Seen and heard at Pac-12 Tournament: Rawle Alkins' savage dunk sparks Arizona Wildcats to title
- Updated
Rawle Alkins destroyed a USC defender to spark a Wildcats run in the second half. Plus, Arizona's freshman sensation Deandre Ayton took the Pac-12 by storm all season, and has some fans overseas as well.
By Justin Spears / Arizona Daily Star
No losses in Las Vegas
UpdatedArizona’s win over USC on Saturday ensures that UA players Keanu Pinder, Rawle Alkins and Talbott Denny finish their Pac-12 Tournament careers with a perfect 6-0 record.
They probably won’t play in T-Mobile Arena again unless it hosts a few NBA Summer League games when some of the aforementioned players look to make a splash in the league.
Alkins has already announced his plans to turn pro at the end of his sophomore season. Pinder could try to play professionally either in the United States and overseas.
Halftime performance
UpdatedLive halftime art pic.twitter.com/O5WlQkZAUe
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) March 11, 2018
Halftime performer David Garibaldi was the final form of entertainment in Las Vegas, and he brought the house down Saturday night.
Garibaldi first musical choice was God’s Plan by Drake and painted his giant black canvas over a few songs. At the end of his performance, the masterpiece turned out to be a painting of USC guard Jordan McLaughlin and Arizona’s Dusan Ristic.
China loves Deandre Ayton
UpdatedIn October, the Pac-12 Networks struck a deal with Alibaba to spread the league’s digital content into China.
It was a part of Pac-12 Global, which was created in 2011 so the student-athletes could have an international experience.
Arizona State student Chenxi Zhao grew up in China before moving to Los Angeles. He recently started working for Pac-12 Networks Global to bridge China’s social media with the conference tournament.
“I want to bring the Chinese culture here, and also bring the American culture back to China,” Zhao said.
And what do Chinese fans think about superstar freshman Deandre Ayton?
Nearly 7,000 miles away, Ayton is a hot topic.
“They love Ayton. Every time we ask fans in China ‘Who’s your favorite (college basketball) player?’ They always respond with Deandre Ayton, because they know he’s going to be the No. 1 pick of the draft,” Zhao said. “They know everything about him.”
Just married?
UpdatedLook at all of those Arizona fa—wait is that someone in a wedding dress? Vegas... pic.twitter.com/ivoGejjw8h
— The Wildcaster (@TheWildcaster) March 11, 2018
T-Mobile Arena may be “McKale North,” but we received a few reminders that we’re still in Vegas.
The woman in the wedding dress, for example.
One fan sat behind Arizona’s band and student section Saturday sporting a wedding dress. Las Vegas is known for cheap and quick weddings, so maybe the Pac-12 Tournament Championship was on her honeymoon plans?
Maybe not. Her groom was nowhere to be spotted.
Did she leave her man at the aisle to watch the Cats play?
If you’re out there, woman in the wedding dress, find us on Twitter @TheWildcaster.
Savage dunk sparks Cats
Updated😱😱@Iam_RawleAlkins!@APlayersProgram has the lead. #Pac12Hoops
— Pac-12 Network (@Pac12Network) March 11, 2018
📺: @FS1 pic.twitter.com/vYh4I0Pida
The Trojans frequently double-teamed Ayton in the post on Saturday, leaving one Wildcat open.
They apparently forgot about a wide-open Alkins driving through the lane. Ayton found Alkins, who pulverized Elijah Stewart at the rim for a monstrous dunk.
“Hopefully,” Alkins said, “I’ll make ‘SportsCenter.’”
(Editor’s note: He did, clocking in at No. 4 on the night's top 10 plays.)
The big number I
Updated3
The number of times UA coach Sean Miller, guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Ristic, a forward, have cut down the nets in Las Vegas over the last four years.
The bigger number
Updated13
Consecutive double-digit scoring games for Ayton, Arizona’s star freshman.
He said it
Updated“S***, I don’t know.”
— USC forward Chimezie Metu, on how to defend Ayton.
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