Wildcat Wrap: Recapping another busy week of Arizona Athletics

It is Monday, which means it is time to recap the week that was for the Arizona Wildcats.

Let us know in the comment section if we missed anything.

Women’s Basketball

• The ‘Cats (14-6, 4-5 Pac-12) snapped their three-game losing streak on Friday night, holding off USC, 71-68.
• Tee Tee Starks, known as a defensive-minded guard, went 4-for-4 from the 3-point line in her first start of the season. Starks started in-place of Lucia Alonso, who was limited by an ankle injury.
• Cate Reese, the first McDonald’s All-American in the program’s history, is adjusting to the elite play that is the Pac-12.
• Reese was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Week for the second time this season, becoming the first Wildcat ever to win the nomination twice.
• Even though she won’t play until next season, Australian guard Tara Manumaleuga is already making positive vibes with her teammates.
• Sunday games continue to be the Achilles’ Heel for the team as they lost 98-93 in triple overtime to UCLA. UA hasn’t won a Sunday game in a month. The ‘Cats shot 11 for 27 from the free-throw line and allowed 27 offensive rebounds, which turned into 27 second-chance points.
• Arizona makes the trip to Tempe to face No. 21 Arizona State on Friday. UA upset a then- No. 17 ranked ASU squad on Dec. 30, 51-39.

Softball

• Mike Candrea had some strong words about the new NCAA transfer portal.
• The new uniforms are fire:

Honor the Past. Embrace the Future.

Presenting our 2019 Nike Vapor Hyper Elite 2.0 uniforms.#BearDown || #TraditionLivesHere pic.twitter.com/7is6s42Dpg

— Arizona Softball (@ArizonaSoftball) January 28, 2019

Baseball

• The BatCats held their first full squad practice in the new year, and coach Jay Johnson spoke about the upcoming season and Trevor Hoffman.
• Hoffman’s jersey will be retired at Arizona’s season-opener on Feb. 15 vs. UMass-Lowell. He will become the second former UA baseball player to have his number retired. Current Cleveland Indians manager Terry Francona was the first.
• Arizona received some votes outside of the top-25 in the USA Today Sports baseball coaches’ poll.
• Cam Cannon and Nick Quintana were named to D1 Baseball preseason All-American teams. Cannon was named to the second team, Quintana third team.
• Left-handed pitcher Randy Labaut is ready to bounce back from a 2018 season in which he suffered compartment syndrome. He has a strong chance to be UA’s No. 1 starter.

Track and Field

• The ‘Cats finished day two at the Texas Tech and University of Washington Invitationals on Saturday. Jordan Geist tossed his season-best mark of 20.78m. He has the No. 3 toss on the IAAF World list.
• The team heads to Albuquerque, New Mexico to compete in the New Mexico Classic on Friday.

Men’s Golf

• The ‘Cats hit the links for the first time this year Monday in the Arizona Intercollegiate and Arizona Medalist tournament.

Hockey

• UA won both games against Utah by scoring double-digits in both games.
• The Colorado State Rams come to Tucson on Thursday, followed by two games with CU on Friday and Saturday.

Men’s Tennis

• UA beat UNC Wilmington 4-1 on Saturday to open the ITA Kick Off Weekend in Starkville, Mississippi.
• The Wildcats played Mississippi State in the championship on Sunday, losing 4-1.

Women’s Tennis

• On Friday, the team played Team Japan in an exhibition, sweeping singles play.
• The ‘Cats host Memphis on this Friday.

Gymnastics

• The No. 23 GymCats got their biggest win of the season, beating No. 12 California 195.975-194.450 on Saturday. Eight ‘Cats set season and career high scores.
• The GymCats head to Salt Lake City to take on No. 6 Utah on Friday.

Swimming

• The men and women’s teams lost to California on Saturday.
• Both teams will be in Austin, Texas to face the Longhorns over the weekend.

Men’s Basketball

• Coach Sean Miller and his team are more than happy to say goodbye to So Cal. The ‘Cats were handled by USC and UCLA, losing by 20 or more points in consecutive games for the first time since 1983-43.
• UA (14-7, 5-3 Pac-12) lost to USC 80-57 on Thursday and 90-69 to UCLA on Saturday night.
• Arizona’s offense is the worst it has been in a long time.
• There was one positive during the road trip, and it was the play of Brandon Williams.
• Arizona signees Nico Mannion and Josh Green were named McDonald’s All-Americans. The game is on March 24 in Atlanta.
• Kobi Simmons signed a 10-day contract with the Cleveland Cavaliers. Simmons had started 29 games with the Canton Charge in the G-League.
• Chase Jeter missed both games in Los Angeles, and it is unclear when he will return. The team sure misses him.

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