No. 13 Arizona Versus No. 3 Florida Opens 2025-26 Season in Las Vegas

The 2025-2026 college basketball season opens with a highly anticipated matchup between No. 13 Arizona and No. 3 Florida, the defending national champions, in Las Vegas. Arizona, led by coach Tommy Lloyd in his fifth season, aims to advance beyond last year's Sweet Sixteen finish, facing a challenging non-conference schedule including powerhouses like Florida and UCLA. Florida enters the game on a 12-game winning streak, having won both the SEC tournament and national championship, but must replace key players like Walter Clayton Jr. with transfers Boogie Fland and Xaivian Lee, whose chemistry remains uncertain. Arizona's backcourt benefits from returning starters Jaden Bradley and Anthony Dell'Orso, with Bradley expected to lead the offense. Both teams feature strong returning cores and new talent, setting the stage for an intense and competitive season opener as part of the Hall of Fame Series Las Vegas doubleheader. This game underscores Florida's aggressive non-conference scheduling strategy and Arizona's pursuit of deeper postseason success in their first season in the Big 12 Conference.