UCLA and Arizona no longer share a conference, what with the demise of the Pacific-12, but they will make sure the Bruins and Wildcats continue to meet on the basketball court in coming years.
The longtime rivals on Tuesday announced a three-game series, beginning with a neutral-site meeting Dec. 14 in Phoenix. UCLA, which is moving to the Big Ten, and Arizona, now in the Big 12, also will play in the 2025 Hall of Fame Series in Las Vegas and meet again in Los Angeles in 2027. The dates for those two games are not yet finalized.
“For decades, Arizona-UCLA games have meant so much to our players, coaches, and fans across the country,” Arizona Coach Tommy Lloyd said in a release. “Icons in the game of basketball have made this rivalry into one of the best in college basketball, and we look forward to adding the next chapters in the years to come.”
UCLA Coach Mick Cronin added his thoughts in a statement.
“It’s a win-win situation for both UCLA and Arizona, as we want to preserve what has turned into a fantastic basketball rivalry out West,” Cronin said. “These are two schools with strong basketball traditions and passionate fan bases, and it’s important for us to find ways to continue playing each other.”
The Bruins own a record 11 national titles in men’s basketball, with Arizona’s lone title having come in 1997. The programs have been to 52 and 38 NCAA Tournaments, respectively. UCLA is 63–50 all-time against Arizona.
The schools originally became conference rivals when Arizona joined what then became the Pac-10 in 1978–79.
