Arizona Wildcats basketball: On T-Mobile's spotty service, a Devilish decision, Allonzo Tri-verson
- Updated
Seen and heard at T-Mobile Arena during Arizona's 92-78 win over Colorado in the Pac-12 Tournament quarterfinals.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Tom Abram is a Tucsonan and longtime Arizona Wildcats fan who attended the UA in the 1970s.
Asked Thursday about the new site of the Pac-12 Tournament, Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, he hesitated.
Abram praised the atmosphere — “It’s like a home game for us; I love it,” he said — but he prefers the old MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the event was held before moving across the street.
“I liked the other one because it’s a little more intimate and there’s not a bad seat in the house — and I sat in most of them,” Abram said. “You could see everything.”
There are other reasons, too: MGM Grand allowed for re-entry, and permitted fans to bring in outside alcoholic beverages provided they were in a plastic cup.
T-Mobile Arena does not allow either. Thursday, fans were forced to choose between $18 margaritas, $12 domestic beers and $13 premium beers.
Daniel Tellez, a lifelong UA fan and recent graduate, said the move makes sense for the Pac-12, even if it temporarily cheapens the fan experience.
“Honestly, it’s just learning for next year,” Tellez said. “I think this is 100 percent a positive move for the Pac-12, even though it might be bad for the fans.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
21: Days between made 3-pointers for Arizona star Lauri Markkanen, who broke his shooting slump against Colorado by hitting 4 of 7 3s after going four games missing all 11 of his long range attempts.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Abram donned a shirt from Arizona’s 2001 national championship game against Duke in Minneapolis, which he attended.
“I remember it was so exciting to beat Michigan State, to get to play Duke,” Abram said, “and then I remember most of us Arizona fans at the time felt the officiating was not great because they weren’t calling the fouls. It really hurt. That stayed with us for a long time.”
Abram is as confident as ever that Arizona is ready to make its return to the Final Four, calling this year’s team as talented as it’s been in “quite a long time.”
Abram already has reservations booked for Glendale, the site of this year’s Final Four.
“I think this team has the potential to make a very, very deep run in the tournament,” he said.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
At halftime, a Colorado fan and an Arizona fan took part in a midcourt trivia contest. The winner could choose between two prizes: A $100 gift card or a half spent with former ASU standout Eddie House.
The UA fan won. Guess which prize he chose …
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
“I think over time people will look back on it from a different perspective than they might see it now.” — Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, about the frustration from fans who can’t watch the Pac-12 Networks. The channels aren’t available at the New York-New York hotel, which sits adjacent to T-Mobile Arena.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
- Updated
Late in the first half, Allonzo Trier took the ball and dribbled as if he was attacking the basket, stopped and crossed over — á la NBA legend Allen Iverson — and put a Colorado defender on skates.
Trier promptly made his wide-open jumper.
Colorado got its revenge later — with less than three minutes remaining, Trier went up for a dunk and was stuffed at the rim by the Buffaloes’ George King.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Tom Abram is a Tucsonan and longtime Arizona Wildcats fan who attended the UA in the 1970s.
Asked Thursday about the new site of the Pac-12 Tournament, Las Vegas’ T-Mobile Arena, he hesitated.
Abram praised the atmosphere — “It’s like a home game for us; I love it,” he said — but he prefers the old MGM Grand Garden Arena, where the event was held before moving across the street.
“I liked the other one because it’s a little more intimate and there’s not a bad seat in the house — and I sat in most of them,” Abram said. “You could see everything.”
There are other reasons, too: MGM Grand allowed for re-entry, and permitted fans to bring in outside alcoholic beverages provided they were in a plastic cup.
T-Mobile Arena does not allow either. Thursday, fans were forced to choose between $18 margaritas, $12 domestic beers and $13 premium beers.
Daniel Tellez, a lifelong UA fan and recent graduate, said the move makes sense for the Pac-12, even if it temporarily cheapens the fan experience.
“Honestly, it’s just learning for next year,” Tellez said. “I think this is 100 percent a positive move for the Pac-12, even though it might be bad for the fans.”
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Abram donned a shirt from Arizona’s 2001 national championship game against Duke in Minneapolis, which he attended.
“I remember it was so exciting to beat Michigan State, to get to play Duke,” Abram said, “and then I remember most of us Arizona fans at the time felt the officiating was not great because they weren’t calling the fouls. It really hurt. That stayed with us for a long time.”
Abram is as confident as ever that Arizona is ready to make its return to the Final Four, calling this year’s team as talented as it’s been in “quite a long time.”
Abram already has reservations booked for Glendale, the site of this year’s Final Four.
“I think this team has the potential to make a very, very deep run in the tournament,” he said.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
At halftime, a Colorado fan and an Arizona fan took part in a midcourt trivia contest. The winner could choose between two prizes: A $100 gift card or a half spent with former ASU standout Eddie House.
The UA fan won. Guess which prize he chose …
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
“I think over time people will look back on it from a different perspective than they might see it now.” — Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott, about the frustration from fans who can’t watch the Pac-12 Networks. The channels aren’t available at the New York-New York hotel, which sits adjacent to T-Mobile Arena.
- Zack Rosenblatt Arizona Daily Star
Late in the first half, Allonzo Trier took the ball and dribbled as if he was attacking the basket, stopped and crossed over — á la NBA legend Allen Iverson — and put a Colorado defender on skates.
Trier promptly made his wide-open jumper.
Colorado got its revenge later — with less than three minutes remaining, Trier went up for a dunk and was stuffed at the rim by the Buffaloes’ George King.
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