Citizen Staff Writer
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona vs. Washington State: Steve Rivera’s breakdown of the game • Wildcat notes • Players to watch
BACKCOURT
Advantage: Arizona
It’s difficult to tell which backcourt will show up for UA. Is it the determined and dogged one that hits shots and plays with a certain confidence? Or the one that gets beat down because the opponent’s defense is just too good? Because Nic Wise and Kyle Fogg have been very good the last couple of games, they get the edge over WSU’s unsung Taylor Rochestie and up-and-coming Klay Thompson.
FRONTCOURT
Advantage: Arizona
UA forward Chase Budinger didn’t look invisible the last game. He needs to continue to play that way. In limited minutes, Jordan Hill played very well. He’ll be tested again, this time by WSU’s 6-10 Aron Baynes. And no one needs to remind UA of Daven Harmeling, who was unbelievable two years ago in helping WSU beat UA.
DEFENSE
Advantage: Washington St.
WSU leads the league in field-goal percentage defense at 36.9 percent. UA is third at 39.6 percent. It’s WSU’s milk-the-clock style that gives teams fits. It’ll be no different now. The Cougars are better on the defensive end. UA is too inconsistent with it.
OUTCOME
This game will be another close one. WSU’s style makes that happen. And no matter what UA people say, WSU’s style will determine how UA plays. UA needs to run to look good. That won’t happen. But a win is a win.
Prediction: UA by 5
UA-WSU SERIES AT A GLANCE
All-time meetings: UA leads 50-13
Pac-10 meetings: UA leads 49-12
Longest UA win streak: 38 (1986-2004)
Longest WSU win streak: 3 (1979-81 and 1983-84)
Current series streak: UA, 2 in a row
Last season: UA 76, WSU 64 (Jan. 24 in Tucson); UA 65, WSU 55 (Feb. 23 in Pullman, Wash.)
First meeting: WSU 64, UA 58 (1959 in Tucson)
NOTABLE
Bad week for Coleman
The game happened a week ago and there’s still some trouble coming out of Houston.
Earlier in the week, FBI officials were on the Houston campus investigating threats against Aubrey Coleman’s life after he was thrown out of the Cougars’ game at Arizona for stepping on Chase Budinger’s face and chest during the game.
Coleman has since issued a written apology through the school; he spoke to Houston media and issued another apology (sounding sincere); and was suspended for Wednesday’s game because of the incident.
“There’s been a lot of racial slurs,” said Coleman, who was quoted in ESPN.com. Coleman is black. Budinger is white.
“It’s crazy. I saved the e-mails. I haven’t been contacted, but I do know the police and the FBI were at the practices to make sure everything was safe.”
Arizona interim coach Russ Pennell said no e-mails have come from the Wildcats’ end. But he did receive an e-mail – copied through another sender to Houston coach Tom Penders – that said the sender didn’t like the incident.
“All the controversy is coming from (Houston’s) end,” Pennell said. “It was handled right, and the appropriate measures were taken, so let’s move on.”
UP NEXT
• Who: Washington State (12-8, 4-4) at UA (13-8, 3-5)
• When: 11 a.m. Saturday
• TV: CBS
• Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5. FM
How teams match up
Arizona WSU
69.6 Points per game 73.3
47.8 Field goal % 50.8
64.2 Points allowed per game 58.4
42.6 Foes’ field goal % 40.1
Quotable
‘Why not use these two wins as confidence; to get us over the hump.’
CHASE BUDINGER,
on UA’s last two close-game wins
PAC-10 SCHEDULE
Thursday’s games
Arizona 106, Washington 97; Washington State 65, Arizona State 44; UCLA 81, California 68; USC 70, Stanford 69
Saturday’s games
Washington State at Arizona, 11 a.m.; Stanford at UCLA, 1:30 p.m.; Washington at Arizona State, 3:30 p.m., Oregon at Oregon State, 5:30 p.m.; California at USC, 9:30 p.m.
PAC-10 LEADERS
Scoring
1. James Harden, ASU 22.1
3. Jordan Hill, UA 17.8
Rebounding
1. Jordan Hill, UA 11.4
2. Jon Brockman, Washington 10.7
Assists
1. Daniel Hackett, USC 5.6
2. Nic Wise, UA 4.9
Blocks
1. Taj Gibson, USC 3.0
2. Jordan Hill, UA 2.2
PAC-10 STANDINGS
Conf. All
School W L W L
Washington 6 2 15 5
UCLA 6 2 16 4
Arizona State 5 3 16 4
California 5 3 16 5
USC 5 3 14 6
Washington State 4 4 12 8
Stanford 3 5 13 5
ARIZONA 3 5 13 8
Oregon State 3 5 9 10
Oregon 0 8 6 14