kharchenkov combined for 38 points and 11 rebounds, while Holt added an efficient 17 points in a stellar debut.
Key Analysis
Mo Krivas appears primed for an All-American campaign. San Francisco had no answer for him on either end, a problem many teams will face this season. Krivas scored 16 points on perfect 5-of-5 shooting in the first half and finished with 20 points on 6-of-7 shooting, including 8-of-10 from the free throw line. He also grabbed six rebounds and recorded a steal. He scored on post-ups after establishing deep position against 7-foot center Ismaila Diagne, was a lob threat off ball screens, and ran the floor for easy baskets. As the preseason Big 12 Player of the Year favorite, Krivas did nothing to diminish that status.
Caleb Holt delivered an impressive Arizona debut. Any concerns about the 5-star freshman adjusting to his offensive role were dispelled. The 6'5" guard looked outstanding against USF, not just in the box score. Holt played within himself, didn't force shots, and let the offense flow through Krivas, Kharchenkov, and Dixon. He finished with 17 points on 6-of-10 shooting, including 4-of-4 from the line, plus five rebounds, two assists, and zero turnovers. Defensively, he guarded the point of attack, recorded three steals, and deflected numerous passes, looking like a seasoned veteran rather than a freshman. That's a great sign for a potential top-three draft pick.
Arizona's defense made an early statement. The Wildcats scored 93 points and shot 53.2% from the field, but their defense was even more impressive. They generated 12 steals and scored 25 points off turnovers. For every steal, there were three other deflections, forcing USF into 40 minutes of discomfort and 19 total turnovers. With Kharchenkov, Krivas, and Holt leading the way, Arizona will be one of the nation's toughest defensive teams as Lloyd aims to return to the Final Four.
Next up, Arizona hosts San Diego State in another exhibition game on Friday, Oct. 16, at 7:00 PM MST on ESPN+.
Andy Patton is a college basketball writer with deep ties to Gonzaga and Arizona. A Gonzaga alumnus (2013), he has hosted the Locked On Zags podcast since 2021 and co-hosted the Locked On College Basketball podcast since 2022. His coverage of the Bulldogs has given him extensive familiarity with Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd, who spent over two decades on Mark Few's staff at Gonzaga before taking over the Wildcats in 2021. Andy has worked in sports media since 2017, covering nearly every major sport. He covered the Seattle Seahawks for USA TODAY from 2017-21, and also covered the USC Trojans and Oregon Ducks, and previously served as lead writer for College Sports Wire. He has also covered the NBA, NHL, and MLB for various TEGNA outlets, including KREM in Spokane, 12News in Phoenix, and KING 5 in Seattle. Andy now lives in Spokane, Washington, with his wife, daughter, and dog. Follow AndyPattonCBB.