Wildcat Wrap: Jack Murphy hire draws praise from Arizona basketball alumni

....and George Karl

It’s Monday, which means it’s time to recap another week that was for the Arizona Wildcats. Let us know in the comment section if we missed anything.

Softball

• For seniors Taylor McQuillin, T Statman, Gina Snyder, Rylee Pierce, Joelle Krist, and Hillary Edior Saturday night was their final game in an Arizona uniform.
• After losing to UCLA 6-2 in the second round of the Women’s College World Series, UA faced Alabama in an elimination game and lost 2-0.
• The Wildcats end the season 48-14, winning one game in their return to the WCWS in nearly a decade, beating Washington 3-1 on Thursday.
• UA had five players earn NFCA All-America honors, with Dejah Mulipola named NFCA Catcher of the Year.
• We take a look at what’s next for the program, which could be without Mulipola in 2020.

Beach Volleyball

• The 2019 recruiting class was announced by coach Steve Walker. Six commits join the ‘Cats who are coming off a season finishing 25-6 and ranked No. 15 in the country.

Baseball

• Despite not making the postseason for the second year in a row, there was good news for the program. Austin Wells was named Pac-12 Freshman of the Year, ending with a .353 average, 73 runs scored, 60 RBIs, 15 doubles, seven triples, and five home runs. He is the first Wildcat to receive the award.
• Nick Quintana and Cameron Cannon were selected to Collegiate Baseball’s All-American second-team.

Track and Field

• Jordan Geist earned his fourth USTFCCCA West Region Field Athlete of the Year honor.
• Geist’s mark of 21.59m in the shot put set the school record, is first in the NCAA and currently ranks No. 7 in the world. He is the first UA track and field male to win back-to-back Pac-12 shot put titles.
• Geist and the rest of the Wildcats are in Austin, Texas on Wednesday for the NCAA Championships.

Football

• The program got another 2019 commit in JuCo prospect Tayvian Cunningham. Here’s some analysis of the wide receiver.

Men’s Basketball

• Brandon Randolph is staying in the NBA Draft, meaning Arizona is now down to 13 scholarship players.
• The 2019-20 non-conference schedule was announced. The marquee matchup is a home game against Gonzaga.
• Arizona hired NAU head coach Jack Murphy as its new associate head coach, replacing Mark Phelps. Murphy worked under Lute Olson for eight years in a variety of different roles. The hiring has drawn praise from some notable UA alumni and former NBA head coach George Karl, who once hired Murphy to work for the Denver Nuggets. Here is what they had to say.

Karl: “I am so happy for Jack and Arizona. Jack’s energy, enthusiasm and love of the game is contagious. Our teams in Denver had a foundation of hard work before and after practice and Jack was there every step of the way for that. He’s a basketball guy and Arizona is a basketball school. It’s a perfect fit.”

Former UA player Justin Wessel: “As former players, we couldn’t be more excited for Coach Miller and the Arizona Basketball family to have Jack Murphy back in the fold. Not only does he bridge the gap with the Lute Olson era, but Jack is a great basketball mind, and one of the most honest people I’ve ever known.”

Sacramento Kings coach Luke Walton: “Murph was there when I was a freshman at Arizona when we lost the 2001 National Title, and there in 2003 when we lost in the Elite Eight. He helped prepare me for the 2003 NBA Draft, and has been there for me ever since. When I think of Wildcat basketball, and what that means, I think of Jack Murphy. He will do a great job for Sean, and my family and I will be rooting for our Cats!”

Retired NBA player Richard Jefferson: “I’m so excited that Jack Murphy is joining the staff. (He) was so instrumental in the development of so many Az players like Iggy, Luke, Channing and myself!!! He’s a huge add for the program great job Sean Miller.”

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