The tenth ranked Arizona Wildcats basketball team will open their home season, Tuesday night, against CSU Bakersfield.
The Wildcats are coming off a 65-63 win over Michigan State in the Armed Forces Classic in Hawaii. Kadeem Allen hit the game winning shot on a driving layup in the final seconds. Allen has been Head Coach Sean Miller's leader on both sides of the floor.
"Kadeem brings something that we didn't have on last year's team," said Miller. "And, that's a perimeter player that could guard the other team's best player."
Freshman Kobi Simmons had 18 points in that win over the Spartans. That's the most points by a freshman in his debut since Jerryd Bayless scored 18 in the 2007-08 opener.
There has been no change with regard to the status of sophomore Allonzo Trier. Athletic Director Greg Byrne has cited privacy issues.
The Wildcats have won 14 consecutive home openers. It's the first time Arizona and Cal-State Bakersfield have met since 1972, when the Wildcats won a seven point contest at Bear Down Gym.
The game can be seen on the Pac-12 Network.
