Arizona Wildcats forward Zeke Nnaji (22) walks around the side of the court before the end of a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the McKale Center, on Jan. 18. 2020.

 Josh Galemore / Arizona Daily Star

Seen and heard from Arizona's blowout win over No. 20 Colorado at McKale Center on Saturday. 

Goodnight, afternoon tip-offs

Barring a last-minute change in scheduling, Saturday’s 12:30 p.m. game between Arizona and Colorado was the last afternoon tip-off for the Wildcats this season. The earliest start time for the rest of the year is 6 p.m. — at Washington State on Feb. 1, and vs. Oregon State on Feb. 20. Eight of Arizona’s remaining 13 regular season games are scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m. or later.

Saturday’s game aired on Fox, marking the final time Arizona will play on over-the-air TV during the regular season.

Fastest baby in the West

Everyone’s favorite halftime show, the Diaper Derby, took place at halftime Saturday. It may have had more drama than the UA-Colorado game: The babies participating in the AZ529 Diaper Derby Race 4 College started slow out of the gate but eventually reached peak speed.

The winner, a baby girl, stopped just short of the finish line — allowing the other babies to nearly catch up before she crossed the line. Nonetheless, a new champion of the Diaper Derby was crowned.

The big number

 

54

Colorado hasn’t beaten the UA in Tucson in 54-plus years. CU’s last win in The Old Pueblo came on Dec. 20, 1965, when the Buffs beat the Cats 77-73 in triple overtime. The biggest news that day? President Lyndon B. Johnson's response to Pope Paul VI's comments about peace in Vietnam.

Another big number

37

Arizona beat Utah and Colorado by a combined 37 points over the weekend, their largest total margin of victory in a mountain school sweep since the two joined the Pac-12.

Welcome back

Ernie McCray holds the UA record for points in a game (46). He's photographed here with his portrait and bio that hangs in McKale Center in 2004. 

An Arizona legend returned to McKale Center on Saturday. Ernie McCray, the UA’s single-game scoring leader, appeared in the pregame “This is Arizona” video and was then singled out during a TV timeout, earning robust applause from the McKale Center crowd. McCray was a co-captain of the 1959-60 Wildcats team when he scored 46 points against Cal State Los Angeles. The record still stands.

He said it

Arizona Wildcats forward Ira Lee (11) puts the ball in the basket during a game against the Colorado Buffaloes at the McKale Center, on Jan. 18. 2020.

“It’s beautiful to hear that. It’s beautiful to hear that in a win too.”

— Ira Lee, on the “Ira! Ira! Ira!” chants that filled McKale in the second half. Lee finished with six points and seven rebounds in 26 minutes.

Tweet of the day

Max Hazzard had a homestand to remember. The grad transfer from UC Irvine followed up his season-high 24 points against Utah with another solid showing. Hazzard came off the bench and scored 9 points, all on 3-pointers.

Former Wildcats guard Allonzo Trier, now a member of the New York Knicks, watched Saturday’s game on TV and chimed in on Hazzard’s hot hand. Trier tweeted, “Max Hazzard god level sniper!” to which Hazzard responded, “Real recognize real.”

 

Lace ’em up

Arizona Wildcats forward Zeke Nnaji (22) congratulates Arizona Wildcats guard Max Hazzard (5) on a basket during a game at the McKale Center, on Jan. 18. 2020.

Both the Wildcats and Buffs wore gold shoelaces on Saturday as part of “Lace Up 4 Pediatric Cancer.” The charity donated $4 from every pair of $5 laces to kids with cancer and their families.

Check out photos from Saturday's game here: 

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— Alec White