Hey guys, here's the postgame video of Arizona's season opening 9-1 win over Long Beach State:

Login to view embedded media

Red-hot Arizona is back in action tonight after a dominating victory over Cal in what will be the team's final game of its Bay Area. Currently on a seven-game winning streak, the Wildcats have begun to peak at the right time. Led by Azuolas Tubelis and Oumar Ballo, the Wildcats big men have been giving the Wildcats a much needed boost on the offensive side of the ball. A win over Stanford would be a major momentum boost before the team returns home next week.

We'll have updates for you throughout the game and invite you to join the conversation throughout Arizona's second game in the Bay.

GAME INFO

Who: No. 4 Arizona (22-3, 11-3 Pac-12; last game: 85-62 win over California) vs. Stanford (10-14, 4-9 Pac-12; last game: 69-65 loss vs. Arizona State)
When: 6 p.m. (MST)
Where: Maples Pavilion | Stanford, California
TV: ESPN
All-time series: Arizona leads 69-26 (last matchup: Arizona won 84-80 on Mar. 10, 2022 in Las Vegas)

Arizona is back in action tonight to begin a road trip that can sometimes be difficult. It shouldn't be the case for the Wildcats this season, but a couple of games like that have been a trap for UA this season. The Bears are without guard Devin Askew for the remainder of the season, so there is certainly a lack of star power with Mark Fox's team. Still, the Wildcats will want to play well to continue their momentum as of late.

We'll have updates for you throughout the night and invite you to join the conversation throughout the late-nigh matchup in the Bay Area.

GAME INFO

Who: No. 4 Arizona (21-3, 10-3 Pac-12; last game: 84-52 win over Oregon State) vs. Cal (3-20, 2-10 Pac-12; last game: 61-46 loss at Utah)
When: 9 p.m. (MST)
Where: Haas Pavilion | Berkeley, California
TV: Pac-12 Network
All-time series: Arizona leads 69-31 (last matchup: Arizona won 81-68 on Dec. 4, 2022 in Tucson)

Right here:

Right here:

The Pac-12 today unveiled its first-ever preseason all-conference team as selected by the 11 coaches in the league. The preseason poll was also released and Arizona was represented well on both. The Wildcats were picked to finish the conference race in fourth place but finished only three points behind Oregon State for third. Stanford (9) and UCLA (2) split the first-place votes.

In addition to that, Arizona had four players make the preseason all-conference team that features 32 players from across the league. There is no distinction for first team or second team, etc. Outfielder Chase Davis, right-handed pitcher Trevor Long, infielder Nik McClaughry and right-handed pitcher TJ Nichols made the team.

Here's some more from the Arizona press release on all four players:

Davis, a consensus Preseason All-American heading into the year, earns a spot on the Preseason All-Conference team after hitting .289 with 56 runs, 13 doubles, 18 home runs, and 54 RBI as a sophomore last season. His 18 home runs were the third most in the Pac-12 in 2022 and were tied for sixth most in a single season in program history. Davis posted an astounding .346 batting average with four extra-base hits and six RBI across eight postseason games last year. His defense in left field was crucial to the Wildcats success as well, notching a .979 fielding percentage with two outfield assists.

Long took over as the Wildcats primary closer during the 2022 campaign and finished with the best numbers of his career, going 6-3 with seven saves and a 3.68 ERA. His seven saves led the team, ranked fifth in the Pac-12, and were tied for 11th most in a single season in Arizona history. Long's impressive performance last year earned him a spot on the NCBWA Stopper of the Year Midseason Watch List.

McClaughry, Arizona's primary shortstop for the vast majority of the last two seasons, has been an integral part of the Wildcats success during that stretch. Last season he posted a .265 batting average with 57 runs, 21 extra-base hits, and 24 RBI at the plate while contributing stellar defense up the middle of the infield. McClaughry's 189 defensive assists led the Pac-12 and he played a part in 40 of the Wildcats conference-best 57 double plays.

Nichols, entering his junior year, has shown off his electric arm from the Arizona starting rotation ever since arriving on campus. As a sophomore in 2022 he went 6-4 with a 5.50 ERA and led the team with 84 strikeouts, a mark that finished top 10 in the conference. He finished his strong year by earning the win in an elimination game against Canisius in the NCAA Coral Gables Regional.

Login to view embedded media
Five-star 2024 point guard Zoom Diallo has been a target for Arizona for quite some time. Last month he officially narrowed his choices to six schools including Arizona to go along with Gonzaga, USC, Washington, Florida State and Kansas. The Wildcats were the first school to host the Tacoma, Washington native on an official visit in the fall and he has since made trips out to FSU and Gonzaga. He is playing his recruitment by feel and is not rushing to a decision, but he is definitely closer to making a decision than not.

The Wildcats have continued to stay in the picture with Diallo, and I recently caught up with him to discuss Arizona's pursuit. Assistant coach Steve Robinson has been leading the process for UA, and that relationship is an important one for the top-20 junior.

"Coach Rob has shown nothing but love to me. He’s been there since my sophomore year in the spring and summer. He’s been watching me, and his support and their support system means a lot."

Read the full update at the link above, and watch some recent highlights I shot of the big point guard prospect below.

Login to view embedded media

Hey guys, Arizona softball starts its season tomorrow with the first pitch set for 6 p.m. versus Long Beach State to open the 2023 season in the Candrea Classic.

The Wildcats will play five games throughout the weekend against Long Beach State ( Thu. 6 p.m.), Kansas (Fri. 4 p.m.), Long Beach State (Fri. 6 p.m.), North Carolina State (Sat. 3 p.m.), and finishes off with North Carolina State (Sun. Noon).

Arizona is coming off a season where the Wildcats finished with their worst record in the regular season with a record of (39-22, 8-16 Pac-12) and yet managed to go on a run in the NCAA tournament sweeping both the Regional and Super Regional round with wins over Missouri (hosted the Regional) and Mississippi State (hosted the Super Regional) on their way to the Women's College World Series under first-year head coach Caitlin Lowe.

The Wildcats went 1-2 in the WCWS and were eliminated by Texas, who went on its own magical run to the Championship Series before getting swept by title winners Oklahoma.

Things looked to be looking bright for the Wildcats heading into the offseason with the potential of adding to a roster that seemed to welcome most key players returning. However, Lowe's team was hit by the transfer portal losing outfielder Janelle Meono (2021 Pac-12 Freshman of the Year award winner) and catcher Sharlize Palacios, who became a staple in the heart of the order with a career batting average of .335 with 39 homer runs and 128 RBIs. Arizona lost four other players to the transfer portal, none of which got very much playing time and moved on to programs with the potential of more time on the field.

Key subtractions:

- Sharlize Palacios (transfer)
- Janelle Meono (transfer)
- Hannah Bowen (graduation)

The Wildcats' recruiting class ranked No. 8 according to Extra Innings Softball signing at the time five recruits. SInce then, Arizona added to the class with pitcher Aissa Silva, who reclassified from the 2024 class to be a part of the 2023 roster. Silva was ranked No. 6 overall softball high school player.

Recruiting class additions:

- P Aissa Silva (No. 6 recruit)
- INF Tayler Biehl (No. 15 recruit)
- INF Logan Cole ( No. 23 recruit)
- C/1B Olivia DiNardo (No. 7 recruit)
- OF Dakota Kennedy (No. 4 recruit)
- P Sydney Somerdyke ( No. 13 recruit)

Arizona was able to add to its roster through the transfer portal as well as its recruiting class. The Wildcats only had pitcher Devyn Netz coming back from the 2022 roster in terms of pitchers. So, Lowe's staff spent the offseason trying to add to the rotation and did so with transfers from other schools and even went to the junior college ranks to get help in the circle.

Transfer additions:

- P Brianna Hardy (JuCo)
- P Ali Blanchard (Princeton)
- OF Ali Ashner

As the Wildcats head into the 2023 season ranked No. 12 in the country by USA Today/NFCA, Arizona still has a lot of question marks similarly to what it had last season with the rotation and how the starting lineup will shape up. However, the roster still have key players in Allie Skaggs, Carlie Scupin, Jasmine Perezchica and Izzy Pacho from last season.

Projected rotation:

1. Devyn Netz
2. Ali Blanchard
3. Sydney Somerdyke
4. Brianna Hardy
5. Aissa Silva

I think this rotation is subject to change throughout the season as the freshmen get their feet wet and used to playing at the NCA-level. Also, the play of Somerdyke will be critical to the team's success and might be the determining factor on what the ceiling can be for this young roster.

Projected starting lineup/batting order:

1. CF Jasmine Perezchica
2. 3B Blaise Biringer
3. 2B Allie Skaggs
4. 1B Carlie Scupin
5. C Izzy Pacho
6. RF Paige Dimler
7. LF Ali Ashner
8. DP Dakota Kennedy
9. SS Sophia Carroll

The lineup has question marks in it as well with the loss of Meono and Palacios, but has the potential to put up a high number of runs and be one of the top run producing lineups in the Pac-12. Plus, the Wildcats will have to go with Pacho at catcher, which she has played in the past. However, she played mostly third base last season.

When you look at everything, I think a realistic season for this Arizona team is trying to host a Regional and advance to a Super Regional. However, it isn't out of the realm of possibility that the Wildcats get bounced in the a road Regional given the massive question marks surrounding the rotation.

Since the Wildcats' 87-68 loss to Oregon, Arizona has been locked in defensively and held opponents to 62.8 points per game.

Here's my article on the Wildcats' defensive turnaround:

Shoot me a text if interested

55one 25seven 432four

Hey guys, Matt and I did this podcast last night and I wanted to put it on the boards to share with everyone.

From Arizona Athletics:

The University of Arizona Athletics Department has received an extraordinary gift from an anonymous alumni couple to launch and fund the 5980 Academic Fund for scholarship and walk-on student-athletes for the first two years. The gift makes Arizona a part of a select, elite list of schools across the country to offer a full allotment of academic awards to all student-athletes in the first year of the new benefit.

"On behalf of the Wildcat Family, I would like to thank these donors for their powerful generosity," said Vice President and Director of Athletics Dave Heeke. "This incredible gift will help elevate the student-athlete experience at Arizona. The 5980 Academic Fund is one of the newest enhancements for our 500 student-athletes who proudly represent the University of Arizona. This gift bolsters our longstanding Commitment to an Athletes Total Success (C.A.T.S) and helps Arizona Athletics fulfill its Wildcat Way mission to develop academic, athletic and life champions."

Launched in the fall, the fund provides supplemental academic awards to student-athletes up to the established maximum of $5,980 per year. All Arizona student-athletes are eligible so long as they maintain good academic performances, meet NCAA eligibility requirements and embrace Arizona's Wildcat Way core values.

Arizona Athletics is actively seeking additional donor support as it continues funding the 5980 Academic Fund in future fiscal years. This fund is one of the recent initiatives launched by the athletics department to recruit and retain student-athletes and bolster its first-class experience in response to the ever-changing landscape of college athletics.

Arizona moves up one spot in the latest AP Poll after a home sweep of the Oregon Schools.

Hey guys I'm going to add all our postgame coverage in this post for you.


Tommy Lloyd press conference:

Login to view embedded media
Kylan Boswell and Filip Borovicanin postgame:

Login to view embedded media

Ari Koslow's recap:


We'll have more here shortly as well.

Currently on a five-game winning streak, No. 5 Arizona will look to extend the streak to six on Saturday night when the team takes on Oregon State at McKale Center.

After beating the Beavers 86-74 in Corvallis on January 12, Arizona will be hoping to get the season sweep. In the team's last home game before a Northern California road trip, Arizona is now in crunch time on the season and the team is now beginning to get ready to attempt a successful postseason run.

GAME INFO
Who: No. 5 Arizona (20-3, 9-3 Pac-12) vs. Oregon (13-10, 7-5 Pac-12)
When: 7:30 p.m. (MST)
Where: McKale Center
TV: Pac-12 Network

No. 22 Arizona went on the road to No. 15 UCLA in what looked to be an easy win for the Bruins with them up 61-50 with under five minutes left in the game. Then, the Wildcats came storming back going on an 11-0 run led by Cate Reese, who scored six-straight points to help send the game into overtime after Lauren Fields connected on a game-tying 3-point bucket.

The Wildcats went on to win 71-66 in what might be the most important win of the season for Adia Barnes' squad, who had was coming off a tough loss at home to WSU.


So, my question is, does this win change your thoughts on the Wildcats and what this team can accomplish come March? Did they show something they haven't before that might give you new optimism?

Matt, I listened to a conference wide podcast and they beat up our class a little because we were the only team in the top 8 who actually fell year over year in the recruiting rankings.

Looking at our class on the surface, I like what we got mostly based on their offers and the teams we beat for these guys. But to attack our drop I want to ask a few questions of you.

1) who did we miss out on that we were probably 1B that we could have seen a jump in our ranking (Lomu and Laloulou come to mind)

2) last year Big Jonah was undervalued, who in this class fo you think could have received another star of a bump up.

3) was our class drop in the rankings because we missed on so many top guys or was it simply that many of the programs had new coaches and had new energy

4) what is your outlook for this next seasons class. Will it be the best class this staff has signed as some suggest

Right here:

Fifth-ranked Arizona will take a four-game winning streak into Thursday night against Oregon at McKale Center coming off sweeps of the Los Angeles and Washington schools.

The Wildcats will be looking for some revenge after losing to Oregon 87-68 a few weeks ago. It was after that game when Tommy Lloyd moved Pelle Larsson back to his sixth man role and Cedric Henderson Jr. into the starting lineup and Arizona has won four straight games since.

GAME INFO
Who: No. 5 Arizona (19-3, 8-3 Pac-12) vs. Oregon (13-9, 7-4 Pac-12)
When: 8:30 p.m. (MST)
Where: McKale Center
TV: ESPN

Hey guys, as promised I am posting my story from today's press conference with coach Jedd Fisch as he shared his thoughts on how this class wrapped up for Arizona.

Full story: https://arizona.rivals.com/news/jedd-fisch-talks-defense-in-arizona-s-signing-day-press-conference

If you have any questions, let me know.

Login to view embedded media

Kind of strange to see it done this way and probably indicative of the situation, but DeWayne Walker has announced he and Arizona are parting ways after two seasons. This is the time of year when coaches' contracts are being reworked/figured out, and he will not be back leading the Wildcats' cornerback group. It sounded like at the end of the season there could be one or two changes to the staff, so this is not completely shocking but is definitely something that Jedd Fisch will have to work through. I'd expect Fisch to work pretty quickly to bring in someone new.

Walker was hired Jan. 6, 2021, so that tells you why now when it comes to the decision. Working to get some of the details, but he very clearly (whether or not he meant to) left any mention of Jedd out of his statement there. Doesn't sound like things ended smoothly but trying to get some more information.

Here's from today's press conference with Tommy Lloyd and Kylan Boswell:

Login to view embedded media
Login to view embedded media

“They throw the ball 82 percent of the time and had two wideouts have over 1,000 yards receiving last year, so it is a great offense for a wideout.” – Devin Hyatt

Login to view embedded media

Hey guys, I wanted to ask you a question and get your thoughts on this years women's basketball team.

Do you think it is time to question Adia Barnes' offensive coaching skills?