Arizona Wildcats basketball: On the national spotlight, silent moments, cheerleading hero
- Updated
Seen and heard at McKale Center during Arizona's 90-77 win over USC.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
As the college basketball calendar nears March, national media begin to focus on players who might make an impact in the NCAA Tournament.
Lauri Markkanen has received plenty of coverage this season locally, and even some internationally — there’s been a host of publications from his native Finland flying out to Tucson to cover their prodigy. People have started to take notice.
Both Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports wrote about Markkanen in recent days. USA Today sent its national basketball writer to McKale Center on Thursday, and one recent mock draft went so far as to peg Markkanen for the No. 1 overall pick.
That last bit is unlikely — fellow Pac-12 stars Markelle Fultz (Washington) and Lonzo Ball (UCLA) are the favorites — but the rest is warranted.
Markkanen wasn’t exactly a standout against USC, scoring 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds and two assists.
On Saturday, all eyes will be on Markkanen, and Arizona, as ESPN and its “College GameDay” crew descend on McKale Center.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
15-1: Arizona’s record in conference play after Thursday’s win.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas was in the house on Thursday, taking in the game one row in front of the media section. Bilas stood with Arizona’s fans at the beginning of each half, awaiting the opposition’s first points.
Also at McKale: former Arizona pitcher Nathan Bannister, now in the Seattle Mariners organization.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
McKale went dead silent late in the first half when Kobi Simmons twisted his ankle and limped to the locker room.
Allonzo Trier distracted Arizona fans from the momentary sadness by nailing a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half.
Luckily for Arizona, Simmons returned in the second half.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Arizona honors a “hero” every game from the armed forces, and Thursday’s honoree had a little fun with it.
Michael Majeske, of the Air Force, took part in a quick routine with the Arizona’s cheerleaders. He hoisted one of the cheerleaders, eliciting cheers from the ZonaZoo.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
ZonaZoo received the Star’s stamp of approval for its student giveaway on Thursday night.
Much of the student section were given bucket hats emblazoned with the Arizona colors and the block “A.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
During a timeout in the first half, Wilbur T. Wildcat walked around in what was supposed to be a “Trojan Horse” cut out of cardboard, though it wasn’t very convincing. Arizona’s mascot jumped out of the “horse,” broke it, stepped on it, and kicked it. USC’s bench didn’t even notice.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Steve Lavin was on the call for the Pac-12 Network broadcast on Thursday night. He won’t be around for Saturday’s showdown between the UA and UCLA, but he’s familiar with the rivalry — Lavin coached the Bruins from 1996-97 until 2002-03.
In that stretch, Arizona held a 9-6 edge on UCLA.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Cedric Dempsey was in attendance at Thursday’s game. The UA’s former athletic director is in the middle of leading the search for Greg Byrne’s replacement in the same position. Might a decision be near? Interim athletic director Erika Barnes recently pulled herself out of the running, and rumors have pointed to Central Michigan athletic director Dave Heeke and Houston’s Hunter Yurachek. Byrne starts at Alabama next week.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
As the college basketball calendar nears March, national media begin to focus on players who might make an impact in the NCAA Tournament.
Lauri Markkanen has received plenty of coverage this season locally, and even some internationally — there’s been a host of publications from his native Finland flying out to Tucson to cover their prodigy. People have started to take notice.
Both Sports Illustrated and CBS Sports wrote about Markkanen in recent days. USA Today sent its national basketball writer to McKale Center on Thursday, and one recent mock draft went so far as to peg Markkanen for the No. 1 overall pick.
That last bit is unlikely — fellow Pac-12 stars Markelle Fultz (Washington) and Lonzo Ball (UCLA) are the favorites — but the rest is warranted.
Markkanen wasn’t exactly a standout against USC, scoring 11 points on 4-of-10 shooting with seven rebounds and two assists.
On Saturday, all eyes will be on Markkanen, and Arizona, as ESPN and its “College GameDay” crew descend on McKale Center.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
ESPN analyst Jay Bilas was in the house on Thursday, taking in the game one row in front of the media section. Bilas stood with Arizona’s fans at the beginning of each half, awaiting the opposition’s first points.
Also at McKale: former Arizona pitcher Nathan Bannister, now in the Seattle Mariners organization.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
McKale went dead silent late in the first half when Kobi Simmons twisted his ankle and limped to the locker room.
Allonzo Trier distracted Arizona fans from the momentary sadness by nailing a 3-pointer at the buzzer to end the first half.
Luckily for Arizona, Simmons returned in the second half.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Arizona honors a “hero” every game from the armed forces, and Thursday’s honoree had a little fun with it.
Michael Majeske, of the Air Force, took part in a quick routine with the Arizona’s cheerleaders. He hoisted one of the cheerleaders, eliciting cheers from the ZonaZoo.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
During a timeout in the first half, Wilbur T. Wildcat walked around in what was supposed to be a “Trojan Horse” cut out of cardboard, though it wasn’t very convincing. Arizona’s mascot jumped out of the “horse,” broke it, stepped on it, and kicked it. USC’s bench didn’t even notice.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Steve Lavin was on the call for the Pac-12 Network broadcast on Thursday night. He won’t be around for Saturday’s showdown between the UA and UCLA, but he’s familiar with the rivalry — Lavin coached the Bruins from 1996-97 until 2002-03.
In that stretch, Arizona held a 9-6 edge on UCLA.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Cedric Dempsey was in attendance at Thursday’s game. The UA’s former athletic director is in the middle of leading the search for Greg Byrne’s replacement in the same position. Might a decision be near? Interim athletic director Erika Barnes recently pulled herself out of the running, and rumors have pointed to Central Michigan athletic director Dave Heeke and Houston’s Hunter Yurachek. Byrne starts at Alabama next week.
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