Arizona Wildcats basketball: On Markkanen's recognition, the real Corey, hard knocks
- Updated
Seen and heard at Gill Coliseum during Arizona's 71-54 win over Oregon State.ย
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizonaโs Lauri Markkanen was named one of 10 finalists for the Karl Malone Award honoring the nationโs top power forward.
The award run by the Basketball Hall of Fame also named UCLAโs T.J. Leaf and Calโs Ivan Rabb out of the Pac-12.
Other finalists: Baylorโs Johnathan Motley, Memphisโ Dedric Lawson, Michigan Stateโs Miles Bridges, Notre Dameโs Bonzie Colson, Pittsburghโs Michael Young, Purdueโs Caleb Swanigan and Valparaisoโs Alec Peters.ย
Former UA forward-turned-broadcaster Corey Williams called the Wildcatsโ Dec. 14 game with Grand Canyon from ESPNโs studios in Connecticutโฆ even though it was played in Tucson, where Williams lives.
While doing that โremote broadcastโ for ESPNU meant Williams couldnโt gather tidbits from some off-screen action, Williams said the studioโs equipment was helpful.
โItโs like a smaller room with three or four screens showing different angles,โ Williams said. โThe great thing about that is youโve got all your stats, graphics, internet screens and a lot of information at your fingertips.โย
Williams has watched a lot of the Wildcats as a former player and fan this season. And heโs been impressed.
โThey look extremely good right now, they look very dialed in,โ he said before the game. โThey look like they could make a deep run in the tournament. They look as good as any Pac-12 team Iโve seen, thereโs no question about that.โย
Fans attending Gill Coliseum on Thursday had a chance to choose from a virtual buffet of giveaways. The hungry had a chance to grab free beef jerky samples from Bakke Brothers Brand (honey glazed, honey jalapeno or peppered) and/or a small bowl of nachos.
The crazed could โcheck outโ a fathead of their favorite Beaver player, wave it around during the game and then return it. Die-hard fans could also receive their choice of a Beaver car flag, โGo Beavsโ armsleeve or several other items in exchange for giving their email address to marketers.ย
Despite Arizonaโs top-5 ranking and the fact that the Wildcats typically attract up to a thousand of their own fans for out-of-state games, only about 4,000 people total appeared to show up at Gill Coliseum.
Even the OSU student section was barely filled, with several prime seats available as late as 15 minutes before tipoff. The UA fans totaled less than 200.
Theories: There was a forecast of possible freezing rain Thursday night, which threatened to make the drive back to Portland (or even downtown Corvallis) potentially hazardous. There was also the early 6 p.m. PST tip, making it hard for folks to get there after work.
Or maybe it was just the fact that OSU is 0-10 in conference play.ย
- Bruce Pascoe Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
One of the reasons OSU has struggled is the absence of Tres Tinkle. He was initially expected to be out 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist, but with the injury now hitting the 10-week mark, he was placed in a hard cast earlier this week.
The Beavers are expecting to give Tinkle 2-3 weeks in the hard cast before reevaluation. If the injury is deemed season-ending, he would be eligible for a medical redshirt because he didnโt play in more than 30 percent of OSUโs games and none after the halfway point of the season.ย
โItโs difficult to teach when youโre winning. Guys usually learn after a loss, but he still has to teach. So I totally understand where heโs coming from.โ โ Williams, on why UA coach Sean Miller was especially downbeat after the Wildcats swept the Washington schools at home.ย
15: Straight Arizona wins heading into the Wildcatsโ showdown at Oregon on Saturday.ย
Arizonaโs Lauri Markkanen was named one of 10 finalists for the Karl Malone Award honoring the nationโs top power forward.
The award run by the Basketball Hall of Fame also named UCLAโs T.J. Leaf and Calโs Ivan Rabb out of the Pac-12.
Other finalists: Baylorโs Johnathan Motley, Memphisโ Dedric Lawson, Michigan Stateโs Miles Bridges, Notre Dameโs Bonzie Colson, Pittsburghโs Michael Young, Purdueโs Caleb Swanigan and Valparaisoโs Alec Peters.ย
Former UA forward-turned-broadcaster Corey Williams called the Wildcatsโ Dec. 14 game with Grand Canyon from ESPNโs studios in Connecticutโฆ even though it was played in Tucson, where Williams lives.
While doing that โremote broadcastโ for ESPNU meant Williams couldnโt gather tidbits from some off-screen action, Williams said the studioโs equipment was helpful.
โItโs like a smaller room with three or four screens showing different angles,โ Williams said. โThe great thing about that is youโve got all your stats, graphics, internet screens and a lot of information at your fingertips.โย
Williams has watched a lot of the Wildcats as a former player and fan this season. And heโs been impressed.
โThey look extremely good right now, they look very dialed in,โ he said before the game. โThey look like they could make a deep run in the tournament. They look as good as any Pac-12 team Iโve seen, thereโs no question about that.โย
Fans attending Gill Coliseum on Thursday had a chance to choose from a virtual buffet of giveaways. The hungry had a chance to grab free beef jerky samples from Bakke Brothers Brand (honey glazed, honey jalapeno or peppered) and/or a small bowl of nachos.
The crazed could โcheck outโ a fathead of their favorite Beaver player, wave it around during the game and then return it. Die-hard fans could also receive their choice of a Beaver car flag, โGo Beavsโ armsleeve or several other items in exchange for giving their email address to marketers.ย
Despite Arizonaโs top-5 ranking and the fact that the Wildcats typically attract up to a thousand of their own fans for out-of-state games, only about 4,000 people total appeared to show up at Gill Coliseum.
Even the OSU student section was barely filled, with several prime seats available as late as 15 minutes before tipoff. The UA fans totaled less than 200.
Theories: There was a forecast of possible freezing rain Thursday night, which threatened to make the drive back to Portland (or even downtown Corvallis) potentially hazardous. There was also the early 6 p.m. PST tip, making it hard for folks to get there after work.
Or maybe it was just the fact that OSU is 0-10 in conference play.ย
One of the reasons OSU has struggled is the absence of Tres Tinkle. He was initially expected to be out 4-6 weeks with a broken wrist, but with the injury now hitting the 10-week mark, he was placed in a hard cast earlier this week.
The Beavers are expecting to give Tinkle 2-3 weeks in the hard cast before reevaluation. If the injury is deemed season-ending, he would be eligible for a medical redshirt because he didnโt play in more than 30 percent of OSUโs games and none after the halfway point of the season.ย
โItโs difficult to teach when youโre winning. Guys usually learn after a loss, but he still has to teach. So I totally understand where heโs coming from.โ โ Williams, on why UA coach Sean Miller was especially downbeat after the Wildcats swept the Washington schools at home.ย
15: Straight Arizona wins heading into the Wildcatsโ showdown at Oregon on Saturday.ย
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