Arizona Wildcats basketball: On Cats' commitment, 'fake news', nerd alert
- Updated
Seen and heard at Vivint Smart Home Arena in Salt Lake City during Arizona's media session.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
When there is as much roster turnover as Arizona experienced from last season, with the Wildcats losing three starters and two key reserves, it would be easy to pass off the UA’s 2016 failures.
Four key Wildcats, after all, weren’t around for the last team’s first round-exit against Wichita State.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright remembers it well. He remembers how the team felt before, and worse, after.
“Maybe last year we did take it for granted and the result depicted that,” Jackson-Cartwright said, “but we’re back, and we’ve done everything up until this point to be successful.”
The Wildcats are a No. 2 seed facing a 15, and all projections favor the Wildcats. The long odds didn’t stop Middle Tennessee from upsetting Michigan State last year, or keep Florida Gulf Coast from topping Georgetown in 2013.
There’s been eight 15-over-2 upsets in NCAA Tournament history. In 1993, a Steve Nash-led Santa Clara team shocked Arizona 64-61.
“You know, it’s in the back of our minds,” Jackson-Cartwright said. “As much success as we’ve had right now, it can all be gone in a second. It’s day by day, and everyone’s capable in March of winning a game. We’re prepared.”
Alkins, for what it’s worth, thinks he’s ready for the challenge.
“I don’t look at it as pressure,” Alkins said. “It’s go hard or go home. We’re going to bring our A-game.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
NCAA rules require teams to hold an open practice before tournament games. The Wildcats use the term loosely.
UA coach Sean Miller restricts the practice to layup lines, free-throw shooting and warmups. The Wildcats held a full-on practice earlier Wednesday at a familiar location — the Huntsman Center, home of the Utah Utes.
Arizona didn’t play at Huntsman this season because of Pac-12 scheduling, but lost there two years ago 70-64.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Recently, The Guardian — a UK publication — wrote an article depicting Spokane, Washington, as a struggling city. Gonzaga’s basketball team, the newspaper wrote, is the blighted community’s only hope.
Zags coach Mark Few said Wednesday he was aware of the article, but didn’t read it.
After detailing how “phenomenal” a place Spokane was to live, Few finished his statement with a funny line inspired by the President.
“I don’t know who wrote it,” Few said. “It must be fake news.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Wednesday morning, South Dakota State coach T.J. Otzelberger took the stage and answered a question about the job security of his old boss, Washington coach Lorenzo Romar. Otzelberger was an assistant at Washington from 2013-15, and watched from afar as the Huskies struggled to a 9-22 record.
“Lorenzo Romar is a tremendous basketball coach,” Otzelberger said. “He did an unbelievable job taking a program to new heights that have never been there before, three Sweet 16 performances in that stretch. He’s been an unbelievable mentor to me, leader, graduation rate with young men. Everything he’s done as a head coach has been first class. I know that the wins and losses at this point in recent history aren’t where he’d like them to be.”
Washington fired Romar a few hours later.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Northwestern is everyone’s favorite Cinderella … well, at least among media members.
The Evanston, Illinois school boasts one of the most prestigious journalism programs in the nation, with alumni ranging from ESPN’s Michael Wilbon and Darren Rovell to the Star’s Bruce Pascoe and Michael Lev.
The Wildcats aren’t letting their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance pass them by; they’ll face Vanderbilt on Thursday.
“We all came here to be a part of a different Northwestern, and be a part of history,” NU guard Sanjay Lumpkin said. “And we achieved that goal. It’s been a magical season, it’s been awesome, none of us want to see the season end.”
Of course, NU players may be among the smartest student-athletes at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
“I would say academically, Northwestern is extremely challenging,” Lumpkin said. “We have guys right now that are working on getting extensions to their finals or typing papers, because we’re on the quarter system, so our finals are during this week. And I would say that’s a challenge that not everyone has to face.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
“NCAA tourney!!! Best time of year for a college player! My advice would be play smart, confident, together, and most importantly PLAY TO WIN dont play not to LOSE! #Beardown4Ever #Xu4L” — Former UA point guard Mark Lyons (@onlyMoog). Lyons started for the Wildcats in 2013, the last time the Wildcats played an NCAA Tournament committee in Salt Lake City.
NCAA tourney!!! Best time of year for a college player! My advice would be play smart,… https://t.co/sjG03wTxEQ
— Mark RareForm Lyons (@OnlyMoog) March 15, 2017
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
When there is as much roster turnover as Arizona experienced from last season, with the Wildcats losing three starters and two key reserves, it would be easy to pass off the UA’s 2016 failures.
Four key Wildcats, after all, weren’t around for the last team’s first round-exit against Wichita State.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright remembers it well. He remembers how the team felt before, and worse, after.
“Maybe last year we did take it for granted and the result depicted that,” Jackson-Cartwright said, “but we’re back, and we’ve done everything up until this point to be successful.”
The Wildcats are a No. 2 seed facing a 15, and all projections favor the Wildcats. The long odds didn’t stop Middle Tennessee from upsetting Michigan State last year, or keep Florida Gulf Coast from topping Georgetown in 2013.
There’s been eight 15-over-2 upsets in NCAA Tournament history. In 1993, a Steve Nash-led Santa Clara team shocked Arizona 64-61.
“You know, it’s in the back of our minds,” Jackson-Cartwright said. “As much success as we’ve had right now, it can all be gone in a second. It’s day by day, and everyone’s capable in March of winning a game. We’re prepared.”
Alkins, for what it’s worth, thinks he’s ready for the challenge.
“I don’t look at it as pressure,” Alkins said. “It’s go hard or go home. We’re going to bring our A-game.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
NCAA rules require teams to hold an open practice before tournament games. The Wildcats use the term loosely.
UA coach Sean Miller restricts the practice to layup lines, free-throw shooting and warmups. The Wildcats held a full-on practice earlier Wednesday at a familiar location — the Huntsman Center, home of the Utah Utes.
Arizona didn’t play at Huntsman this season because of Pac-12 scheduling, but lost there two years ago 70-64.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Recently, The Guardian — a UK publication — wrote an article depicting Spokane, Washington, as a struggling city. Gonzaga’s basketball team, the newspaper wrote, is the blighted community’s only hope.
Zags coach Mark Few said Wednesday he was aware of the article, but didn’t read it.
After detailing how “phenomenal” a place Spokane was to live, Few finished his statement with a funny line inspired by the President.
“I don’t know who wrote it,” Few said. “It must be fake news.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Wednesday morning, South Dakota State coach T.J. Otzelberger took the stage and answered a question about the job security of his old boss, Washington coach Lorenzo Romar. Otzelberger was an assistant at Washington from 2013-15, and watched from afar as the Huskies struggled to a 9-22 record.
“Lorenzo Romar is a tremendous basketball coach,” Otzelberger said. “He did an unbelievable job taking a program to new heights that have never been there before, three Sweet 16 performances in that stretch. He’s been an unbelievable mentor to me, leader, graduation rate with young men. Everything he’s done as a head coach has been first class. I know that the wins and losses at this point in recent history aren’t where he’d like them to be.”
Washington fired Romar a few hours later.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Northwestern is everyone’s favorite Cinderella … well, at least among media members.
The Evanston, Illinois school boasts one of the most prestigious journalism programs in the nation, with alumni ranging from ESPN’s Michael Wilbon and Darren Rovell to the Star’s Bruce Pascoe and Michael Lev.
The Wildcats aren’t letting their first-ever NCAA Tournament appearance pass them by; they’ll face Vanderbilt on Thursday.
“We all came here to be a part of a different Northwestern, and be a part of history,” NU guard Sanjay Lumpkin said. “And we achieved that goal. It’s been a magical season, it’s been awesome, none of us want to see the season end.”
Of course, NU players may be among the smartest student-athletes at Vivint Smart Home Arena.
“I would say academically, Northwestern is extremely challenging,” Lumpkin said. “We have guys right now that are working on getting extensions to their finals or typing papers, because we’re on the quarter system, so our finals are during this week. And I would say that’s a challenge that not everyone has to face.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
“NCAA tourney!!! Best time of year for a college player! My advice would be play smart, confident, together, and most importantly PLAY TO WIN dont play not to LOSE! #Beardown4Ever #Xu4L” — Former UA point guard Mark Lyons (@onlyMoog). Lyons started for the Wildcats in 2013, the last time the Wildcats played an NCAA Tournament committee in Salt Lake City.
NCAA tourney!!! Best time of year for a college player! My advice would be play smart,… https://t.co/sjG03wTxEQ
— Mark RareForm Lyons (@OnlyMoog) March 15, 2017
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