Well, this is what happens when you beat a top-5 team that was previously undefeated: Arizona is No. 4 in the latest AP top 25 men’s basketball rankings, as well as No. 5 in the USA Today Coaches Poll. A win like the one over Florida should give Arizona a boost, as it already has in the rankings.
Let’s talk players of the week, and both hoopers happen to reside in Boulder. André Roberson is the Pac-12 Player of the Week in men’s hoops after dropping 17 points and registering a career-high 20 rebounds in a win vs. Fresno State, while Chucky Jeffery is the Pac-12 Player of the Week in women’s ball in large part due to her 22-point, seven-board performance against a top-10 Louisville squad that propelled the Buffs to a victory (but let’s not forget about Washington State’s Lia Galdeira, who won Pac-12 Freshman of the Week honors).
Quite a few games on the Networks tonight, so let’s discuss a couple of ‘em. Bruins Nation gives you a game preview for UCLA’s tilt with Long Beach State. Don’t be fooled by the 49ers’ sub-.500 record, for they have played a ton of powerhouses and are getting back three transfers who will be eligible for the first time tonight, including former Arizona State Sun Devil Keala King.
Utah, meanwhile, will look to get payback against SMU after losing to the Mustangs in Texas earlier this season. The Mustangs are led by legendary head coach Larry Brown, who is a basketball lifer and has SMU out to an 8-2 start. One thing is for sure, though: the Utes are eager to get back on the court after a finals layoff.
Stanford perhaps has the biggest game of anyone tonight as the Cardinal head east to take on No. 25 North Carolina State - not a must-win for Stanford, but it’s the Cardinal’s last chance for a big non-conference victory. That’s a huge game, but maybe what’s even more interesting is learning about the inner strength of Alex Debniak, the Cardinal linebacker who has had to overcome a lot in life thus far.
As Sonny Dykes fills out his staff in Berkeley, reports have surfaced that Cal will hire Andy Buh as its defensive coordinator.
Dykes has a heck of an offense and so does Oregon offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach Mark Helfrich. They call him Oregon’s quarterback whisperer over at The Register-Guard.
Mike Riley and the Oregon State Beavers are heading down to San Antonio for the Alamo Bowl, and Riley is no stranger to the city. Did you know Riley coached the San Antonio Riders of the WLAF (World League of American Football) back in the day?
The Las Vegas Bowl will be the last game for Washington’s seniors, and it has been a long, strange trip for the recruiting class of 2008.
Sure, it was a disappointing season in Troy, but there were still plenty of highlights from USC’s 2012 football campaign, encapsulated in this video. I also came across this about three months late: Watch Matt Barkley learn how to play volleyball (there’s a reason he plays football and not volleyball, or water polo, for that matter).
Arizona State can now boast that it has another professional athlete – former Sun Devil women’s water polo player Mariam Salloum has signed with Volturno S.C., a pro water polo team in Italy.
Coug fans, it’s time to vote for Coug of the Year! Your choices: Keidane McAlpine, Brock Motum, Travis Long, Dr. Elson S. Floyd and Steve Gleason.