What to watch for when Arizona hosts USC in 2020 opener

Photo by John Cordes/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arizona Wildcats get a second chance at making a first impression when they host the USC Trojans on Saturday. The game will kick off at 1:30 p.m. at Arizona Stadium and be shown nationally on FOX.

This was supposed to be the UA’s second game of an abbreviated 2020 schedule until Utah had to cancel the opener last Friday due to a COVID-19 outbreak. That leaves the Wildcats with only five scheduled games, not including a potential sixth on Dec. 19 or a bowl invite if they have at least a .500 record.

Here’s what to be on the lookout for in Arizona’s long-awaited return to football:

Delayed first-game jitters

Arizona began last Friday believing it was a little more than 24 hours away from opening the season, with a flight to Salt Lake City not far away, when it first got word from Utah about its COVID-19 situation and the possibility of cancellation. By lunchtime the game was canceled, and suddenly the Wildcats had another weekend free to watch football on TV.

Thanks but no thanks, coach Kevin Sumlin said earlier this week.

“We’ve been watching football for six weeks,” he said.

Instead of playing, Arizona instead worked out last Saturday at the request of its captains, while also taking in USC’s game against ASU. Then, after the normal Sunday off day the Wildcats began another “season-opening” game week that no doubt have to include some back-of-the-mind concerns about if this one would get played.

“We can’t focus on the past,” sophomore defensive lineman Kyon Barrs said, noting that he was “heartbroken” about the Utah cancellation. “We gotta move on.”

USC got those first-game jitters out of the way, while Arizona still has to experience them. Don’t be surprised if this leads to some early miscues for the rusty Wildcats.

Battle of the stud sophomore QBs

Grant Gunnell was ranked by 247Sports as the No. 15 pro-style quarterback in the 2019 recruiting class, while Kedon Slovis was 26^th. The former was considered the future at Arizona before he ever got there, while Slovis was more or less an afterthought for a USC program that figured to be buoyed by JT Daniels for the next few years.

The reality was that duo combined to start 14 games as true freshmen, throwing for more than 4,700 yards and 39 touchdowns.

Big things are expected from each in 2020, with Slovis already throwing for 381 yards and two TDs against ASU. He had 232 yards and two TDs against Arizona in last year’s 41-14 win, while Gunnell had 196 yards and two passing scores in that game.

A great nugget from Arizona’s weekly game notes shows that Gunnell, who completed 65.2 percent of his passes in 2019, spent far more time throwing from behind than Slovis. Eighty percent of Gunnell’s 155 throws last year came with Arizona trailing, compared to 36.2 percent of Slovis’ 392 attempts.

Differing defenses

Both Arizona and USC have new defensive coordinators, with Paul Rhoads in charge of a total overhaul of the UA defense that includes four new coaches and even more new starters, while veteran coordinator Todd Orlando made his debut with the Trojans a week ago.

Orlando is known for bringing constant pressure, which was shown against ASU, and though it only resulted in one sack the Trojans did limit ASU quarterback Jayden Daniels to a 47.8 percent completion rate.

How Rhoads’ defense will look? Other than going with a 3-4 front, everything else is pretty much a mystery. More than half the starting spots are likely be filled by players who are either new to the program or who have never started a college game, and depth issues at linebacker and safety could lead to walk-ons getting meaningful snaps.

Who will play (or will be unavailable)?

Compared to other teams, Arizona and USC seem to have navigated the pandemic quite well in terms of positive tests. Sumlin said the Wildcats have had positives in the past, but as of Monday they didn’t, while USC reported Monday it only had two positives across the entire athletic department.

However, as Sumlin made sure to point out during his weekly press conference, “that can change tomorrow.”

The Pac-12 requires testing on game days, so players available Friday might not be suited up on Saturday. That was the case with Stanford, which found out less than two hours before its opener at Oregon that starting QB Davis Mills had tested positive.

It’s unknown whether Arizona will identify players who are unavailable prior to the game, and for what reason, but if it’s anyone who was expected to start or play significantly and they’re not on the sidelines it would be fair to assume it’s COVID-related.

Streaks to speak of

Arizona brings a seven-game losing streak into this game, its longest since dropping eight in a row during the 2016 season.

The skid against USC is also seven, with Arizona’s last victory over the Trojans coming in 2012. Two of the three losses at home have been by one score.

The Wildcats will be trying to avoid starting 0-1 for the third consecutive season, which has never happened in program history.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2UnLvbM
via IFTTT

Perseverance pays off as Arizona soccer gears up to scrimmage for first time Friday

Sabrina Enciso | Photo courtesy Arizona Athletics

Good news is hard to come by in 2020 as the world fights the coronavirus, but Arizona soccer players received some a few weeks ago when head coach Tony Amato asked them to bring shin guards to their next practice.

“That was one of the best texts I got from him all semester,” said forward Kayden Heinrich.

It meant they had been cleared for full contact practices after almost three months of non-contact practices—if you can call them that.

The Wildcats were training eight hours a week, doing drills that were, more or less, shooting and passing while maintaining at least six feet of distance. (“Foosball,” as Amato described it.)

Now they are training closer to the 20-hour NCAA maximum, striking a balance between having fun and preparing for the upcoming season, which is slated to start in February.

“So, setting up some of their favorite games where it’s more scrimmage-like stuff, but smaller numbers, 4-v-4, 6-v-6, 8-v-8 type stuff while also being able to imprint some of our basic identity pieces that we would want to build off when we come back in January,” Amato said. “Really just so when I use some of the language we use to describe our attack or defense that the new players know what the heck I’m actually talking about.”

It’s a good thing junior midfielder Iliana Hocking is an experienced player because she probably hasn’t been listening too much lately. She joked that she’s been so euphoric about playing soccer again that “I’m always in my own little world.”

The team’s vibe has completely shifted since it advanced to full contact.

“The energy changed because it was becoming stagnant and restrictive,” Amato said. “You want to play the sport, right? And so as much as I love the process, and I love to train, not all the players always feel the same way as the coach. They want to play and I totally understand that.”

Arizona’s last game was all the way back in February when they routed UTEP in their one and only spring exhibition. Their last “real” game was in the NCAA Tournament last November.

That’s a long layoff for a team that usually begins its season in mid-August and ends around this time of year, and it’s showed in these first few weeks of contact practices.

“Well, obviously we’re pretty rusty, right?” Amato said. “So it’s just a matter of working through that. But I feel like we have good enough players in all positions to win Pac-12 games. We obviously are not in any sort of game mode and we’re working on what it takes to win those games in terms of fitness component, the work-rate components, how sharp you have to be, but there is a foundation of that I feel really good about the talent of the team.”

Advancing to contact practices requires extra precautions. In addition to wearing masks and staying physically-distant from the public like before, players are now COVID tested three times a week instead of once.

They take a PCR test every Monday (just like before) plus antigen tests on Tuesdays and Fridays before every contact practice. They test at the Hall of Champions or the Lowell-Stevens facility at 7 a.m. so they can get their results by the afternoon.

That’ll be their routine until Thanksgiving break.

“At this point I’ve just kind of gotten used to sticking the little swab up my nose every week,” Heinrich said. “But as long as it means that we can continue to do contact practices and get better and get closer to a season, I’m all for it.”

Heinrich is one of 13 freshmen on Arizona’s roster, the largest class in the Amato era (though not all of them are on campus right now). Their speed and athleticism has been evident in these preseason practices but their soccer skills remain somewhat of a mystery.

“They’ve yet to score a goal in college, they’ve yet to shut someone down in college and yet to make a save in college, so you don’t exactly know how that’s gonna look,” Amato said. “But in terms of just training so far this semester, I feel good about the level that we have on the team.”

The picture will become a little clearer Friday when the Wildcats host their first scrimmage at 6 p.m. They don’t have a full roster right now because several players stayed home for the semester due to COVID concerns, so they will likely have to play 9-v-9 or 10-v-10.

That’s a small compromise.

At one point any kind of scrimmage seemed unlikely this fall. In early September, the Wildcats feared they had a major outbreak when seven players and staffers tested positive for coronavirus. The team was set to be shut down for 14 days, causing many players to head home to quarantine.

The results turned out to be false positives and they resumed trained, but soon after Hocking actually did contract the virus and began suffering some pretty serious respiratory symptoms.

That was an isolated case (and she’s fine now) but both incidents caught the team’s attention.

“Yeah, it was scary,” Heinrich said of the initial false positives. “Our team had been doing, and continues to do, such a great job of following protocol and we make sure that we do everything right because we want to continue to train and represent the university well.”

Their perseverance is a big reason they’ll finally get to enjoy some normalcy on Friday under the lights at Mulcahy Stadium.

“It’s pretty rewarding staying here all semester and going through not doing contact and working our way up to it,” Hocking said. “So it’s exciting, we’re all excited. ... It’s gonna be nice to actually see something super competitive in our jerseys and seeing a sneak peek as to what February is going to be like.”

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/38Ev82Z
via IFTTT

Arizona football announces uniform combo for USC game

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

If you were hoping the Arizona Wildcats would break out a throwback look for their first game of the 2020 season, you’re going to be at least partially disappointed.

Arizona has announced its uniform combo for Saturday’s opener against USC, and while the helmet brings back fond memories of the past that’s where the nostalgia ends.

Season Opener Threads #AZvsUSC #BearDown pic.twitter.com/PUahCpMiCy

— Arizona Football (@ArizonaFBall) November 13, 2020

The Wildcats will rock white helmets with the traditional ‘Block A’ logo—though without the blue stripe—and pair that with a modern blue jersey and white pants as well as red gloves and white cleats. That will contrast well with USC’s likely combo of red helmet—the only one it has—white tops and gold pants.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/36sZToW
via IFTTT

Arizona makes top 6 for 4-star guard Carleigh Wenzel

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

You win some, you lose some.

On Thursday, Arizona target Aaliyah Gayles announced her commitment to Pac-12 foe USC. It wasn’t all bad news for the Wildcats on the recruiting trail, though, as they landed in the top six for fellow 2022 guard Carleigh Wenzel.

Blessed to be in the position I’m in today !

@brittxgraham pic.twitter.com/TzsyABXdmF

— Carleigh Wenzel (@CarleighRenae_) November 12, 2020

A four-star guard, Wenzel is the No. 37 player overall and No. 7 guard in ESPN’s rankings. As a sophomore at San Antonio’s O’Connor High, she averaged 20.2 points, 7.2 rebounds, 2.1 assists and 2.3 steals per game last year.

Her team just started play this season.

First game of the season ... ️ pic.twitter.com/xWTFCi0Yiq

— Carleigh Wenzel (@CarleighRenae_) November 13, 2020

When evaluating her in 2019, Dan Olson wrote, “Agile guard defends, traps and converts off of turnovers; manufactures shots, knocks down mid-range jumpers with precision; drives and finishes plays in traffic; attracts the double-team and dishes; 1 on 1 creator makes plays to the rim, provides size and versatility in the back court.”

The junior definitely has an interest in the Pac-12 with four of her six finalists playing in the conference.

In case you missed it, Arizona is also in the running for other elite 2022 players like:

• 5-star point guard Kiki Rice (No. 6 overall)
• 5-star forward Maya Nnaji (No. 8 overall)
• 4-star forward Grace VanSlooten (No. 16 overall)
• 4-star shooting guard KK Bransford (No. 27 overall)

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/3nkGq0x
via IFTTT

Former Arizona star Brandon Ashley joining NBA G League Ignite developmental team

Photo by Kelly Barnes/Getty Images

Former Arizona Wildcats star Brandon Ashley has found a new professional home not far from where he grew up.

Ashley is one of five veterans joining the NBA G-League’s Ignite, a developmental team which features several elite NBA prospects who have skipped college basketball. The Ignite are based out of Walnut Creek, Calif., miles away from Ashley’s hometown of Oakland.

The Ignite’s other veteran players are Bobby Brown, Reggie Hearn, Cody Demps and Amir Johnson. Former NBA coach and player Brian Shaw will serve as head coach of the team.

The 26-year-old Ashley will offer professional experience and leadership for a group made up of at least six teenage prospects. After going undrafted out of Arizona, Ashley joined the Dallas Mavericks developmental league team for part of the 2015-16 season.

Since then, Ashley has played professional in Germany, Cyprus and New Zealand. He’s also participated in the NBA Summer League for the Mavericks, Atlanta Hawks and most recently the Sacramento Kings in 2019.

With the Ignite, Ashley will get to compete with some of the most promising NBA prospects including Jalen Green, Daishen Nix and Jonathan Kuminga.

The NBA formed the Ignite as a professional alternative for high school teenagers looking to bypass the NCAA route. Prospects will receive a salary in upwards of $500,000. They will also receive a full scholarship to ASU’s online school, though that is clearly a fallback option.

The NBA has not announced when the G-League season will begin.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Um9GaT
via IFTTT

Arizona soccer: Iliana Hocking details battle with COVID-19; Kayden Heinrich ‘excited’ to debut after signing late

Kayden Heinrich | Photo by Simon Asher/Arizona Athletics

Arizona soccer will host its first fall scrimmage on Friday and Iliana Hocking is well aware of the risks that come with playing sports during the coronavirus pandemic.

She experienced them first hand.

The junior midfielder contracted COVID-19 in mid-September, forcing her to quarantine alone for nearly a month. Her symptoms were serious.

“I felt so ill,” she said Thursday. “I remember I was feeling fine. It was like a week in and I was like, ‘cool, I don’t think I got it’ and I woke up on a Sunday morning and I had the worst body aches and chills and then I had like a really bad sore throat and my congestion was super bad. With my nose, I already had really bad breathing problems, but then it was just so hard. It would give me headaches. I think that was the worst part for me.”

Hocking suspects she caught the virus from her boyfriend, who got it from a friend despite their best efforts to avoid other people.

“Right after, I was having a lot of shortness of breath problems, but now I feel fine,” Hocking said. “But also I had surgery on my nose (on October 5) to help my breathing. So I feel like that too has helped me right now. So it could be totally different for other people.”

Hocking returned to team activities last week as the Wildcats began full contact practices. She felt “so out of shape” at first but her conditioning is improving.

“You’re always really sore after the first one, but I have so many bruises right now,” she said. “But now I can definitely see an improvement fitness-wise. It just feels good to be able to do stuff now. I feel like I’ve been limited for like 10 months.”

A key returner, Hocking is already battling a hip flexor injury that she will have to manage the rest of her career.

“It’s just super inconsistent, like some weeks are better than others,” she said. “Last week it didn’t hurt at all and we had double days all three days. This week it was flaring up and I have to limit my reps and everything. So I just have to monitor it the next two years. There’s nothing I can like do about it anymore. Like there’s surgeries, but I’d have to reshape my hip and I probably wouldn’t play soccer if I ever did that.”

If there’s good news it’s that Hocking is immune to the coronavirus for at least a few months. That means she doesn’t have to get COVID tested three times a week like her teammates. Instead, she gets her blood drawn once a month to ensure she still has antibodies. (She does.)

“So I just chill at home while my roommates go,” Hocking laughed.

Hocking still follows the team’s COVID protocols as much as she can, but said her immunity feels like a weight has been lifted off her shoulders.

She understands the concerns about having a soccer season during a pandemic, but she’s excited to take the field Friday and for the season in February.

“I think it’d be totally different if we didn’t have testing and we weren’t following protocol,” she said. “But I think we’re going about it in the right way, so I think it’s totally doable.”

Heinrich details unique path to Arizona, freshman life during the pandemic

Friday will also be the first time freshmen like Kayden Heinrich get to showcase their skills in a game-like setting at Arizona.

She can’t say it’s something she’s been waiting for for a long time.

The speedy forward was originally going to attend UC Davis, but decommitted when the Aggies made a coaching change after the 2019 season.

Many girls commit to colleges in their freshman and sophomore years of high school, but Heinrich wasn’t even recruited by Arizona until November of her senior year.

She said she caught the coaching staff’s eye in a showcase and “the rest is history.” Her addition was made official on May 30, more than six months after national signing day.

“I thought that the program was an elite program and one of the best in the country,” Heinrich said. “I was really impressed with everything that the coaches had to offer, as well as the team and the facilities. And I thought that the campus was beautiful. It’s pretty compact and small, but it has tremendous architecture.”

Growing up in Huntington Beach, California, Heinrich has aspired to play Pac-12 soccer ever since she was little. Getting to this level has been “gratifying” but also an eye-opener so far.

“I’ve noticed that everybody is fast here,” she said. “Like, in high school sometimes you could get away with being faster than everybody. But here everybody is talented, everybody has their own special techniques. And so it’s a matter of being finding out what I’m the best at and then working into my strengths.”

Which are?

“I think that I’m fast and I pressure the ball really well,” she said. “And I’m able to use both my feet to my advantage to score and cross balls.”

Hocking admires Heinrich’s personality and coachability so far.

“Kayden has such a good attitude,” she said. “She’s so bubbly, super nice, kind, sweet. Like a really good person. And on the field, I feel like she’s a really hard worker and super absorbent and I feel like she’s like an easy person to coach in a sense that she just listens. And I feel like she’ll just adjust. Obviously none of us know everything about soccer so Tony (Amato)’s going to critique all of us. And if he tells her something, she’ll do it right away, which is a super good quality to have. That’s how you’re gonna get better.”

While Heinrich is happy to be at the UA, her first semester isn’t what she expected.

Because of the pandemic all of her classes are online—”I think I’d prefer being in the classroom because I’m more of a hands-on learner,” she said—and she and her teammates have to abide by strict COVID protocols when in public. Most of the time they are just shuffling between soccer practice and their residences.

“The biggest challenge has been just the fact that it’s been hard to get to meet other people and other athletes,” Heinrich said. “Because part of our protocol is when we’re socializing with people, to be outside and be six feet apart with masks.”

That’s even more difficult for freshmen like Heinrich who live among other students in the on-campus residence halls. Hocking applauds them because “I would have moved out of the dorms by now.”

“Living in the dorms is a bit stressful at times, but luckily I share a bathroom with my podmates who are also soccer players, so we’re able to stay a little bit more contained and away from regular students,” Heinrich said.

Friday’s scrimmage will make it all worth it.

“I’m most looking forward to getting to play with my teammates,” Heinrich said. “We’ve been working really hard this whole semester, working towards playing this game, and we’ve gotten to practice with one another. And now I’m excited to get to play with them.”

Pleased to welcome Kayden Heinrich to the Wildcat Family‼️#BearDown | #BuildingALegacy pic.twitter.com/iY9hIhRiRL

— Arizona Soccer (@ArizonaSoccer) May 30, 2020

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/3nndLHY
via IFTTT

From streetball to Arizona basketball, Trinity Baptiste will be physical presence for Wildcats

Photo by Mike Christy/Arizona Athletics

As a teenager Trinity Baptiste used to hoop in the streets of Tampa, often as the only girl among grown men.

She loved the challenge.

“It was never uncomfortable for me,” Baptiste said. “I would say for them at first it was uncomfortable. When I first stepped out there, they’re like, ‘Oh, it’s a girl, it’s a girl. We’re gonna go soft.’ And then I’ll hit them with one move and they’ll feel how strong I am and then they’re like, ‘Oh no, we got to play her like the rest of us.’ That was the biggest thing—them realizing I didn’t want to be treated different.”

That upbringing built a toughness and an underdog mentality in Baptiste that she says she still carries today as an undersized post player in Division I basketball.

“When I was growing up I always had to work hard for everything that I’ve gotten up until this day, so that’s just how I approach the game when I play, when I rebound,” she said. “From the time it leaves the shooter’s hand I’m watching it, and I’m watching it the entire time, so how it’s gonna come off (the rim) and everything. I just try to stay one step ahead and just choose to work harder than everyone.”

After two productive seasons at Virginia Tech, Baptiste joined Arizona as a graduate transfer this fall. The 6-foot forward is expected to replace the departed Dominique McBryde in the starting lineup, and her hard-nosed approach should help shore up the Wildcats’ biggest weakness—rebounding.

Arizona improved in all facets of the game last year as they finished as the No. 12 team in the country, but still struggled on the glass, ranking fourth in the Pac-12 in defensive rebounding percentage and dead last in offensive rebounding percentage.

Baptiste averaged 6.4 rebounds in just 23 minutes per game last year. Six times she grabbed 10 or more rebounds in a game, including 17 against Gardner-Webb.

“Both are phenomenal players, but the difference is Trinity is more physical than Dominique,” said star guard Aari McDonald. “Dom was a more finesse player, but they both have great outside shots. They’re kind of similar in a way but I’ll have to say Trinity is more aggressive. She’s definitely going to be a key piece this year.”

It’s already showing in practice. Baptiste’s aggressiveness is forcing Arizona’s other posts to match her intensity level. Baptiste has enjoyed battling with junior Cate Reese, who she’s expected to start alongside this season.

“Every day is super competitive from every position, not just down in the post but every position,” Baptiste said. “Me and Cate going at it every day, either she’s on the floor or I’m on the floor. My team, they know that we’re gonna give it all we got in practice every day.”

That should benefit Arizona when it comes time to face elite teams like UCLA and Stanford.

“I mean, if I somehow switch on [Baptiste] there’s like no chance for me,” wing Mara Mote laughed. “She’s really, really strong and I think that helps for our other posts. Because when they go at each other, it helps when we’re gonna play different teams and their posts.”

Baptiste was originally going to transfer to a school closer to home because of some family issues. That plan changed after the pandemic. She was able to spend lots of quality time with them in the spring, which made her feel more comfortable about finishing her career on the other side of the country.

“I got extra time with my family that I haven’t had in years...and then when I met Coach Adia (Barnes) and we talked about my goals after this year, playing professionally one day and just being a part of this team, it just felt right,” Baptiste said. “So I just went with my heart and my heart led me in the right direction.”

It was quite the leap of faith. Baptiste had never been to Arizona before joining the Wildcats. The pandemic prevented her from visiting before she committed in April.

But she’s loving it so far.

“I actually can really see myself living out here one day in the future,” Baptiste said. “I love it here. The biggest difference is the heat. Obviously I’m from Florida, but it’s very humid and the weather is up and down in Florida. We get a lot of rain storms, but we also get sunshine all the time as well. But I think I’ve been here for about four, five months and it’s only rained twice.”

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/38E7x2E
via IFTTT

Aari McDonald humbled to be Arizona’s first preseason AP All-American, will ‘just continue to do my thing’

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year. Ann Meyers Drysdale Award. All-Pac-12. Second-team AP All-American. Those were among the many honors Aari McDonald earned as a junior. As a senior, she’s picking up where she left off.

After being named to the Ann Meyers Drysdale Award Watch List earlier this week, McDonald was named to the five-player AP Preseason All-America list on Thursday. It’s the first such honor for any Wildcat in program history, but it’s not something that McDonald is heavily focused on.

“It’s a humbling honor,” she said. “I’m blessed to be named an All-American and I will just continue to do my thing. This is all out the window, probably tomorrow at practice.

“We don’t worry about the accolades we get. Yes, it’s a good thing to have, but we just got to work on ourselves and keep getting better. Because at the end of the day if you look around the country everybody has the same common goal, which is winning a national championship. So it’s all for grabs so we just have to just focus on ourself and just get better and stay in the moment.”

HERE THEY ARE: The 2020-21 preseason AP women's All-America team: @howard_rhyne of @Kentuckywbb; @AariMcdonald of @arizonawbb; @Danaaakianaaa of @UofLWBB; @monyenwere_ of @UCLAWBB; and @aa_boston of @gamecockwbb.

by @dougfeinberg > https://t.co/BL7e0ZAWcr pic.twitter.com/jf7XV8tkGK

— AP Top 25 (@AP_Top25) November 12, 2020

McDonald was on 27 of the 30 ballots of the AP voters.

She has been one of the top scorers in the women’s game for the past two years. In her debut season as a Wildcat in 2018-19, she finished third in the nation with 24.1 PPG as she led the team to the WNIT title. She has also led the Pac-12 in steals for two straight seasons and been one of Arizona’s best rebounders, making her a threat at both ends of the floor.

McDonald was both an AP and WBCA All-America honorable mention in 2018-19. Last year, she was a WBCA All-American, becoming the first Arizona player to ever make the first team of an All-America list, in addition to making the AP All-America second team. She was the first Wildcat since Davellyn Whyte to make any of the AP All-America lists.

McDonald will join fellow preseason All-Americans Michaela Onyenwere (UCLA), Rhyne Howard (Kentucky), Aliyah Boston (South Carolina) and Dana Evans (Louisville) in a chat with AP women’s basketball reporter Doug Feinberg on Friday at 5 p.m. MST. It will be streamed either on Feinberg’s Twitter account (@dougfeinberg) or on the @AP_Top25 account.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Uqbdwg
via IFTTT

Arizona seniors Sam Thomas, Trinity Baptiste focused on upcoming season, unsure if they will return in 2021-22

Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images

Arizona star senior Sam Thomas was happy to hear that the NCAA awarded college basketball players an extra year of eligibility amid the coronavirus pandemic, but she doesn’t know if she will actually use it.

“It’s just nice to know that there is the option for me if I do decide to come back, but obviously right now I’m just trying to focus on this year,” she said Thursday. “There’s so many different things that could happen. We’re playing a lot of Pac 12 games this year, so I’m just kind of taking it day by day and just seeing how the year goes and then making my decision after the season.”

Fellow senior Trinity Baptiste, who just joined the Wildcats as a graduate transfer from Virginia Tech, had a similar answer.

“I’m just focused on this season,” she said. “That’s my main focus and I won’t make a decision until the season’s over.”

Aari McDonald wasn’t asked about it on media day because she is expected to turn pro.

Like Baptiste, Thomas is already enrolled in postgraduate school. She earned a psychology degree in three years and is now pursuing a master’s in educational leadership, a 36-unit program that can be completed in one or two years.

Thomas spent this past summer interning for Nike, working with the global brand marketing team. She has a bright future no matter what she decides to do with her basketball career, but right now she’s focused on helping the Wildcats prove they’re as good as their top-10 ranking indicates.

“I think I’ve just gotten more confident as a leader on the court and off the court,” Thomas said. “I know now that I’m a senior, I’m the oldest that you can get and now there’s a bunch of people under me, so I’m kind of just steering them in the right direction. ... Like, helping everyone know their role. We don’t need everyone on the team to score 40 points a game, we don’t need everybody on the team to grab 20 rebounds. It would be nice, but that’s just not possible and it’s not a goal that we need to attain.”

A long-armed forward, Thomas was a member of the 2020 Pac-12 All-Defensive Team and hopes to be more consistent with her 3-point shot as a senior (though she already made 38 percent of her triples last year, the best mark of her career).

“Just being more consistent, being more confident taking the shots that I need to help the team,” she said. “I know Aari always tells me to shoot the ball.”

Baptiste plans to be a physical presence in the paint, something the Wildcats have lacked the last few years.

“Originally I started playing streetball first before I started playing organized ball, so that just comes naturally in my game and I’ve been able to just apply it to the team,” she said. “And they’ve embraced it and my coaches want me to play physical. They want me to just play and really be myself.”

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2IsgYae
via IFTTT

Arizona’s Cate Reese makes Katrina McClain Award preseason watch list for second straight year

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

For the second straight season, Arizona’s Cate Reese has been named one of the best power forwards in the game. The junior was named to the WBCA and Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame’s Katrina McClain Award preseason watch list on Wednesday.

Last season, Reese once again led the Wildcats in rebounding while trailing only Aari McDonald in scoring. It was enough to help her make the top 10 for the award, which was eventually won by Oregon’s Ruthy Hebard.

In her two seasons in Tucson, Reese has averaged 12.7 points and 7.1 rebounds per game while shooting 49.2 percent from the field. Last year, she improved on her freshman numbers with a stat line of 13.6 PPG and 7. 5 RPG.

She arrived at Arizona as the program’s first McDonald’s All-American. She quickly backed that up by leading all Pac-12 freshmen in both scoring and rebounding on her way to the All-Freshman team. As a sophomore, she found a spot on the All-Conference team.

Reese joins McDonald as Wildcats in the running for the Starting Five Awards presented by the WBCA and the Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/38JsWam
via IFTTT

Arizona basketball left off Pac-12 preseason all-conference teams

Jacob Snow-USA TODAY Sports

Expectations either are low for the Arizona Wildcats or the experts don’t know what to make of them. Maybe both.

After finishing fifth in the Pac-12 preseason media poll, their lowest ranking in the Sean Miller era, the Wildcats failed to land any players on the preseason all-conference teams (though Georgetown transfer James Akinjo was one of five honorable mentions).

None of this should be a huge surprise as the Wildcats welcomed 10 newcomers, six of whom played high school ball internationally.

The Pac-12 first and second teams went as follows:

First team

• Timmy Allen, Utah
• Matt Bradley, Cal
• Oscar da Silva, Stanford
• Chris Duarte, Oregon
• Remy Martin, ASU
• Evan Mobley, USC
• Will Richardson, Oregon
• Chris Smith, UCLA
• Ziaire Williams, Stanford
• McKinley Wright IV, Colorado

Second team

• Isaac Bonton, Washington State
• Tyger Campbell, UCLA
• Josh Christopher, ASU
• Ethan Thompson, Oregon State
• Alonzo Verge Jr., ASU

Honorable mentions: James Akinjo (Arizona), Evan Battey (Colorado), Quade Green (Washington), Jalen Hill (UCLA), Jaime Jaquez Jr. (UCLA)

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/32F7CiG
via IFTTT

Arizona picked to finish 5th in Pac-12 preseason media poll, its lowest ranking in Sean Miller era

Photo by Jacob Snow/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arizona Wildcats have been picked to finish fifth in the Pac-12 in the conference preseason media poll, their lowest ranking in the Sean Miller era. (Arizona was picked to finish fourth in 2009-10 and 2018-19.)

UCLA was picked to win the conference for the first time in nine years. However, the media expects it to be a competitive race, as five different teams received first-place votes—UCLA (9), Arizona State (5), Oregon (7), Stanford (1) and USC (1).

Here’s the full poll:

Only 10 points separate the top three teams, the closest vote among the top three in the 37-year history of conference preseason picks, according to the Pac-12.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/3klZQjP
via IFTTT

How Arizona football commits have fared the last two weeks

Photo via Ja’Marian Peterson

The Arizona Wildcats are geared up to finally start their season Saturday against USC (hopefully) after their original season opener against Utah was canceled. The future of the Arizona football team, however, has been making its way through the high school football season. Let’s take a look at how they’ve fared the past two weeks.

Tyrese Johnson, WR, KIPP Booker T. Washington Lions

• Oct. 30 Result: Victory over Wright, 34-6
• Nov. 5 Result: Loss to Bogalusa, 22-28
• Record: 4-3
• Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: Unknown
• Oct. 15 Notes: I was unable to find any stats or film of Johnson during their victory over Wright. However, look at him high-point the ball in the below tweet. My goodness.

Put That Bread On Top His Head , Never Ask for Respect, TAKE IT @reseagoat pic.twitter.com/sMNdOjDC4C

— ARHODES (@anthonyrhodesjr) October 31, 2020

• Nov. 5 Notes: I was unable to find any stats or film of Johnson in KIPP’s loss to Bogalusa.

Montrell Johnson, RB, De La Salle Cavaliers

• Nov. 5 Results: Victory over Haynes Academy, 41-0
• Record: 5-0
• Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: 454 yds, 7 TD; 2 rec TD (incomplete stats)
• Nov. 5 Notes: I’m not sure Johnson played this past weekend. I haven’t seen any film of him like I usually do and no stats. However, his midseason highlights dropped. Enjoy.

Kevon Garcia, LB, Dekaney Wildcats

• Oct. 31 Results: Victory over Aldine, 58-7
• Results: 3-2
• Oct. 31 Game Stats: 7 tackles
• Season Stats: 40 tackles, 3.5 TFL, 1 PBU, 1 fumble recovery
• Oct. 31 Notes: Garcia had another productive game on Halloween. He didn’t live in the backfield like he usually does but his game film below shows three angles of him effectively setting the defense and dissecting the play. He tackled the ball carrier for a minimal gain.

Ja’Marian Peterson, DE, De La Salle Cavaliers

• Nov. 5 Results: Victory over Haynes Academy, 41-0
• Record: 5-0
• Nov. 5 Game Stats: 1 tackle, 1 TFL (incomplete stats)
• Season Stats: 4 tackles, 4 TFL, 1 sack (incomplete stats)
• Nov. 5 Notes: I was unable to find a full stat line for Peterson, however, there was a clip of him from a local new station. You see him fly into the backfield (#7) and tackle the QB on a designed QB run for a loss. It seems almost every week there is visual evidence of Peterson getting into the backfield and causing havoc. That is good news for the Wildcats and fans.

The De La Salle Cavaliers continue their strong 2020 season with a shutout win over Haynes, 41-0. @milford_cole @jjamarian1 @Dtillis3_ @ParisMakhi pic.twitter.com/jjxgKs91XT

— Garland Gillen (@garlandgillen) November 8, 2020

Javione Carr, DB, Sam Houston Texans

• Oct. 30 Results: Victory over Arlington, 33-30
• Nov. 6 Results: Loss to South Grand Prairie, 0-27
• Record: 3-3
• Oct. 30 Game Stats: 15 tackles
• Nov. 6 Game Stats: 12 tackles, 1 forced fumble, 1 blocked FG
• Season Stats: 90 tackles, 3 PBU, 2 forced fumbles, 1 fumble recovery, 1 blocked FG
• Oct. 30 Notes: Carr continued to produce the day before Halloween. He finished with 15 tackles and his film shows him blasting a call carrier, legally, out-of-bounds.

• Nov. 6 Notes: Carr appeared to have a great game. He did a good job disrupting a wide receiver on a screen and caused a fumble. He came screeching in to block a field goal attempt. And he continued to prove that he is a fantastic tackler. I think he is easily one of the steals in this class for Arizona.

Jackson Bailey, LB, Red Oak Hawks

• Oct. 30 Results: Victory over Richland, 56-40
• Nov. 6 Results: Loss to Colleyville Heritage, 13-27
• Record: 2-2
• Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: 9 tackles, 2 TFL (incomplete stats)
• Notes: I was unable to find any stats or film for Bailey for either game.

Kolbe Cage, LB/DB, Holy Cross Tigers

• Oct. 31 Results: Loss to Archbishop Rummel, 33-56
• Nov. 5 Results: Loss to John Curtis Christian, 3-37
• Record: 1-4
• Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: 8 tackles, 0.5 TFL, 1 INT (incomplete stats)
• Notes: I was unable to find any stats or film for Cage for either game.

K.C. Ossai, LB, Oak Ridge War Eagles

• Oct. 29 Results: Victory over Conroe, 38-14
• Nov. 6 Results: Loss to The Woodlands, 21-31
• Record: 4-2
• Oct. 29 Game Stats: 7 tackles, 1 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery (incomplete stats)
• Nov. 6 Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: 14 tackles, 3 TFL, 1 sack, 1 forced fumble, 1 fumble recovery (incomplete stats)
• Oct. 29 Notes: Ossai had a great game. He was all over the field and showcased his horizontal speed, getting to the sidelines in a hurry to take down ball carriers. He was so effective, he actually caused a fumble without touching the QB. Impressive.

• Nov. 6 Notes: I couldn’t find any stats or film on Ossai.

Dalton Johnson, DB, Katy Tigers

• Oct. 30 Results: Victory over Dickinson, 49-7
• Nov. 5 Results: Loss to Tompkins, 19-24
• Record: 5-1
• Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: 1 INT (incomplete stats)
• Game Notes: I couldn’t find any stats or film of Johnson for either game.

Stevie Rocker Jr., RB, Canyon del Oro Dorados

• Oct. 30 Results: Loss to Cienega, 14-28
• Nov. 6 Results: Victory over Desert View, 21-20
• Record: 1-1
• Game Stats: Unknown
• Season Stats: Unknown
• Game Notes: I was unable to find any stats or film of Rocker for either game.

Colby Powers, TE, Klein Collins Tigers

• Oct. 30 Results: Victory over Tomball, 31-17
• Nov. 7 Results: Loss to Klein Cain, 21-35
• Record: 2-3
• Oct. 30 Game Stats: Unknown
• Nov. 7 Game Stats: 11-for-22, 167 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT; 4 car, 23 yds, 1 TD
• Season Stats: 14-for-27, 206 yds, 2 TD, 0 INT; 11 car, 60 yds, 3 TD
• Oct. 30 Notes: I was unable to find any stats or film of Powers.
• Nov. 7 Notes: Powers had a pretty good game this past weekend. He had a very nice 43-yard bomb down the field for a touchdown. It’s nice to see him back out competing after suffering a shoulder injury earlier this season.

Jakelyn Morgan, DB, Tyler Legacy Raiders

• Oct. 30 Results: Loss to Skyline, 24-30
• Nov. 6 Results: Loss to Rockwall, 40-45
• Record: 2-4
• Oct. 30 Game Stats: 3 tackles, 2 PBU
• Nov. 6 Game Stats: 2 PBU, 1 fumble recovery (incomplete stats)
• Season Stats: 21 tackles, 6 PBU, 1 fumble recovery (incomplete stats)
• Oct. 30 Notes: Morgan had a relatively good game. He had a couple of PBUs and was very effective at taking his receiver out of the picture with his staunch coverage.

• Nov. 6 Notes: Morgan had another solid game. He racked up another two PBUs but, more importantly, snagged a fumble. His highlights were a little short for this game, but you can still see why Arizona likes him so much.

• SENIOR HIGHLIGHTS

Kyion Graves, WR, Chandler Wolves

• Oct. 30 Results: Victory over Centennial, 31-7
• Record: 5-0
• Oct. 30 Game Stats: 3 rec, 42 yds, 1 TD
• Season Stats: 19 rec, 383 yds, 7 TD
• Oct. 30 Notes: Grayes had another productive night for the Wolves, snagging his seventh touchdown of the season. He continues to be a big threat in the short and intermediate passing game, but he had a nice 25-yard grab near the sideline as well.

Treyson Bourguet, QB, Salpointe Catholic Lancers

• Oct. 30 Results: Victory over Campo Verde, 21-14
• Nov. 6 Results: Victory over Mountain Ridge, 38-21
• Record: 4-0
• Oct. 30 Game Stats: 15-for-27, 160 yds, 2 TD, 1 INT; 7 car, 25 yds, 0 TD
• Nov. 6 Game Stats: 8-for-17, 131 yds, 4 TD, 1 INT; 3 car, 2 yds, 0 TD
• Season Stats: 40-for-71, 486 yds, 8 TD, 3 INT; 12 car, 27 yds, 0 TD
• Oct. 30 Notes: Bourguet has been impressive this year and has, without a doubt, taken a large step forward in his development from a year ago. He throws a really nice ball, which you can see for yourself in his highlights below, and is starting to really use his legs to keep plays alive.

• Nov. 6 Notes: From a pure numbers standpoint, Bourguet’s state-line is eye-popping...at least at first glance. He completed only eight passes, however, HALF of those completions were touchdowns. He didn’t need to have a massive night to lead the Lancers to victory. But he sure did have a very efficient night. There a plenty of times in college and the NFL where efficiency reigns supreme over large numbers. I love Bourguet’s efficiency and, to be honest, that is his best attribute. Solidifying efficiency can lead to bigger nights, and I expect they will for the rising junior. Look at this beautiful pass he throws to Elijah Barclay.

Coming in hot!!! Now the score is 24-0 Lancers (@SCLancerNation) over Mountain Ridge after another Treyson Bourguet (@treysonbourguet) TD pass to Elijah Barclay (@elijah_barc) this one for 49 yards. pic.twitter.com/xOV0dTsNTG

— Troy Hutchison (@THutch1995) November 7, 2020

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/3nktuYG
via IFTTT

K.J. Simpson, Shane Dezonie and Shane Nowell officially sign with Arizona

K.J. Simpson | Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The Arizona Wildcats inked what they hope will be the backcourt of the future on Wednesday when four-star guards Shane Nowell, K.J. Simpson and Shane Dezonie signed their National Letters of Intent.

The trio ranks as the No. 15 2021 class in the country and third-best in the Pac-12 behind Oregon and USC.

A 6-foot-5 swingman, Nowell is top-ranked player in the group. 247Sports composite rankings peg him as the No. 83 player in the 2021 class and No. 4 player from the state of Washington.

Nowell committed to Arizona on Halloween. Jason Terry was his primary recruiter. He attends Eastside Catholic in Sammamish, Washington. His older brother Jaylen starred at Washington for two seasons and now plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves.

He described his strengths as “the ability to create for myself and teammates, finishing around the rim, my pull-up, getting downhill in transition and being a player with a high IQ. Also, a great defender that will pick up full court and guard 1-4.”

Arizona 2021 commit Shane Nowell has signed his NLI. He's the 3rd Wildcat to sign today. #BearDown pic.twitter.com/jtYdZWff2z

— PlayersProgramU.com (@playersprogramu) November 12, 2020

A 6-foot-4 shooting guard, Dezonie is ranked one spot below Nowell, checking in at No. 84 overall. He committed six days earlier than Nowell. Dezonie attends Brewster Academy in New Hampshire and used to attend Hudson Catholic in New Jersey.

He told Phenom Hoop Report that “my game is a strong guard that defend 1-4, who can distribute the ball, and can score in different ways.”

Signed my NLI today to @APlayersProgram Extremely excited to be a Wildcat ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/VqNBjllhLJ

— Shane Dezonie (@iamshanedezonie) November 11, 2020

Simpson was Arizona’s first 2021 commit, pledging to the Wildcats back on Aug. 15. A 6-foot-2 combo guard, Simpson ranks just outside the Top-100. He attends Chaminade College Prep in West Hills, California.

His 247Sports scouting report reads as follows: “Simpson is an athletic combo guard with okay size but good length and athleticism. Plus athlete both laterally and vertically. Competitive kid who plays hard on both ends. Has vision to play on ball at next level but will need to improve against ball pressure. Athleticism makes him tough cover in transition. Versatile defender who can guard both one and two at next level. Projects as high major starter. If handle and jumper improve he will take his stock to next level.”

Congrats to Kenneth Simpson Jr on signing his NLI to play basketball at the University of Arizona. @APlayersProgram @Chaminadesports @KSimpsonJr pic.twitter.com/6eQPd0Z8Sm

— Bryan Cantwell (@CCPEaglesHoops) November 11, 2020

It’s hard to know how many recruits Arizona will sign in this cycle when it’s all said and done. They have two seniors but they are allowed to return next season after the NCAA gave all winter athletes an extra year of eligibility because of the coronavirus pandemic.

The Wildcats don’t have any surefire one-and-dones this year, but departures are never surprising these days. A one-time transfer rule is probably going to go into affect in January, too, making player movement all the more likely.

It’s also unclear what the scholarship limits will for the 2021-22 season. The NCAA increased them in other sports due to the pandemic and will likely have to do the same for basketball to account for the seniors who plan to return for another season. Then again, Arizona could be facing a scholarship reduction as a result of the Notice of Allegations they received in October.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2Ir9rZo
via IFTTT

Arizona makes cut for 2022 in-state offensive lineman, 2021 Texas athlete

Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images

The Arizona Wildcats have still yet to play a game in the 2020 season—fingers crossed for Saturday!—but remain heavily active in planning for future years through recruiting.

That work has resulted in being among the top choices for a pair of key prospects, one from the 2021 class and one from 2022.

Ahmonte Watkins, a 3-star all-purpose back in the 2021 class from Houston, has included the Wildcats among his final 10 schools, while 2022 in-state offensive guard Gavin Broscious has Arizona as one of his top eight choices.

The 5-foot-10, 173-pound Watkins, who plays for Klein Forest HS in Houston, is ranked by 247Sports as the No. 281 player in the 2021 class as well as the No. 4 all-purpose back and 45th-best prospect from Texas. Houston, Louisville, Memphis, Mississippi State, Purdue, TCU, Texas A&M, Texas Tech and Washington State are the other schools to make his list out of 21 scholarship offers.

The 6-foot-4, 290-pound Broscious, who plays for Desert Edge in Goodyear, is ranked 669^th overall in 2022 as well as 24th-best among offensive guards and 10th-best in Arizona. His other finalists are ASU, Cal, Colorado, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska and Utah.

Arizona currently has two commitments in the 2022 class, both from within the state, in 3-star Chandler wide receiver Kyion Graves—who has since picked up offers from Ohio State and Oregon—and 3-star Tucson quarterback Treyson Bourguet.

The UA’s 2021 class, which can start signing next month, consists of 23 players and is ranked 49^th in the country as well as seventh in the Pac-12.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/38yP4UZ
via IFTTT

Arizona women’s basketball signs top-15 recruiting class

Anna Gret Asi | Photo by Nicole Sweet/NBAE via Getty Images

Two of the current starters for the Arizona Wildcats are projected to be among the best at their position. Everyone thinks the team will be one of the best 10 in the nation this year. But what happens next season?

The answer to that got a little clearer this week as head coach Adia Barnes and her staff saw the fruits of their recruiting labor sign national letters of intent. The Wildcats signed two Top 100 domestic high school players and a decorated international to add ESPN’s No. 15 class to their arsenal.

That international, Anna Gret Asi, will fill a big need for Arizona. While the NCAA has granted all winter athletes an extra year of eligibility regardless of how much they play in 2020-21, there’s little doubt that the Wildcats will need to replace Aari McDonald next season. After foregoing the WNBA draft last year, it would be difficult to see the star guard come back yet again, especially after seeing the pro league hold a successful season this summer.

That means that the Wildcats will likely be searching for their point guard of the future. While junior Shaina Pellington, sophomore Mara Mote and freshman Derin Erdogan can all play the position, it never hurts to have another ball-handler. It will be even more vital after the departure of McDonald.

Asi has considerable experience in her native Estonia and on the international scene. She was the MVP of the 18th Basketball Without Borders Europe camp which was held in Riga, Latvia in July, 2019.

Asi is rated the highest of Arizona’s three signees with ESPN giving her 4.5 stars under the new system implemented by Premier Basketball when they took over the women’s recruiting rankings this year. International players are still not ranked alongside domestic players, however.

Also in the back court, four-star shooting guard Madison Conner of Perry High in Gilbert, Ariz. was the first 2021 recruit to commit to the Wildcats. Ranked No. 71 overall by ESPN, the No. 29 guard in the class was described as a “skilled guard (who) manufactures shots, knocks down mid-range jumpers to the arc; brings a smooth stroke, scorer’s mentality to the back court; executes in half-court game; unselfish persona, teammate,” by Dan Olson of the Collegiate Girls Basketball Report, which formerly provided recruiting rankings for ESPN HoopGurlz.

Shane Laflin wrote in his breakdown of the 2021 classes that Conner “is a fundamental shooter with extreme confidence on the floor.” With the highly-rated front court recruits Arizona will have in two straight classes, having someone who can spread the floor will continue to be important and Conner can do that.

We are THRILLED to announce that Madison Conner is the newest addition to the Wildcat Family‼️ #MadeForIt | #BearDown pic.twitter.com/fWoQxC6g66

— Arizona Women's Basketball (@ArizonaWBB) November 11, 2020

Conner and Asi are joined by the No. 100 recruit, Aaronette Vonleh. The four-star forward from West Linn (Ore.) High School and the Cal Stars travel team brings size to the class.

The No. 9 forward is the younger sister of NBA player Noah Vonleh, but that’s not her most important recommendation for Arizona fans. She’s a former teammate of Arizona guard Bendu Yeaney, who was ruled immediately eligible this season after transferring from Indiana.

Netty so excited to be teammates again @aaronettevonleh https://t.co/jhb32CbkLs

— Bendu yeaney (@Benduyeaney1) November 11, 2020

When Vonleh attended Team USA trials in May of last year, Olson noted that she was a “physical power-post with interior footwork (who) scores through defenders in the paint; deceptively agile in transition game; an imposing defensive menace in the block; rebounder and defender with emerging interior game.”

Vonleh was rated a five-star prospect and the No. 38 player in the class when she committed to Arizona, but took a drop when the new organization took over the ESPN rankings. That shouldn’t concern Wildcat fans too much, especially since chances to evaluate players were limited this year.

Current senior Sam Thomas was Arizona’s first Top 100 recruit under Barnes, coming in at No. 92 in the 2017 class. She has been a crucial starter every year in Tucson, one of the top defenders in the league and someone who can fill every box on a stat sheet.

Like Thomas, Vonleh fills an area of crucial need for the Wildcats.

Arizona has struggled rebounding in recent years, and not just against Pac-12 competition. Vonleh brings that coveted skill to the table. In his ESPN class rankings, Laflin called her a “powerful post player,” which is definitely something the program can use.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/36vrWnw
via IFTTT

Titans place former Arizona DB Dane Cruikshank on season-ending IR

Photo by Fred Kfoury III/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The 2020 season is over for former Arizona Wildcats standout Dane Cruikshank.

Cruikshank has been placed on season-ending injured reserve by the Tennessee Titans, the team announced Wednesday.

It's the second time this season Cruikshank has been on the IR, having spent the first six weeks of the season on there due to an undisclosed injury.

In the two games Cruikshank played in he had one tackle and his first career interception, picking off Ben Roethlisberger in a 27-24 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Cruikshank has appeared in 30 games for Tennessee since being taken in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft. Prior to that he played for the UA from 2015-17, picking off five passes while recording 134 tackles.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/3eQ35yy
via IFTTT

First look at the USC Trojans

Photo by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

The real season opener is now in Tucson

After last week’s cancellation, the Arizona Wildcats are gearing up for their season and home opener against USC. It’s not an ideal opening opponent especially with the question marks on defense.

Kickoff is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. MST and will be televised on FOX.

Here’s a first look at the Trojans.

• 2020 Record: 1-0 (Week one victory over ASU 28-27)
• Key Offensive Players: Kedon Slovis (QB), Drake London (WR), Amon-Ra St. Brown (WR), Alijah Vera-Tucker (OT)
• Key Defensive Players: Marlon Tuipulotu (DL), Palaie Gaoteote IV (LB), Talanoa Hufanga (DB), Olaijah Griffin (DB)

USC narrowly escaped their week one matchup against ASU with a win. The Trojans scored two touchdowns in the final three minutes to steal the victory.

This game was really about USC’s inability to secure the football. They finished with four turnovers which is what kept this game close. Two of those turnovers happened in the red-zone.

Quarterback Kedon Slovis simply shredded the Sun Devils’ secondary. He finished the game with 381 passing yards and two touchdowns while completing 40 of 55 passes.

Slovis completed passes to eight different players. The bulk was his 40 completions and 381 yards were to Drake London (8-125), Amon-Ra St. Brown (7-100) and Tyler Vaughns (7-53). Despite Slovis losing last season’s leading receiver, Michael Pittman Jr, to the NFL, he still has plenty of talented options at the position.

The running game was effective but being down two touchdowns late, the game flow required more passing (which they love to do). Vavae Malepeai, Markese Stepp and Stephen Carr combined for 158 yards on 32 rushing attempts.

Per usual, the offensive line has excellent size and talent. The most notable names on the left side in Alijah Vera-Tucker and Andrew Vorhees who are both NFL caliber players. Right tackle Jalen McKenzie started every game in 2019 with most coming at right guard.

Defensively, the Trojans lost their only returning first-team all-conference lineman Jay Tufele who decided to opt out of the season and declare for the NFL draft. With his absence, Marlon Tuipulotu will be expected to anchor the line.

The linebackers will look to replace the production from one of the best to play at USC in John Houston Jr. Palaie Gaoteote IV has the potential to do so as he looks to rebound from an injury riddled 2019.

Also, keep an eye on Drake Jackson who earned second-team honors as a freshman in 2019. Jackson has moved to outside linebacker from defensive line.

The secondary is easily the most talented and deepest group of the defense. It is headlined by safety Talanoa Hufanga and cornerback Olaijah Griffin.

Hufanga is an absolute tackling machine as he entered the season with 141 career tackles in 18 games. He continued this trend by leading USC in tackles with 10 during week one. Griffin started 10 games in 2019 and earned conference honorable mention.

USC had the luxury of playing during week one. Despite not playing their best, they did play and still walked away with a win. They enter this game as heavy road favorites.

If Arizona has any chance in this game, they will need to take care of the ball and string together drives. If the offense isn’t able to sustain drives, that will put too much pressure on the defense and it could get ugly early.

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/3loVppt
via IFTTT

‘Crazy story’ brought defensive lineman Kyon Barrs to Arizona

Sophomore defensive tackle Kyon Barrs is listed as a starter for the Arizona Wildcats’ 2020 opener against the USC Trojans.

It’s not a position he expected to be in coming out of Murrieta Mesa High School last year. Barrs was a late addition to the 2019 recruiting class, committing in May of that year.

“It’s actually a crazy story,” Barrs said Tuesday via Zoom. “I was originally gonna go JuCo, and I was already working out with the JuCo, Riverside City College. And I was just training and my coach was planning to have a showcase where all college coaches would come and watch, but I wasn’t going to go because I was already a senior. It was for underclassmen, I didn’t want to really step in there, but my coach said, ‘you should go. There’s coaches that want to see you.’ And I went, Coach [Demetrice Martin] happened to be there, he saw me do the drills, and next thing you know he was in contact and we started talking. I went on official visit and everything. It went really well.”

Arizona didn’t have much competition. It was the only Division I program to offer Barrs, who wasn’t ranked by Rivals or 247Sports. He put up impressive numbers as a senior at Murrieta Mesa, racking 90 tackles and 10 sacks, but low SAT scores hindered his recruitment.

“For sure if my SAT scores were better I would have had more offers,” he said. “Not to brag, but I was a good high school player. I wasn’t a five-star, but I was good.”

Being overlooked put a chip on Barrs’ shoulder as he began his UA career. He had a strong fall camp last year, doing enough to earn extended playing time as a true freshman.

In 11 games, he made 13 tackles, including a career-high four in the season finale at ASU. He played more and more as the season went along.

“He’s explosive,” head coach Kevin Sumlin said Monday. “You saw flashes last year as a freshman because he’s got that quickness, because he has power, and I think a year into this thing, what he’s done in the weight room and training-wise, I think he can be a really good player and a Sunday (NFL) player.”

Barrs weight hovers around 300 pounds now, about 15 more than it did as a freshman. He trained hard during the pandemic to trade his “baby fat,” as Sumlin calls it, for muscle.

“Back home at my training facility—Winner’s Circle—I just was working,” Barrs said. “We was in quarantine so I had to do make up a couple of things in my garage—lift more weights, eat more, my mom fed me a bunch of home cooked meals, protein really. I was able to get up to 300 and gain all my weight. And coming back here, Coach B(rian Johnson) got us right.”

Barrs said he “feels great” now. He’s more nimble even though he’s heavier. That’s good because last season Barrs got a taste for the speed of the college game.

“He’s strong, he’s really quick too,” said starting guard Robert Congel. “It’s really good going up against him in practice because he’s really a legit Pac-12 d-lineman and he can beat you with power, he can beat you in speed. He really does a great job of helping me prepare for the week.”

In one way, it’s fitting that Barrs could make his first career start against USC. He grew up 90 miles from its campus and it was his favorite school growing up.

On the other hand, the chance to play against the Trojans never seemed realistic until Arizona swooped in with a late offer.

“My mom, she’s a very spiritual person, so I just knew that God had a plan for me and a blessing was gonna come,” Barrs said. “I just had to wait my turn.”

from Arizona Desert Swarm - All Posts https://ift.tt/2GVXFpu
via IFTTT