Arizona Wildcats basketball: On Heeke's absence, star sighting, Starburst supporters
- Updated
Seen and heard at T-Mobile Arena during Arizona's 86-75 win over UCLA to advance to the Pac-12 Tournament championship game.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Dave Heeke won’t technically begin his tenure as Arizona’s athletic director until April.
For now, Heeke is spending some quality time with his family. Heeke is spending the week in Florida watching his son, Zach, who plays baseball for Central Michigan.
Interim director Erika Barnes has been the face of Arizona’s athletic department in Las Vegas. Between her time in Arizona’s athletic department and tenure as a standout player for the UA softball team, Barnes has become a familiar face to Wildcats fans.
Barnes has rarely had a moment without a high-five or a “Bear Down!” yelled her direction.
“I’ve taken more selfies here then I have in my life,” Barnes said.
Barnes took a photo of her own earlier Friday. The interim AD met legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger and posted a photo of the two of them together to Twitter.
Before Friday night’s game, Barnes reunited with some of her old Arizona softball teammates. One of them, Leah O’Brien-Amico, was honored by the Pac-12 alongside other Olympic athletes.
Heeke will likely join the Wildcats on the road during the NCAA Tournament. His April 1 start date coincides with the Final Four in Phoenix.
If Arizona makes it that far, surely Barnes will be there, too.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
$41,666: Heeke will receive a salary bonus of $41,666 — or about four weeks’ pay — if the Wildcats make the Final Four. It’s unclear if his contract, which was agreed to last month, counts this year’s tournament.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Just as the game was about to start, two legends of basketball shook hands and basketball fans everywhere fainted.
Bill Walton was about to begin his broadcast on ESPN — alongside play-by-play cohort Dave Pasch — when Julius Erving tapped him on the shoulder. The Hall of Famers shared a warm embrace.
“Dr. J.,” one of the most entertaining and athletic players in NBA history, then took his courtside seat.
Erving played 11 seasons for the Sixers in the ’70s and ’80s, and has served as an adviser to the club over the years. The Sixers are armed with multiple first-round picks, and it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the players in Friday’s game heads east.
UCLA’s Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf and Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen are all projected as first-rounders.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Every year, the Pac-12 inducts 12 players — one from each member school — into its Hall of Honor.
On Friday, the Pac-12 honored a player who was the UA’s first-ever bona fide college star — Bob Elliott.
“Big Bird” averaged 18.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his Arizona career.
Some of the other honorees of significance included:
Utah’s Andre Miller, a 17-year NBA veteran.
Colorado’s Chauncey Billups, a former NBA All-Star.
Oregon’s Stu Jackson, a prominent NBA executive.
Stanford’s Mike Montgomery, one of the winningest coaches in conference history.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
25: Combined points for Markkanen and Allonzo Trier in Friday’s first half. The rest of Arizona’s roster combined to score just 16 points.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
During Arizona’s win against Colorado on Thursday, two fans — one from CU, one from the UA — participated in a trivia contest for the chance to win either a $100 gift card or a chance to spend a half with ASU alum Eddie House.
Friday’s winner got a chance to hang out with Andre Miller, who led Utah to a stunning upset of the Wildcats in the 1998 Elite Eight.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
“So many Arizona fans here at T-Mobile Arena. Looks like a giant pack of red Starbursts.” — ESPN’s Myron Medcalf (@MedcalfByEspn) during Friday’s game.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Dave Heeke won’t technically begin his tenure as Arizona’s athletic director until April.
For now, Heeke is spending some quality time with his family. Heeke is spending the week in Florida watching his son, Zach, who plays baseball for Central Michigan.
Interim director Erika Barnes has been the face of Arizona’s athletic department in Las Vegas. Between her time in Arizona’s athletic department and tenure as a standout player for the UA softball team, Barnes has become a familiar face to Wildcats fans.
Barnes has rarely had a moment without a high-five or a “Bear Down!” yelled her direction.
“I’ve taken more selfies here then I have in my life,” Barnes said.
Barnes took a photo of her own earlier Friday. The interim AD met legendary broadcaster Brent Musburger and posted a photo of the two of them together to Twitter.
Before Friday night’s game, Barnes reunited with some of her old Arizona softball teammates. One of them, Leah O’Brien-Amico, was honored by the Pac-12 alongside other Olympic athletes.
Heeke will likely join the Wildcats on the road during the NCAA Tournament. His April 1 start date coincides with the Final Four in Phoenix.
If Arizona makes it that far, surely Barnes will be there, too.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
$41,666: Heeke will receive a salary bonus of $41,666 — or about four weeks’ pay — if the Wildcats make the Final Four. It’s unclear if his contract, which was agreed to last month, counts this year’s tournament.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Just as the game was about to start, two legends of basketball shook hands and basketball fans everywhere fainted.
Bill Walton was about to begin his broadcast on ESPN — alongside play-by-play cohort Dave Pasch — when Julius Erving tapped him on the shoulder. The Hall of Famers shared a warm embrace.
“Dr. J.,” one of the most entertaining and athletic players in NBA history, then took his courtside seat.
Erving played 11 seasons for the Sixers in the ’70s and ’80s, and has served as an adviser to the club over the years. The Sixers are armed with multiple first-round picks, and it wouldn’t be surprising if one of the players in Friday’s game heads east.
UCLA’s Lonzo Ball and TJ Leaf and Arizona’s Lauri Markkanen are all projected as first-rounders.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Every year, the Pac-12 inducts 12 players — one from each member school — into its Hall of Honor.
On Friday, the Pac-12 honored a player who was the UA’s first-ever bona fide college star — Bob Elliott.
“Big Bird” averaged 18.7 points and 9.5 rebounds per game in his Arizona career.
Some of the other honorees of significance included:
Utah’s Andre Miller, a 17-year NBA veteran.
Colorado’s Chauncey Billups, a former NBA All-Star.
Oregon’s Stu Jackson, a prominent NBA executive.
Stanford’s Mike Montgomery, one of the winningest coaches in conference history.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
During Arizona’s win against Colorado on Thursday, two fans — one from CU, one from the UA — participated in a trivia contest for the chance to win either a $100 gift card or a chance to spend a half with ASU alum Eddie House.
Friday’s winner got a chance to hang out with Andre Miller, who led Utah to a stunning upset of the Wildcats in the 1998 Elite Eight.
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