What Arizona lineup could look like with Godfrey potential suspension

Arizona Wildcats head coach Tommy Lloyd. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

What Arizona lineup could look like with RJ Godfrey potential four-game suspension

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Aug 21, 2026 12:56 PM ET

Arizona provided a glimpse into what its starting lineup could look like without projected starting power forward RJ Godfrey during its first two games on a trip to Eastern Europe. Arizona lost to the Lithuanian B team on Wednesday, then defeated Ukraine on Thursday.

A report emerged on Thursday that the NCAA is suspending Godfrey for the first four games of the 2026-27 season. Godfrey announced his transfer from Clemson to Arizona earlier this month. He played three seasons for Clemson and one in between at Georgia.

Godfrey received a fifth year of eligibility for the 2026-27 season. If the suspension holds, he would miss games against UCLA, Cal Poly, Northern Arizona and Auburn. Arizona Sports summarized the impetus for the four-game suspension.

"The NCAA is suspending the newly eligible player because he participated in the Reese’s College All-Star Game and signed with a pro agent prior to returning to college," Arizona Sports' Douglas Santo wrote. "At the time of those two decisions/events, he did not know he would be eligible to return to college."

NEW: Plaintiffs in the Georgia eligibility case say Arizona’s Randall Godfrey Jr. was suspended four games despite the Aug. 5 injunction’s protections for certain pro-contract issues.

They’re asking the court to order the NCAA to show cause why it should not be sanctioned. pic.twitter.com/yFzy5bm56l
— Austin Massey (@austinmasseySBI) August 20, 2026

Arizona's lineups during European trip reveal possible answers amid RJ Godfrey situation

Returning starters, forward Ivan Kharchenkov and center Motiejus Krivas, were joined in the starting lineup by freshman Caleb Holt and North Carolina transfer and fellow guard Dennis Dixon in both games. Freshman forward Cameron Holmes started versus Lithuania and redshirt freshman Bryce James was a starter against Ukraine.

Arizona is without Godfrey and Washington transfer point guard J.J. Mandaquit, who is injured. Eight players received double-figure minutes in each game. In addition to the six players who started in the first two games, forward Ugnius Jarusevicius also received double-figure minutes in both games.

Kharchenkov was the star for Arizona during the first two games of its European tour. Kharchenkov scored 25 points against Lithuania and had 24 with six rebounds and three steals versus Ukraine. The German national made 20 of his 31 shots in the first two games.

Expect Holmes and Jarusevicius to receive the majority of the minutes while Godfrey is out. Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd could also utilize a perimeter-oriented lineup without Godfrey. When Mandaquit gets healthy, he could play with Dixon and Holt in the backcourt with a combination of Holmes, Kharchenkov and Krivas upfront.

Alan Rubenstein

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