Cats, Crimson Tide Set for Dec. 20 Matchup in Phoenix

The event is part of the Jerry Colangelo Hall of Fame Series Phoenix event at the Footprint Center

TUCSON, Ariz. - The Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame has announced Jerry Colangelo's Hall of Fame Series Phoenix event that will take place at the Footprint Center on Dec. 20, 2023. One of the matchups that day will feature Arizona taking on Alabama as part of a full day of basketball in the capitol city.

The start time and TV designation for the event will be announced at a later date while tickets are expected to go on sale later this summer.

"Jerry Colangelo's Hall of Fame Phoenix promises to be a fun day for basketball in the state of Arizona and we are thrilled to be part of it. We have tremendous fans and alumni in the Phoenix area and we know Tucson travels, so we look forward to seeing them in the Footprint Center. And taking on a high-level team like Alabama to close out our non-conference schedule will prepare us even more for the Pac-12 schedule after the holidays."

As part of the daylong event on Dec. 20, the Arizona women's basketball team will play at the Footprint Center against Gonzaga.

The last time Arizona played a non-conference game in Phoenix was Dec. 5, 2017, when they topped Texas A&M, 69-64, at what is now the Footprint Center. Since 1950, Arizona is a perfect 10-0 in non-conference games played in Phoenix.

Arizona trails the all-time series with the Crimson Tide, 3-1, with the win coming on Dec. 9, 2017 in Tucson by a score of 88-82 in the first game of a home-and-home series. The following season, on Dec. 9, 2018, the Wildcats narrowly lost in Tuscaloosa, Ala., with a final score of 76-73.

The first meeting in the series with Alabama took place on March 15, 1985 in Albuquerque, N.M., with Alabama coming out on top, 50-41. Then on March 18, 1990, the Tide once again handed the Wildcats a loss, 77-55, this time in Long Beach, California.

Here's a look at the Arizona's officially announced non-conference games for the 2023-24 season, easily making it one of the most challenge schedules in the country:

11/10/2023 - #11 Arizona at #2 Duke

11/23/2023 - #11 Arizona vs. #4 Michigan State in Palm Springs, Calif.

12/9/2023 - #25 Wisconsin at #11 Arizona

12/16/2023 - #11 Arizona vs. #3 Purdue in Indianapolis

12/20/2023 - #11 Arizona vs. #18 Alabama in Phoenix

Date TBA - #11 Arizona at Southern (Baton Rouge, La.) as part of the Pac-12/SWAC Legacy Series

(rankings are from ESPN.com's Way To Early Preseason Top 25)

Arizona Basketball in Phoenix (10-2 since 1942)

1/30/1950 - Arizona defeats Santa Clara, 80-64

2/21/1993 - Arizona defeats Cincinnati, 70-60

12/5/1993 - Arizona defeats Oklahoma State, 97-84

2/11/1996 - Arizona defeats Cincinnati, 79-76

2/9/1997 - Arizona defeats Tulane, 81-62

12/5/1998 - Arizona defeats Wyoming, 94-84

12/4/2001 - Arizona defeats Illinois, 87-82

12/2/2006 - Arizona defeats Illinois, 84-72

12/14/2008 - Arizona defeats Gonzaga, 69-64

12/5/2017 - Arizona defeats Texas A&M, 67-64

For more information on Arizona basketball season tickets and single-game tickets, visit arizonawildcats.com/mbk today!

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