Arizona begins a huge hoops week on Friday at Auburn

Arizona Wildcats forward Ivan Kharchenkov (8) looks to pass the ball during the first half against the Cal Poly Mustangs at McKale Center at ALKEME Arena. IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Arizona begins a huge hoops week on Friday at Auburn

By Alan Rubenstein | Last updated Nov 12, 2026 10:54 PM ET

Add us as a preferred source on Google

The Arizona Wildcats begin a difficult week on Friday at the Auburn Tigers. Arizona hosts Connecticut on Wednesday. Arizona won last season at Connecticut and beat Auburn at McKale Center. After a season-opening loss to UCLA in Las Vegas, Arizona won its last two games.

Auburn enters the game on Friday night with basketball wins over Southeastern Louisiana and Appalachian State. Arizona earned its two wins this season over Cal Poly and Northern Arizona. Arizona sophomore forward Ivan Kharchenkov has been one of the best players nationally through the first week and a half.

Kharchenkov is averaging 24.7 points per game on 58.5 percent from the field, 9.0 rebounds, 5.0 assists and 2.0 steals. Guard Tahaad Pettiford leads Auburn, averaging 22.0 PPG and 3.5 APG, while making 36.4 percent on three-point attempts.

Motiejus Krivas is averaging 18.0 PPG, 8.0 RPG and 2.7 blocks. After a tough game against UCLA, freshman guard Caleb Holt is averaging 18.0 PPG and 8.0 RPG in the last two games. Guard Derek Dixon is the fourth Wildcat averaging in double figures at 13.0 PPG, 2.7 RPG and 2.7 APG.

I hope we live in a timeline where...

- Arizona MBB beats Auburn on Friday
- Arizona football beats Utah on Saturday
- Adan Diggs commits on Monday
- RJ Godfrey is freed on Tuesday & Arizona beats UConn
— Kevin Thomas (@KevoPosts) November 12, 2026

Other Auburn Tigers players to watch against Arizona Wildcats

Guard Kolby King is the only other Auburn player averaging double figures at 10.5 PPG, 5.5 RPG and 1.0 SPG. Three other Auburn players are averaging at least 8.0 PPG. Arizona will be Auburn's first test this season. Arizona beat Auburn 97-68 last season.

Connecticut at Arizona

Potential future NBA lottery pick Braylen Mullins leads Connecticut. Mullins averages 17.7 PPG, 3.3 RPG, 1.7 APG and 1.0 SPG. Six UConn players average at least 9.3 PPG. Silas Demary, a starter with Mullins on the 2026 national runner-up, averages 14.7 Pts, 6.3 RPG and 5.3 APG.

After hosting UConn on Wednesday, Arizona will be off until Nov. 23, when it plays Colorado State at the Maui Invitational. Arizona will play Providence or Virginia Commonwealth in the second game in Maui, with BYU, Clemson, Mississippi, or Washington in the final game for the Wildcats in Hawaii.