Arizona Wildcats basketball: On Trier, Bill Walton and the big number
- Updated
Seen and heard at McKale Center.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
He’s … not back
This was supposed to be — maybe — the day. The Return.
Allonzo Trier warmed up two hours before the tipoff of Saturday’s game wearing different shoes. An early arriving UA fan called them “game shoes,” and Twitter ran with it.
He’s back!
Spoiler alert: Trier wasn’t back.
Saturday’s date was always just speculation anyway, as neither the NCAA or Arizona has made any comment about why Trier has been sitting out or how long he might be sitting out.
Trier stayed in the locker room for warmups, emerging just before tipoff. He wore sweatpants, per usual.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Assist-to-turnover ratio for Arizona point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright the last two games. Jackson-Cartwright had six assists and two turnovers against Colorado.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
At this point, Arizona fans are just trying to find levity in the Trier situation.
Just before tipoff on Saturday, a new Arizona-centric parody Twitter account emerged: @Allonzotrierswtpants. As in, Allonzo Trier’s sweatpants.
The account’s bio reads “Honor the Process,” a Sean Miller mantra, and its first tweet said: “Breaking in them game shoes.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
This is a conversation that took place during halftime of Saturday’s game between two fans.
Fan A: “I was really hoping Trier would come back.”
Fan B: “When do you think he will?”
Fan A: “Halftime! Gotta have hope.”
Fan B (excited): “Really?”
Fan A: “No.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Bill Walton, a legend of broadcasting, basketball and life, returned to McKale Center on Saturday to call Arizona’s game for Pac-12 Networks.
For the first time in a long time, though, something was mysteriously missing: Walton’s famous tie-dye Pac-12 shirt.
Instead, Walton was wearing a plain black polo.
Huh?
A man and woman sitting behind Walton were both donning the shirts, and play-by-play man Ted Robinson joked — we think it was a joke — that the man swapped shirts with Walton.
Highly unlikely, considering Walton is a towering 7-footer, and this man was not.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Colorado coach Tad Boyle slammed his fist on the nearby scorer’s table after a first-half disagreement with one of the officials.
Everyone in the arena heard it, and the officials accordingly whistled Boyle for a technical foul.
In the immediate aftermath, Boyle loudly exclaimed: “What did I do?”
We know what you did, Tad.
- Zack Rosenblatt
- Updated
One of Colorado’s leaders this season is Xavier Johnson.
Yes, THAT Xavier Johnson, this year’s Pac-12 winner of the “he’s still in college?” award.
Johnson began his college career in 2012-13, back when Arizona’s roster still consisted of names like Mark Lyons, Jordin Mayes and Angelo Chol. Nobody is still at Arizona from that roster.
Johnson is the only one left from Colorado, still around after missing all of last season with an injury.
Following a loss to the UA in McKale Center back in 2014, Johnson declared that Colorado had better players than Arizona and that the Buffs would win the next matchup, in Boulder, by 20 points.
Arizona won that game by 27.
Johnson hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer Saturday, and celebrated like he just won the game … except the Buffs trailed by 12 points.
With 40 seconds left in the game, Johnson converted a tough shot, then shrugged his shoulders, a la Michael Jordan. Colorado trailed by 10 at this point, and lost by nine.
Johnson still led all scorers with 26 points, though.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
He’s … not back
This was supposed to be — maybe — the day. The Return.
Allonzo Trier warmed up two hours before the tipoff of Saturday’s game wearing different shoes. An early arriving UA fan called them “game shoes,” and Twitter ran with it.
He’s back!
Spoiler alert: Trier wasn’t back.
Saturday’s date was always just speculation anyway, as neither the NCAA or Arizona has made any comment about why Trier has been sitting out or how long he might be sitting out.
Trier stayed in the locker room for warmups, emerging just before tipoff. He wore sweatpants, per usual.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
At this point, Arizona fans are just trying to find levity in the Trier situation.
Just before tipoff on Saturday, a new Arizona-centric parody Twitter account emerged: @Allonzotrierswtpants. As in, Allonzo Trier’s sweatpants.
The account’s bio reads “Honor the Process,” a Sean Miller mantra, and its first tweet said: “Breaking in them game shoes.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
This is a conversation that took place during halftime of Saturday’s game between two fans.
Fan A: “I was really hoping Trier would come back.”
Fan B: “When do you think he will?”
Fan A: “Halftime! Gotta have hope.”
Fan B (excited): “Really?”
Fan A: “No.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Bill Walton, a legend of broadcasting, basketball and life, returned to McKale Center on Saturday to call Arizona’s game for Pac-12 Networks.
For the first time in a long time, though, something was mysteriously missing: Walton’s famous tie-dye Pac-12 shirt.
Instead, Walton was wearing a plain black polo.
Huh?
A man and woman sitting behind Walton were both donning the shirts, and play-by-play man Ted Robinson joked — we think it was a joke — that the man swapped shirts with Walton.
Highly unlikely, considering Walton is a towering 7-footer, and this man was not.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Colorado coach Tad Boyle slammed his fist on the nearby scorer’s table after a first-half disagreement with one of the officials.
Everyone in the arena heard it, and the officials accordingly whistled Boyle for a technical foul.
In the immediate aftermath, Boyle loudly exclaimed: “What did I do?”
We know what you did, Tad.
- Zack Rosenblatt
One of Colorado’s leaders this season is Xavier Johnson.
Yes, THAT Xavier Johnson, this year’s Pac-12 winner of the “he’s still in college?” award.
Johnson began his college career in 2012-13, back when Arizona’s roster still consisted of names like Mark Lyons, Jordin Mayes and Angelo Chol. Nobody is still at Arizona from that roster.
Johnson is the only one left from Colorado, still around after missing all of last season with an injury.
Following a loss to the UA in McKale Center back in 2014, Johnson declared that Colorado had better players than Arizona and that the Buffs would win the next matchup, in Boulder, by 20 points.
Arizona won that game by 27.
Johnson hit a 3-pointer just before the halftime buzzer Saturday, and celebrated like he just won the game … except the Buffs trailed by 12 points.
With 40 seconds left in the game, Johnson converted a tough shot, then shrugged his shoulders, a la Michael Jordan. Colorado trailed by 10 at this point, and lost by nine.
Johnson still led all scorers with 26 points, though.
As featured on
The stats suggest Arizona’s defense fell apart in the second half of its 82-73 win over Colo…
View this profile on Instagram#ThisIsTucson 🌵 (@this_is_tucson) • Instagram photos and videos
Most viewed stories
-
Nearly 50 fun events happening in the month of January! ✨
-
New eats! 10 new restaurants that opened in Tucson this fall
-
What a delicious year: the best meals I ate in Tucson in 2025 💖
-
Horchata lattes and breakfast burritos: Tucson's Barista del Barrio opens 2nd location
-
Tucson's twin winter music festivals kick off this weekend 🎵
-
Free and fun events to check out this January!
-
Looking ahead to Tucson's new and cool for '26
-
Glitter and boas: Dress up '70s style for ABBA tribute show at the Rialto 🪩✨
-
Create the icy dessert of your dreams at this new frozen yogurt spot 🍨
-
23 exciting events to start your new year, January 2-4 2026! 🪩✨