Desert Diamond Fiesta Bowl Basketball Classic

Now in its 28th year, the Fiesta Bowl and University of Arizona partner to bring another epic match-up of two legendary college basketball programs. The University of Florida Gators will come all the way from Gainesville to face the University of Arizona Wildcats at the McKale Center in Tucson in an exciting non-conference clash.

The Desert Diamond Casino Fiesta Bowl Basketball Classic remains one of Tucson's most popular Fiesta Bowl activities. The first Classic was held in 1974 and featured a unique "double" doubleheader format. Two of the top collegiate men's basketball teams were featured in this event annually with Arizona State hosting the teams in Tempe one night and the University of Arizona playing host in Tucson the following evening with a swap of opponents.

In 1984, the current version of the Classic was born when the format was modified to feature strictly the University of Arizona men's basketball program and three other top-tier collegiate men's teams in a round-robin tournament at the McKale Center in Tucson.

In 2006, the format was changed again to feature the University of Arizona and one other well-respected collegiate program.

Both the SEC's University of Florida Gators and the Pac-12's University of Arizona Wildcats are starting the 2012-13 season with strong recruiting classes, making this year's Classic a highly-anticipated intersectional meeting of nationally-ranked basketball programs.