NCAA Basketball FanHouse

Actor Bill Murray's Son Hired by Arizona as Graduate Assistant ... Which Is Nice

Shane Bacon — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:44:00 EST

Maybe the most athletic scene Bill Murray was ever a part of came during Caddyshack, when the now famous actor was hacking away at flowers with a garden hoe. No matter if that was the extent of his sports acting career, Luke Murray, Bill's son, is taking the golf lover's passion a step further, joining the University of Arizona's basketball team as a graduate assistant.

The athletic department confirmed to FanHouse on Tuesday that Luke had landed the job, is Bill's son, and will be with the team this season, helping out with all that a graduate assistant does.

"I am tremendously excited to join the men's basketball staff at the University of Arizona," Murray said through the athletics department. "For me, working at Arizona, particularly under Coach (Sean) Miller, is a dream opportunity, and I eagerly await the start of the 2009-10 season."

It might seem strange that a kid that graduated from Fairfield University in Connecticut and worked at Quinnipiac and Post University might be getting a job with a top-tier basketball program, but his relationships go deeper than Hollywood.

Luke worked with Book Richardson, an Arizona assistant, with an AAU team called the New York Gauchos. Not only that, but it turns out Luke was a pretty good athlete in his own regard. Before graduating in '07 from Fairfield with a degree in sociology, Murray was an all-conference winner twice for football, but played basketball as well.

No word yet on his set duties at Arizona, but if dad ever shows up to the games, he might trump Lute Olson for most famous fan in the stands.

Actor Bill Murray's Son Hired by Arizona as Graduate Assistant ... Which Is Nice originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 25 Aug 2009 11:44:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Lute Olson Gets a Fitting Farewell at Last

Shane Bacon — Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:15:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Coaches

Retirement is a strange thing for most sports icons. They leave, only to find the spotlight that will never be the same. Public adoration is a drug, and a lot of athletes can't break the habit.

For Lute Olson, retirement was a different sort of challenge. The 74-year-old former head coach at Arizona left, frankly, because he couldn't do the job anymore. Olson, one of the most animated coaches ever to pace the length of the bench, went from coach that couldn't get enough to coach that couldn't do it anymore. Beset by health problems, divorce and a program that couldn't seem to find its way out of a mediocre situation, Olson retired last October so quickly the program barely had time to recover, let alone say goodbye.

Saturday, farewell finally came for Olson and the program he built.

Any and all that could pack into the famed McKale Center, waved goodbye to a man that isn't simply a part of Tucson, but in a very real sense is the city.

No matter if you're heading east on Speedway to land a Cowboy sandwich at Baggins or walking around campus on a flawless spring day, Olson is what you see.

You see, before Lute was hired by Arizona in 1983, the Wildcats had been to the NCAA Tournament a total of three times. It was a program that was, to put it kindly, abysmal on all accounts. Lute joined the Wildcats, and missed the NCAA Tournament once in his 25 years -- the first season he was in the desert. A national championship came in 1997 in an overtime epic against Kentucky. There were three other Final Four appearances, including a finals loss to Duke in 2001. There was a run of 71 consecutive wins at McKale, a winning percentage of nearly 76 percent, and a legacy that was as much screenplay as statistics.

Intelligent, poised and, though not always eager to call on me when I was interviewing him as a snotty 19-year-old, Olson talked like a man that knew basketball as thoroughly as most folks know their way home. He knew the game, and there wasn't a better coach in the country that could recruit talent to a desert town.

On Saturday, more than 40 of his ex-players showed up to wish their coach off. Steve Kerr said, "An event like this has to be a little bittersweet for Coach. It signifies that it's over. It wasn't easy for him."

That describes the kind of coach Olson was. The word "quit" isn't in his biography. The man will be missed by the basketball world, but never forgotten. The good news is on a sunny Tucson day, when the students are pouring in to watch their Wildcats destroy a Pac-10 foe, they might catch a glimpse of Coach in the stands, cheering on the program he built. He's never been easy to miss.

Even in retirement, the spotlight will find him.

Lute Olson Gets a Fitting Farewell at Last originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 10 Aug 2009 18:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Nic Wise Picks Arizona Over NBA Draft

Gary Washburn — Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:36:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Pac-10

Nic Wise may have made the wisest decision of his yet-to-be started professional basketball career, informing Arizona coach Sean Miller that he plans to withdraw his name from the NBA Draft and return to Tuscon for his senior season. Wise was projected as a late second-round pick or perhaps even undrafted. His return gives Miller a veteran, tested player who can help the Wildcats' resurgence.

"We are all very excited with Nic's return," Miller said on the school's Web site. "His talent, leadership and ability will make him one of the premier players in the Pac-10 this coming season. As important, this puts him in position to leave the University of Arizona with his degree. We are looking forward to a great senior year for Nic."

Wise, listed at 5-foot-10, 177 pounds, averaged 15.7 points and 4.6 assists while leading UA to the Sweet 16. He declared for the draft in April but did not hire an agent, retaining his college eligibility.

Miller needs bodies as Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger declared for the draft and hired agents shortly after the Wildcats were eliminated from the NCAA tournament by Louisville. Wise will be joined by returnees Kyle Fogg and Jamelle Horne for a solid core. Miller also brought in three highly touted recruits, including 6-foot-6 small forward Solomon Hill from Los Angeles.

Nic Wise Picks Arizona Over NBA Draft originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 06 Jun 2009 16:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Can Sean Miller Stabilize Arizona?

Gary Washburn — Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Pac-10, Coaches

Sean Miller views what's left of his inherited roster at the University of Arizona and realizes he will be his seniors' fourth coach in four years. He is preceded by Kevin O'Neill, Russ Pennell and of course Lute Olson, who retired because of health reasons. Pennell led the Wildcats to the Sweet 16 in March but was told there was no chance he would retain the job.

So Miller takes over after a successful tenure at Xavier, but with only residue of a team in Tucson. Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill declared for the NBA draft and have hired agents while point guard Nic Wise is still pondering his draft options. Miller seeks to bring the tradition back to Arizona but the process will take time, especially considering the recent coaching upheaval.

"[The] transition, it's really nobody's fault," he said this week as he prepares for his first season in the Pac-10. "I think whoever the next coach would be and that person is me, is going to inherit a unique situation early on, maybe not as much depth. Maybe even not as much experience or talent of previous Arizona teams, but nonetheless, doing things the right way, getting to know our current players, recruiting the right way, that's really where our focus is right now."

Miller's responsibility is to bring stability to an Arizona program that just five years ago was the model program on the West Coast. But UCLA's emergence, Olson's declining health, a slew of players bolting early for the NBA and poisonous team chemistry have battered the program.

Miller wasn't athletic director Jim Livengood's first choice. USC's Tim Floyd was meticulously close to accepting the job but returned to the Trojans, which may have been a blessing for Livengood. While Floyd's reputation is taking a beating, Miller's has been impeccable. He took Xavier to Top 25 status with wildly athletic teams who played staunch defense. And the Musketeers were a few minutes of execution from beating Pitt in the Sweet 16 last March.

The initial years in Tucson could serve as a challenge, especially convincing potential recruits that chaos and uncertainty is indeed over. Miller sounds as if he plans to stay for a while.

To me stabilizing is more about our current players," he said. "Some guys, I could be their fourth coach in four years and that's not healthy for anybody. Some of our young players have never been accustomed to stability where they really know that the coach is going to be the same for the long term. To me building relationships with them and trust with them and their families, that doesn't happen in a month or two. That happens over a long period of time and that too is going to be a battle."

Latest College Basketball Images

Pall bearers prepare to unload the casket of Wayman Tisdale during his funeral, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Tulsa, Okla. The former University of Oklahoma basketball star and popular jazz musician died last week after a long battle with cancer. He was 44. (AP Photo/Tom Gilbert)

The hearse carrying the casket of Wayman Tisdale moves through Tulsa, Thursday, May 21, 2009, in Tulsa, Okla. The former University of Oklahoma basketball star and popular jazz musician died last week after a long battle with cancer. He was 44. (AP Photo/Shane Bevel)

John Wall, flanked by his sister Tonya Pulley and Dr. Frank Summerfield, formally announced during a press conference on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, that he would attend the University of Kentucky next fall to play basketball. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

MCT

John Wall formally announced during a press conference on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, that he would attend the University of Kentucky next fall to play basketball. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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John Wall laughs with his sister Tonya Pulley during a press conference on Wednesday, May 20, 2009, where he announced he would attend the University of Kentucky next fall to play basketball. (Ethan Hyman/Raleigh News & Observer/MCT)

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Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall discusses his decision to commit to playing basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall, center, discusses his decision to commit to playing basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. At left is Word of God Christian Academy's Dr. Frank Summerfield and at right is Wall's sister Tonya Pulley. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall, right, and Dr. Frank Summerfield discuss Wall's decision to commit to playing college basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

Word of God Christian Academy's point guard John Wall discusses his decision to commit to playing college basketball at Kentucky during a news conference in Raleigh, N.C., Wednesday, May 20, 2009. (AP Photo/Gerry Broome)

The Wildcats are waiting on a decision from Wise, whose return for his senior year could turn the Wildcats into a potential tournament team. Wise is projected as a late second-round pick, if not undrafted, but if he returns, he could be the conference's top point guard. Miller also was able to add three blue-chip recruits in Ukranian center Kyryl Natyazhko, and swingmen Solomon Hill (who recommitted to Arizona after decommitting from USC) and Kevin Parron. Add that base to returnees Jamelle Horne and Kyle Fogg, and the transition may not be a bumpy as Miller anticipated.

"We have a great product," he said. "We also [may struggle] because of some tough circumstances that may hinder us early on, but there's also a silver lining because we can offer great opportunity, especially at certain positions and because the best prospects in today's day and age, they want opportunity to be able to come in and play a lot as freshman. So we're trying to build on what we accomplished in 2009 and the three players we signed and be a program of consistent recruiting classes. We are adding to our talent pool and eventually becoming a program with great depth."

But returning to prominence will take time. Miller said it will take at least a year to put his imprint on the program and establish accord. And he will not rush the process.

"So many times when you take over a program, especially a program of stature you can be tempted to make some form of a splash," he said. "That is, Sean Miller has been able to sign seven or eight players in five weeks. if this program is of the level that I believe it is, in April of somebody's senior year, there aren't seven or eight players in the nation that are good enough to help Arizona do what we want to do. So I think being selective, it's getting the right player instead of adding depth all at one point."

Can Sean Miller Stabilize Arizona? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 12:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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After Defections, Cal, Washington Are Pac-10 Favorites

Gary Washburn — Sat, 16 May 2009 21:15:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac-10, NBA Prospects, Oregon State

The upheaval at USC and constant defections at UCLA may have sent conference supremacy north.

The NBA draft's early entries have one month to return to school (June 15), but it doesn't appear any of the Pac-10 entries are coming back. Six underclassmen -- USC's DeMar DeRozan and Taj Gibson, UCLA's Jrue Holiday, the Arizona duo of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger and Arizona State's James Harden -- will participate in the draft combine beginning May 28 in Chicago, and none are likely to return to their schools. Even Holiday, a projected late first-rounder, is reportedly close to hiring an agent and remaining in the draft.

UCLA also loses All-America point guard Darren Collison and key scorer Josh Shipp, leaving the Bruins young, raw and virtually unproven. The Trojans, meanwhile, who made an improbable run to the NCAA Tournament by winning the Pac-10 tournament, could be gutted with Daniel Hackett likely headed for Italy, top recruit Renardo Sidney bolting for Mississippi State and the program under major scrutiny regarding allegations of payments to representatives for former guard O.J. Mayo. Coach Tim Floyd, if he remains at USC, will be in another major rebuilding mode in Los Angeles.

Such ruin in Southern California and major defections with the Arizona schools leaves the two most stable programs in Washington and California. The Huskies lose all-time rebounder Jon Brockman and solid guard Justin Dentmon, but coach Lorenzo Romar will depend on freshman talent along with Pac-10 Freshman of the Year Isaiah Thomas, improving Quincy Pondexter, who sparkled toward season's end, and defensive ace Venoy Overton.

Romar, always a master recruiter, was able to get Tacoma, Wash., guard Abdul Gabby, who is expected to join Thomas in the backcourt. Bruising juco forward Charles Garcia and freshman Clarence Trent will make the Huskies perhaps the deepest team on the West Coast.

California returns four of the five starters that stunned the conference by winning 22 games and advancing to the NCAA Tournament. Gifted but enigmatic swingman Patrick Christopher decided to return to school for his senior season while speedy guard Jerome Randle and redshirt senior Theo Robertson give the Bears a chance to compete for the conference title.

And there will be some noise heard from the Oregon schools with Ernie Kent's job essentially at stake this season and the Ducks coming off an awful 2-16 conference record. Craig Robinson brought home a CBI title -- College Basketball Invitational for those non-diehards -- to Oregon State in his first season and the Beavers return their top four scorers.

After Defections, Cal, Washington Are Pac-10 Favorites originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 16 May 2009 21:15:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Women's Hoops Gets Serious in Pac-10

Gary Washburn — Thu, 07 May 2009 15:43:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac-10, Coaches, Oregon State

Stanford has ruled the Pac-10 Women's basketball landscape for the past 20 years, and California and Arizona State have recently emerged to make the conference a three-team scramble for supremacy. But two recent hires by Oregon and USC have made it apparent that women's basketball is indeed becoming a higher priority on the West Coast.

Oregon shocked the women's basketball community by hiring former NBA championship coach Paul Westhead to replace the fired Bev Smith. Westhead was fired along with P.J. Carlesimo from the Oklahoma City Thunder in December, but he comes to Eugene, Ore., with a WNBA title from the Phoenix Mercury.

While Oregon has been a fruitful recruiting base for Stanford and other national powers, the Ducks have advanced to just one NCAA tournament since 2001. Westhead's fast-paced style should attract recruits and some much-needed attention to the program. Meanwhile, USC athletic director Mike Garrett nabbed five-time NBA champion Michael Cooper to lead the Trojans, who haven't been a national power since the days of Cheryl Miller and Cynthia Cooper.

"He has coached and played at the highest level and with the greatest players in the world," Garrett said after the announcement. "He'll be an excellent in-game coach, he'll do a great job preparing his teams and he'll wow the recruits. And I'll say this: we'll be a strong team defensively."

Cooper won two WNBA titles with the Los Angeles Sparks and will coach the Sparks this summer and take over the USC program in the fall. The hiring of Cooper away from the WNBA is a serious indication that Garrett wants the women's program to snatch some of the attention given to Stanford, which has reached two consecutive Final Fours and won at least a share of the past nine Pac-10 titles.

Women's basketball is getting increasing national attention and prestige but West Coast schools have ignored this trend. Stanford is the lone Pac-10 program to consistently compete with the powers -- UConn, Tennessee, Rutgers -- on the East. But if Cooper and Westhead have any say, that will change quickly.

Women's Hoops Gets Serious in Pac-10 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 07 May 2009 15:43:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Transition to Football Gaining Popularity

Matt Snyder — Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Duke, Penn State, Washington, ACC, Big Ten, Pac-10, NBA Prospects, Rumors

The few weeks after the NCAA Basketball season concludes are traditionally chock full of player movement announcements -- new recruits, transfers, entry entrants into the NBA draft, etc. This year has been no exception, but there is a trend gaining more steam. Having a collegiate basketball player become a football player isn't a new thing. Antonio Gates is an All-Pro tight end who didn't play a snap of college football, for example.

Still, the movement from football to basketball seems to be increasing in recent weeks. It makes sense, considering the speed, quickness and agility needed in both. For post players in basketball, they've become accustomed to a physical game anyway, and have the necessary strength-athleticism combo for a position like tight end. Here are four currently considering the shift:

Greg Paulus - Duke's former point guard is supposedly considering entering the NFL draft -- where the Packers are interested -- tranferring to Michigan to play football, or staying at Duke to play football. That's probably not all he's considering, but the high school All-American quarterback definitely has options. Holding a clipboard for the Packers, playing quarterback in the Big House, or playing wide receiver on a famiilar campus all seem appealing to varying degrees, so we'll see how he chooses. Of course, you could argue picking basketball over football was the wrong move in the first place, so there is precedent for a sub-par decision.

Jamelle Cornley - Here's a guy who played basketball like it was football at times. At 6-foot-4, 248-pounds, he definitely has the frame to take on the more physical sport. Apparently, he never got the chance to try his hand at the gridiron because his father didn't allow it when Jamelle was growing up. Now, after leading the Penn State Nittany Lions to an NIT Championship as a senior, Cornely is reportedly considering a go-round in pads. In fact, he would have a year of collegiate football eligibility, so it's possible he's added to the fray at Penn State for next season. He's also considering his NBA, NFL and overseas basketball options.

Jon Brockman - Friday night during his on-air visit with the Seattle Mariners broadcast team, Brockman mentioned the Tampa Bay Buccaneers had contacted him and were very interested in the big man. He hasn't even been on a football field competitively since junior high. He said he played some receiver and some lineman. So that narrows it down, I guess? Standing 6-foot-7 and weighing in at 255, though, makes Brockman yet another perfect tight end candidate, should he answer the Bucs' call. For what it's worth, he said he wanted to keep pursuing basketball, but if that didn't work out he'd certainly give football a try. Can't say I blame him.

Fendi Onobun - The former Arizona forward has never played football, but he's got the body for it (6-foot-6, 250 pounds). Onobun played basketball like a football player as well, but he had much less grace than Cornley. Unlike Cornley, he has no chance of playing in the NBA, so the NFL would be his only route, should he wish to make money in America playing a sport. He's currently learning the game, and has worked out for the Patroits, Panthers and Bills. His potential position? You guessed it: Tight end.

Transition to Football Gaining Popularity originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 18 Apr 2009 14:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pac-10 Roundup: Arizona Teams Struggle, LA Teams Roll

Shane Bacon — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:48:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Pac-10, Oregon State

On a night when the University of Arizona honored famed coach Lute Olson during halftime, something became very clear as the ceremonial speeches ended and the basketball began. If the Wildcats want to continue their NCAA streak of 25 consecutive tournament appearances, they would need more than an uplifting video (it got dusty in my apartment) and the memory of a coach that has been through a lot the last two years. The Wildcats need a W.

It wasn't happening, as Jerome Randle absolutely murdered the 'Cats in the second half, helping California (22-8, 11-6) improve to third in the Pac-10 with the 83-77 win and put the Wildcats in another uncomfortable position similar to last season -- leaving their March Madness dreams up to chance.

Arizona's Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill did all they could do to keep their team in the game, combining for 52 fo the Wildcat's 77 points, but Randle was absolutely molten from outside, hitting 8-of-11 threes, all coming when the momentum looked to be shifting.

Now, the Wildcats (18-12, 8-9) have to beat Stanford on Saturday and possibly win their first Pac-10 Tournament game to have a chance at making the NCAA Tournament. That task probably seemed a lot more likely before Arizona went on a four-game losing streak, and Stanford didn't show themselves to be capable of taking down a talented Arizona State team on the road as they did on Thursday, 74-64.

In Tempe on Thursday, the Sun Devils were abysmal, going 0-for-6 to start the game and scoring their first basket with 11:50 left in the first half. This was the third-straight loss for an ASU team that looked to be securing a solid spot in the postseason picture before the trip last week to Washington. Now, the Sun Devils have California on Sunday to try and get some positive momentum going before they head to Los Angeles for the Pac-10s.

UCLA and USC both rolled over Oregon State and Oregon, respectively, on Thursday. The No. 17 Bruins are doing the opposite dance of the Arizona teams, carding their third-straight win and improving their tournament resume as the days roll by. The win also kept them in the hunt for a split of the Pac-10 crown, needing a win on Saturday against Oregon and a loss by Washington to Washington State.

Josh Shipp had a career-high 27 points for the Bruins, and DeMar DeRozan of Southern California had 19 in the Trojans' rout of the Ducks.

Pac-10 Roundup: Arizona Teams Struggle, LA Teams Roll originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 06 Mar 2009 09:48:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Washington Takes Control of Pac-10

Shane Bacon — Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:17:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Washington, Pac-10

It wasn't very pretty, but the Washington Huskies did what they hoped to do: Sweep the Arizona schools and assure the program at least a share of the Pac-10 regular season championship for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

Washington took down Arizona State on Thursday 73-70 in Seattle, and today had the Wildcats come to town in desperate need of one more big win to assure they'd be returning to the NCAA tournament for the 25th straight time. The Wildcats dominated in the first half on the back of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger, but an injury to Hill in the second half and foul trouble for the 'Cats allowed the Huskies to pull away and take it 83-78.

It wasn't the prettiest of games for either team, and most of that can be attributed to sketchy refereeing, who seem to call fouls when there didn't seem to be any contact and non-fouls when, for instance, Zane Johnson of Arizona pushed a Washington player out of bounds in the first half.

What was the key to victory for Washington? It won't surprise you to hear the name Jon Brockman, who had 19 points and 11 rebounds and looked like Shaquille O'Neal in (Huskie) purple.

Now, two things happen. The Huskies have played themselves into contention to a possible two seed during March Madness, if they can continue to win out the rest of the regular season, and the Wildcats need a sweep at home next week of California and Stanford to make sure they are in the bracket.

Arizona was one of the hottest teams in the nation a couple of weeks ago but a tough loss to Arizona State in Tempe, followed by back-to-back losses to the Washington teams now has the Wildcats in a tough spot. I guess next week will tell us all we need to know about both team's near future.

Washington Takes Control of Pac-10 originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 28 Feb 2009 18:17:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Ranking the Rankings: UConn Still No. 1*

Will Brinson — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:45:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, Butler, Connecticut, Duke, LSU, Oklahoma, UCLA, ACC, Big 12, Big East, Pac-10, Media Watch

Ranking the rankings criticizes the critics when the polls come out.

Headlining: The beauty of a Tuesday column, at least this season, is that whoever ends up No. 1 can do so with an asterisk based on Monday's games. (*In case you didn't know already, Pittsburgh beat Connecticut.) And it appears that next week, we'll likely have a new No. 1 team in the nation. That will likely be Blake Griffin and the Oklahoma Sooners. Which is fitting, considering Griffin dropped a rediculous 40-point, 23-rebound Valentine's Day stat line on Texas Tech Saturday night.

But for now, at least, UConn is still your No. 1 based on this week's rankings. And it's not like they don't deserve it either; yes, Hasheem Thabeet was outmanned by DeJuan Blair down low (from the start, no less), and yes, the Huskies missed Jerome Dyson, but they're still a top-five squad despite losing on their home court Monday.

Freefallin': Duke (20-5). "Freefall" might be a stretch considering Duke is "only" at ninth overall. But they've lost four of six overall and the only two wins were over Virginia (unimpressive) and Miami (a textbook squeaker). The Blue Devils have serious issues right now, particularly with their point guard and post play, and unfortunately, those are two pretty important aspects of basketball. The home stretch, featuring North Carolina, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech and Florida State, isn't pretty either. Butler (22-3). Here's a hint, mid-majors: Don't lose. The Bulldogs, a very talented and dangerous, albeit young, team, coughed up a single game to Loyola-Chicago and nearly got booted from the top 25. Presuming Stephen Curry can play this Saturday, they'll have a chance for redemption at Davidson. Matt Howard, by the way, is very much for real. UCLA (19-6). It's a pretty simple formula, really. Lose twice in a week after having your value inflated (sixth in the Coaches' Poll!) and you'll hurt yourself moving down the poll the next week.

You Gotta Rise Up: Arizona State (20-5). Just another 20-game winner plus a trip to the NCAA for Herb Sendek, eh? The Sun Devils rode a four-game winning streak, including a home victory over UCLA for a season sweep of the Bruins, all the way up to 11th in the coaches' Poll (14th in the AP). LSU (21-4). Clearly, the Tigers felt that the SEC was under performing and needed someone to rep the conference in the polls. That, and they ripped off six straight wins (and nine of their last 10); granted, every single one of those wins is in-conference, so the whole "grain of salt" thing applies, but that doesn't make a tiny taste of cream rising above sour milk any less impressive. Back-to-backs against Florida and at Kentucky might even come after they've locked up an SEC West title and an NCA tourney bid.

Hyped: Duke, clearly, right? The Devils aren't "bad" per se, but right now, I'm extremely confident that they are not the ninth best team in the nation. Sure, college basketball is rife with parity and the ACC is most likely the best conference in the nation (the Big East, obviously, would disagree) but if you're a top-10 team in the nation, you're not coughing up four of six games. The Clemson game -- an absolute embarrassment -- stands out more than anything.

Bunked: Arizona, despite winning seven straight games -- in-conference no less! -- isn't pulling much love from the pollsters. And sure, maybe they aren't a legit top-25 team (sorry, Bacon) at this exact moment, if we're going to reward Syracuse for losing seven games, I see no reason why the Wildcats can't get some love with eight. Missouri is ranked 11th in the AP poll, and while that might seem generous even following a huge come from behind win over Kansas and a throttling of Nebraska, I think they're better than that. Certainly better than Duke and Wake Forest, no?

WTF? Why are there only 500 some names on the Pollspeak petition to force all college voting polls into the public? There should be five million. Do your country a favor and sign that sucker electronically so we can make sure the integrity of our college athletics aren't being compromised. Or, "more compromised than they already are by the BCS."

People Who Vote Are Smart (Brought to You by Pollspeak.com): Michael Vega was the pretty clear winner in "insane voter of the week" for the past seven days. While I don't necessarily disagree with all of the points he appears to be making with his ballot, there are still some, ahem, irregularities. For instance, Duke is 25th. Even I won't agree with that. Additionally, Butler is sixth. Not doable following a loss to Loyola. He has Dayton at seventh, while Louisville clocks in at a lowly 17. Additionally, Arizona State is unranked. LSU sits at 13. And even Connecticut was number two (regardless if that turned out to be correct, it's indicative). All told, six of his teams are higher in the polls than anyone else, with another six checking in lower than anyone else. It's like someone handed Jeff Goldblum (the Jurassic Park version) a ballot and some sort of chaos theory erupted, only with less non-pertinent lines of thinking.

Ranking the Rankings: UConn Still No. 1* originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Tue, 17 Feb 2009 12:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arizona Sweeps LA Schools, Brings Excitement Back to Tucson

Shane Bacon — Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, UCLA, Pac-10

One thing has always haunted the Wildcats -- their inability to finish games.

On Thursday night against Southern California and Saturday against UCLA, the Wildcats again let both teams back in the game before doing something that is very un-Tucson like ... they stepped on some throats.

The win over the Bruins was about streaks, and Arizona continued one while putting the other to rest. UCLA had taken down the Wildcats in eight straight games before Russ Pennell's crew kept it together, winning 84-72 to take their current winning streak to seven.

The win all but assured Arizona will make it to their 25th NCAA Tournament, a record among current universities, and have put themselves on a short list, along with Utah State, Oklahoma, Connecticut, Memphis and North Carolina, as the hottest team in the nation. An argument can be made that they haven't won any big games on the road, but a win against UCLA is reason enough to get fired up if you're a Wildcat fan.

Arizona's defense has been superb, led by shifty Nic Wise and freshman Kyle Fogg, who actually seems to enjoy playing the man with the ball. Adam Papagiorgio made a point after the USC win that Pennell could be playing himself into the head coaching position for good and while I'm not totally sold that the Tucson faithful would be happy with a lesser name guy on the bench, the point has to be considered.

The defense is impressive, their decision making (minus Jamelle Horne, who still seems lost on the court) is there and Jordan Hill is quickly becoming a top-5 pick. On top of all that, Chase Budinger has finally become a "star" on the court and Wise, while a little all over the place, still gets his feet set and nails the open (or contested) jumper.

Now the Wildcats can rest a week before the play again, the in-state rivalry game against Arizona State, who also took care of the Bruins, in Tempe. It will be another game the Wildcats are underdogs and another chance for Chase and the boys to prove otherwise. As the most pessimistic of Arizona fans, join me in saying this (finally) -- it is, once again, fun to be a Wildcat fan.

Arizona Sweeps LA Schools, Brings Excitement Back to Tucson originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 16:30:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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UCLA Not Underrated at All

Adam Papagiorgio — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:04:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac-10, Oregon State

This is never why you listen to the stat heads. They will let you down. Just when you start to doubt UCLA, the Bruins go on a huge winning streak with impressive wins. And just when you completely buy in and believe that UCLA has turned the corner, the Bruins lose on the road at Arizona State, 74-67.

Are we ever going to get an accurate read on this team or are we doomed to be on the back end of a trend?

Probably the latter.

Now, let's not sell No. 18 Arizona State short here. It is a very good basketball team (though, its fans should act like it and not rush the court) and already has a win at Pauley Pavilion. So this shouldn't have been a huge surprise, even though it sure feels like one. The Bruins had looked so good recently, I thought this was going to be a blowout. Factor in a home loss to the Sun Devils and this spelled revenge game.

Arizona State was ready. The Sun Devils were a dog at home (tough for a ranked team) and they played like they took that personally. The defense was great, and James Harden relishes playing against his hometown team. The Devils don't need to worry about the bubble any longer.

Now, you have to question UCLA, which still has not beaten a Top 25 opponent. The projected No. 5 seed seems pretty fair right now, and the Bruins don't seem underrated at all. And all of you college basketball fans know too well that No. 5 is the most dreaded seed in the tournament (outside of No. 16, of course). After a remarkable run of Final Four appearances, could UCLA be looking at a first-round knock this season?

Bruins fans had better hope I'm picking that way.

In other Pac-10 action:

Arizona 83, USC 76: The Wildcats are going to end up making it to the tournament. The streak is going to live. But if Arizona goes to the tournament, is that enough to get Russ Pennell the full-time gig? Wildcats fans will say no, but I think he will get the nod.

Washington State 67, Oregon 38: Ducks fans should prepare themselves for taunts of "Hang Time" in the near future. If Oregon hasn't called Reggie Theus yet, what is it waiting for? Theus is the best possible coaching candidate out there. The Ducks should pull the plug on Ernie Kent right now. This is just sad. Look for Oregon to take its name off the jersey again. And who could blame them?

Washington 79, Oregon State 60: The Huskies really needed this state of Oregon sweep. Oh sorry, was that me already giving Washington Saturday's game against Oregon? Well, really, you can hardly blame me.

UCLA Not Underrated at All originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 13 Feb 2009 09:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arizona Making a Late Charge to Keep NCAA Tournament Streak Alive

Shane Bacon — Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:36:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, March Madness

Some teams need a kick in the pants to get going. The Arizona Wildcats apparently needed one to the grill.

Since the now famous Facegate, when Houston's Aubrey Coleman placed his foot directly on Chase Budinger's noggin, the Wildcats have been on fire, winning five straight including that one against Houston. The latest was an impressive win Saturday against Oregon in Eugene, making it a sweep for the Wildcats on their road trip after going winless in meaningful road games this season.

Latest College Basketball Photos

Oregon State's head coach Craig Robinson reacts in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game with Arizona State, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona State's Jamelle McMillan (10) steals the ball from Oregon State's Daniel Deane (30) in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph (4) pulls down a rebound as Oregon State's Joey McConnell (12) looks on in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona State's head coach Herb Sendek shouts to his team in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game with Oregon State, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Duquesne's David Theis (22) celebrates with teammate Aaron Jackson (1) in the final seconds of a 72-68 upset win over Xavier in an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Duquesne fans flood the court after a 72-68 upset of Xavier in an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State's William Buford, center, shoots over Minnesota's Damian Johnson, left, Al Nolen (0) and Blake Hoffarber (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 64-58. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

Xavier's B.J. Raymond, left, shots over Duquesne's Melquan Bolding (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Duquesne's Aaron Jackson, left, drives past Xavier's Dante Jackson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68 with Jackson leading all scorers with 21 points. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Duquesne coach Ron Everhart reacts during the final minute of an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

What does this mean besides the fact that Arizona is now 16-8 this season and 6-5 in the Pac-10? If the Wildcats can get to 20 wins and make the NCAA tournament, it would extend their current record of 25 straight years in the Big Dance, the longest in the nation. It also would help erase all the negatives that have surrounded a program that was flat-tired by Lute Olson the last two years.

More importantly? It might help the players that haven't had the best experience in Tucson feel that they did something with their time in the Old Pueblo instead of just being around while Lute continued to dip his toe in the retirement pond.

The Wildcats get to host Southern California and UCLA this coming week and it will be a good indication of their progress over the last month. If they could just split the games, it would show that they have actually become a team under an interim head coach and a lot of hullabaloo.

It will also make the Zona Zoo a little more fun again.

The Wildcats football team did something different this year, winning a bowl game. Maybe men's basketball should follow suit and surprise everyone. All the Wildcats have to do is the exact same thing they've done for a quarter century ... find their name on the bracket in March.

Arizona Making a Late Charge to Keep NCAA Tournament Streak Alive originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 07 Feb 2009 20:36:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Is Arizona State on the Bubble?

Adam Papagiorgio — Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:05:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, Pac-10

Arizona State was swept by the Washington schools over the weekend, and now fans in Tempe might be growing concerned that Herb Sendek's bunch is close to being on the bubble. But let's not push the panic button just yet.

In the latest Bracketology, Arizona State is a No. 8 seed, the lowest seeded team of any of the Pac-10 schools. And that's kind of a surprise. Cal is a No. 7 seed despite losing four of its last five games. In fact, the Golden Bears lone win during that stretch is over Oregon (more on them in a second).

Joe Lunardi has Baylor, St. Mary's, BYU and Penn State as his last four teams in the tournament. So that should show that the Sun Devils are safe. For now.

Arizona State has a troubling pattern of losing that Thursday game, then ratcheting up the intensity for that marquee Saturday game. That worked when ASU won at UCLA. Didn't work out so well against Washington.

So the Sun Devils aren't a bubble team right now, but they must improve their consistency.

Other notes around the Pac-10.

If the Reggie Theus watch hasn't started in Oregon, it should. Ernie Kent has been the Ducks coach for so long, he will likely get the entire season to try to turn this thing around. But Oregon (and Nike) shouldn't wait too long to pull the trigger. Arizona might figure into the mix here at well.

Arizona swept the Washington schools. Wildcats fans are going to be looking for a big-name coach in the offseason. But if Russ Pennell gets this team to the tournament, can you get rid of him? Decisions. And ask yourself, which is going to be the more attractive job? Arizona or Oregon? Arizona has the history, but Oregon is going to have the money.

UCLA looked more aggressive this weekend, and if they continue to play like that, they can do some damage.

Is Arizona State on the Bubble? originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 15:05:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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No Worries About UCLA

Adam Papagiorgio — Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:04:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State, Pac-10

UCLA doesn't care much about second place. That was evident on Thursday night as the UCLA put away Cal, 81-66. If Cal thought it smelled blood in the water, Thursday's game was nothing but a clever ambush by the Bruins.

UCLA played like a desperate team trying to send a message. The passive, eight-pass and settle for a horrible shot offense was flushed. Darren Collison was driving to the basket, drawing fouls and converting free throws to finish with 18 points. In fact, UCLA shot 91 percent from the line. The Bruins played defense like a Ben Howland team, forcing 16 turnovers. In short, it was the kind of dominating performance that fans in Westwood have come accustomed to.

UCLA not only crushed its NorCal rival, but also sent a message to the rest of the conference that they were still a the alpha male of the conference. The Bruins also moved into their rightful place -- that being first -- after Washington lost at Arizona. (Somebody must have been looking ahead, right?) Seems silly that a team like UCLA would need a conference win in January, but the freshman really did. Guys like Jrue Holliday, who had 13 points, needed to step up.

The leading question now is if UCLA can match the intensity against Stanford on Saturday.

Washington State 65, No. 14 Arizona State 55: The Huskies weren't the only team looking ahead for showdown Saturday. The Sun Devils didn't have an answer for Klay Thompson who was 8-of-10 from 3-point range. That's just being lazy on defense. Expect ASU to rally and at least try on Saturday. That's a pattern that the team has followed last week when ASU lost to USC on a Thursday, but followed that up with a win at Pauley Pavilion the following Saturday.

USC 70, Stanford 69: The Trojans are lurking. Saturday's game provides an interesting crossroads for USC and Cal. The Golden Bears need to salvage at least a split to remain in the hunt for the Pac-10 title. And a sweep would really benefit the Trojans who have kind of lurked just below the top of the conference. Which coach will have his team better prepared?

No Worries About UCLA originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Fri, 30 Jan 2009 02:04:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Houston Coach Thinks ESPN Doctored Budinger Head-Smashing Video

Shane Bacon — Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:31:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Coaches, Media Watch, Rumors

It is Super Bowl week, so I guess ridiculous news is bound to make the airwaves; it just normally isn't in college basketball.

Unnecessary Roughness

Houston guard Aubrey Coleman steps on Arizona's Chase Budinger during a game Saturday. Coleman, who denies the act was intentional, was charged with a flagrant foul and was ejected from the game.
Click through for more unnecessary roughness.

Michael Ignatov, Arizona Daily Wildcat

While a fight in the NBA may seem commonplace, it's very rare in the WNBA. Still, that didn't stop the Detroit Shock and Los Angeles Sparks from making combatant history on July 22. Ten players, as well as Shock assistant coach Rick Mahorn, center, were suspended by the league because of the melee.

Jerry S. Mendoza, AP

Prince Fielder had to held back by his teammates after an altercation with starting pitcher Manny Parra during a Milwaukee Brewers loss to the Cincinnati Reds.

Al Behrman, AP

In November 2004, Ron Artest took center stage in a game between the Pacers and Pistons for all the wrong reasons. After he was struck by a cup of beer, Artest ran into the seats and confronted a fan. Following the ugliest brawl in NBA history, Artest was suspended 73 games.

Duane Burleson, AP

Mike Tyson's life has had many tumultuous moments, but the one that trumps them all was truly gruesome. In a bout against Evander Holyfield in June 1997, Tyson bit a chunk from the former champ's ear and was disqualified for his carnal actions.

Jeff Haynes, AFP / Getty Images

Roberto Alomar put his pristine reputation aside for a heated exchange with umpire John Hirschbeck in 1996. Alomar, who alleged that Hirschbeck uttered a racial slur, spat in the umpire's face following a disputed strike call. He was suspended for five games. The two publicly apologized for the clash a year later.

Moe Doiron, AP

Hall of Fame pitcher Juan Marichal (27) had a notorious exchange with Johnny Roseboro in 1965. After heated words, he clubbed Roseboro's unprotected head with his bat and the benches cleared for a 14-minute brawl. Marichal was ejected and suspended for nine days. Roseboro needed 14 stitches to close his head wound.

Robert H. Houston, AP

The low point of NBA coach P.J. Carlesimo's stint with the Warriors was the notorious attack by Latrell Sprewell (pictured) during a 1997 practice. Sprewell choked Carlesimo and threatened to kill him until being pulled off by teammates. Sprewell was suspended for 82 games, though that was later reduced.

Susan Ragan, AP

Former NBA star Dennis Rodman wormed his way into one of his more bizarre incidents when he kicked cameraman Eugene Amos in the groin after tripping over him during a game in January 1997. Rodman, who was suspended for 11 games, paid Amos a $200,000 settlement.

Carolyn Stewart, AP

Ex-NFL linebacker Bill Romanowski earned the label of the most uncontrollable player in the league during his career. Romanowski's resume included spitting on former teammate J.J. Stokes, breaking Kerry Collins' jaw with a helmet-to-helmet hit, and breaking former teammate Marcus Williams' eye socket with a punch.

Tom Hauck, Getty Images

Photo courtesy of DailyWildcat.com

Yet that's what's happening. On Saturday, the Arizona Wildcats (Bear Down!) took down Tom Penders' Houston Cougars in overtime, but the real story came when Aubrey Coleman smashed his foot down on Chase Budinger's face, causing Budinger to jump up (like any normal human would do) and go after Coleman.

The video that was on "Sportscenter" is right here. Watch it. Take it in, because Penders is saying that ESPN doctored the video.

They doctored it up, they put this X-ray vision thing in as if Aubrey was looking down, which painted a very poor picture of what actually happened," Penders told the Houston Chronicle's Lance Zeirlein. "We have replays from the game where they went through the entire sequence and run them back in slow motion. Aubrey's eyes never do anything but look straight ahead and then upward towards the ceiling when he saw the official give the charge signal. ESPN made it look like he was looking down and I thought it was a total distortion. And I think it was intentional on their part because I worked there and I've seen them do this kind of thing and they can do a lot with television. They can doctor it up."

Penders went on to say that he even called Norby Williamson (Norby!) and left messages but nobody has returned the call.

At first I thought this was a little ridiculous by Penders, but if you watch the video you do see what he is talking about. Coleman looks straight ahead and even though I think he knew what he was doing, he never looked down, but the graphic they added sure makes it seem like he did. I guess the best view of the whole thing comes from this picture from The Daily Wildcat in Tucson, where his face is straight ahead. That picture basically proves Penders' point.

Houston Coach Thinks ESPN Doctored Budinger Head-Smashing Video originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Wed, 28 Jan 2009 17:31:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aubrey Coleman Suspended, Offers Chase Budinger Apology

Matt Snyder — Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:21:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Conference USA, Pac-10

This past weekend we passed along the video and summary of the on-court incident between Houston's Aubrey Coleman, and Arizona's Chase Budinger. Conference USA has taken swift action against Coleman, but I'd hardly call it steep. He will sit out his team's game Wednesday against UTEP as he serves his one-game suspension.

The gray area in this issue most certainly has to be whether or not the stomping of Budinger's face by Coleman was intentional. I would hope that if it was clearly intentional to conference officials that he'd receive a much more harsh penalty than one game, although, we can't necessary confirm whether or not that is the case.

As it stands, though, Coleman will only be missing the one game. He also offered up an apology to Budinger, while maintaining the misstep was definitely an accidental one.

"I want to apologize to Chase Budinger for what happened Saturday night. I never meant to step on him," Coleman said in a statement issued by the school. "I have never been in an incident like this before, and I have nothing but respect for him as a great player.

"I love the game too much to do something like that intentionally. I want to say I am sorry from the bottom of my heart," Coleman said. "I know that God knows what is in my heart, but I am hopeful that Chase will understand and forgive."

Houston's also wanted to apologize for the incident.

"The University of Houston has always and will continue to uphold the highest levels of sportsmanship in every respect," Houston athletic director Dave Maggard said in a news release. "We apologize to the University of Arizona, its basketball team and to the Tucson community for what occurred Saturday evening. Aubrey will be suspended for Wednesday night's game, and we now consider the matter to be closed."

We'll see if everyone else thinks the matter will be closed after the one-game punishment.

Aubrey Coleman Suspended, Offers Chase Budinger Apology originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Mon, 26 Jan 2009 21:21:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aubrey Coleman, Chase Budinger Clash in Arizona's Win Over Houston

Matt Snyder — Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Conference USA, Pac-10

Apparently Chase Budinger didn't appreciate getting his face intentionally stepped on. The Arizona forward took a charge near half-court against Houston's Aubrey Coleman in the second half of their game Saturday. As Coleman walked over Budinger, he appeared to stomp on Budinger's face purposely. You could make the case it was an accident, too, but the fact remains that he stepped on a dude's face.

Budinger, as most every person in the country would, reacted rather swiftly. Fortunately the officials and other players intervened quite quickly, before any punches were thrown. Check the video.

Arizona ended up storming back to win the basketball game with a furious comeback in the waning minutes to force overtime. The game itself, however, takes a bit of a backseat to this incident.

Budinger believes the move was done with malice.

"He stepped on my face, and you can see some footprints on my jersey," Budinger said, adding he thought it was deliberate. "Without a doubt. . . . Anytime you get kicked in the face, I'd hope you'd retaliate."

Coleman's coach, Tom Penders, disagrees.

"I know Aubrey, and I have never seen him lose his temper or composure or anything," said Penders, who called Coleman the Cougars' best player. "I'm just sorry the official interpreted it that way. The way I saw it, Aubrey got tangled, and his momentum carried him forward, and I think it was a mistake."

Either way, the clash seemed to provide the necessary fire and motivation the Wildcats needed, as they majorly outscored Houston the rest of the way. Of course, the fact that Houston lost their best player, Coleman, due to an ejection, could have had a little something to do with it.

UPDATE: Coleman has been suspended for one game by Conference USA. He also apologized to Budinger and claimed the incident was purely accidental. Click here for full details.

Aubrey Coleman, Chase Budinger Clash in Arizona's Win Over Houston originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sun, 25 Jan 2009 15:45:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Arizona State Now Owns Arizona

Adam Papagiorgio — Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:55:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, Pac-10

The passing of the torch was merely a formality at this point, but it is finally complete. There is a new official basketball power in the Copper State and that is Arizona State. The Sun Devils signed the final deed to the state with a 53-47 win at the McHale Center.

Fitting this would happen in this sea of change in this country. America has a new president. The Cardinals are in the Super Bowl. And the Sun Devils are the best college basketball team in the Grand Canyon State. Makes sense to me.

The Wildcats had won 24 of the previous 27 meetings against the Sun Devils at the end of the 2007 season. But now ASU has won three consecutive games against Arizona, including consecutive wins in Tucson. If that doesn't spell the end, you haven't been playing attention.

And really, you have to wonder if it will ever switch back. Is this just going to be a momentary blip on the radar. There was a time when USC had some decent teams when UCLA hoops was struggling, but I'm not getting that feeling here. The basketball landscape has changed. Arizona has a new power.

Arizona fans believe that they are still a top program. But that desert sun can play tricks on your mind. You see, the Wildcats don't have a full-time coach yet, the recruits are leaving and Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill are likely gone after the year. Good luck with all of that.

The Devils, conversely, look like they are being built for the long haul under coach Herb Sendek. And back-to-back road wins at UCLA and at Arizona are further evidence of that.

Arizona State Now Owns Arizona originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Thu, 22 Jan 2009 01:55:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Jamelle Horne Might Have the Lowest Basketball IQ Ever

Shane Bacon — Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:00:00 EST

Filed under: Arizona, USC, Pac-10

What is that saying? You know, the one about fooling people? Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me?

Saturday night, I was sitting on the couch with my roommate, a fellow Arizona Wildcat, watching our "team" play Southern California in Los Angeles. Thursday night the Wildcats couldn't cover a 20-point spread against UCLA, a game that was so one-sided I actually told a friend, "If Arizona played UCLA 20 straight games, we'd lose by double digits in all of them." Goliath, meet David without the slingshot.

The USC tilt wasn't that exciting, but towards the end, the Wildcats were hanging in there and even leading with less than a minute left. What is that you hear? Yep, it's Jamelle Horne music.

I know nothing about the guy. He might be the nicest kid of all time, doing charity work and helping teachers clear the marker boards after class and feeding blind kids. He looks like a nice enough kid, but this is sports, and Tucson is a basketball city. Well, it was a basketball city.

As you may remember, it was Horne who came through with one of the most boneheaded plays ever earlier in the season when he inexplicably fouled a UAB player with .8 seconds left at half-court when the game was tied. Lightning struck Horne again on Saturday.

With the game tied, Arizona had the ball with 14 seconds left. My roommate Andrew said something to the tune of, "Nice, we might have a chance to win." He's positive. I am not.

Nic Wise threw the ball out of bounds, the Trojans got the ball back with just over three seconds left in regulation and as one of the USC players drove at half-court with the seconds dwindling, Horne fouled him. Out of position, out of time, out of his mind.

I have lived with the pains of the Arizona Wildcats football team. My entire collegiate career the team was four streets south of awful. It was a truth we 'Zona Zoo members were used to. But this is basketball. We are supposed to be good at this. It is supposed to be our staple.

I was planning on writing a story about how the Wildcats were going to miss the Big Dance this year because they can't win on the road and, frankly, they aren't that talented. I was going to talk about the streak breaking and all the Lute Olson business and how the Wildcats have basically become a bird flown into an engine.

This trumped it all.

I promise one thing. If Horne is anywhere near the court in another tie game, I'm going to calmly turn the television off, walk quietly in my room, and start a fire with all my Wildcat gear. You think Arizona is hot? You ain't seen nothing yet.

Jamelle Horne Might Have the Lowest Basketball IQ Ever originally appeared on NCAA Basketball FanHouse on Sat, 17 Jan 2009 23:00:00 EST . Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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