LAS VEGAS – So the Arizona Wildcats had to move up their Thanksgiving dinner to Wednesday this week because they played on Thursday.
Didn’t exactly matter to Lauri Markkanen, because he’d never had one anyway.
“It was nothing special for me,” Markkanen said after UA beat Santa Clara on Thursday. “Just focusing on tonight’s game. Just came to win two games.”
And what did Markkanen make of the spread, turkey, sweet potatoes and all that?
He wrinkled his nose slightly.
“It was OK,” he said.
Asked Sean Miller if Kobi Simmons’ growth is accelerating with all the minutes he’s getting lately.
“Yes,” he said. “There’s always two sides to the story and a lot of our younger players wouldn’t have as big a role as maybe they would have if we had Allonzo (Trier). So because of the extra minutes and role maybe there will become a time where it all comes together.”
Miller said Simmons responded after UA coaches challenge him recently to give more effort on the defensive end.
“His effort level is outstanding, and I thought he did a really good job of taking pressure off of Kadeem Allen, guarding Jared Brownridge,” Miller said. “He has a big upside.”
Note to radio listeners: The UA basketball game at 8:30 is being moved from 1290-AM to 1400-AM while the football game will remain on 1290 at 7:30.
The games should be carried on both the Fox Sports Go (UA basketball) and WatchESPN apps (UA football) if you are trying to watch both at the same time.
Here's an Indianapolis Star story on Butler's win over Valparaiso. The Las Vegas Invitational tournament may define how good the Bulldogs really are.
Bettors must think they're pretty good. Butler is a 1.5-point favorite over eight-ranked UA, even though the Bulldogs are unranked.
Oregon State will try to dig out of an early rut while hosting Fresno State.
UCLA will face Nebraska after Lonzo Ball and Company toyed with Portland in the Wooden Legacy.
Lots of other pregame notes and analysis in our scouting report, ICYMI.
