Citizen Staff Writer
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona at Oregon: Steve Rivera’s breakdown of the game • Wildcat notes • Players to watch
BACKCOURT
Advantage: Arizona
UA has become more and more comfortable extending its zone, making it difficult for opponents to hit deep three-pointers. Look for Oregon’s Tajuan Porter to take a bunch of treys. Expect UA’s Nic Wise to counter that, although he won’t shoot as much as Porter. UA’s Kyle Fogg had a decent game on Thursday, but had foul trouble. Expect him to bounce back.
FRONTCOURT
Advantage: Arizona
A 25-plus point effort by Chase Budinger is a likely situation. A double-double from Jordan Hill is more than a possibility. The Ducks just aren’t good inside, so expect Arizona to go to Hill a lot. The fast pace will help Budinger. Oregon’s Joevan Catron will have his hands full. Same for Josh Crittle.
DEFENSE
Advantage: Arizona
Arizona is much improved in this area. Extending its zone defense has been key. Oregon is trying hard but doesn’t have the horses or the experience to compete with the Wildcats here.
OUTCOME
Oregon had won three straight over UA before the Wildcats won in Tucson this season. The tide has turned – if for only this year. UA won going away in the first meeting 67-52. It will be closer this time, but the Cats will prevail.
Prediction: Arizona by 9
UA-OREGON SERIES AT A GLANCE
All-time meetings: UA leads 40-23
Pac-10 meetings: UA leads 40-23
Longest UA win streak: 12 (1991-97)
Longest Oregon win streak: 3 (1983-84 and 2007-08)
Current series streak: Arizona, 1
Earlier this season: Arizona 67, Oregon 52 (Jan. 8 in Tucson)
Last season: Oregon 84, UA 74 (Jan. 5 in Tucson); Oregon 78, UA 69 (March 8 in Eugene)
First meeting: Oregon 63, UA 60 (1979 in Eugene)
UA BASKETBALL NOTES
Hill one of 30 named to Wooden list
It’s no surprise, but Arizona’s Jordan Hill is considered one of the top 30 college players in college basketball.
On Friday, the 6-foot-10 junior forward was named to the John R. Wooden Award midseason list. He was one of five Pac-10 Conference players named. Hill is averaging 18 points, 11.7 rebounds and 2.1 blocks per game.
He has scored in double figures 21 times this season and has a Pac-10-leading 14 double-doubles to his credit. Hill averages 34.6 minutes per game this year with seven 20-point games and four games with 15 or more rebounds.
Getting to know Mac Court
Arizona spent most of the morning practicing at McArthur Court and then spent about 30 minutes at a nearby gymnasium working on free throws.
“What happens is you spend time on an opponent’s court and try to get everything in and then realize you didn’t shoot enough,” interim coach Russ Pennell said, adding UA has that same routine of extra shooting at home. Pennell said the extra shots “have been paying off for us.”
Minor injury for Johnson
Sophomore Zane Johnson had his left wrist taped and wrapped Thursday after suffering a small injury to the hand earlier in the week. It didn’t affect how he played.
STEVE RIVERA, srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
The Bounce: Oregon not equipped to handle UA
UP NEXT
Saturday: UA at Oregon (6-16, 0-10), 1:30 p.m., ABC
How teams match up
Arizona Oregon
70.6 Points per game 68.5
46.9 Field goal % 41.0
65.4 Points allowed per game 75.5
41.6 Foes’ field goal % 47.9
‘At some point, those players are going to get fed up and just say, “Let’s go.” ‘ RUSS PENNELL, about Oregon
PAC-10 SCHEDULE
SATURDAY: Arizona at Oregon, 1:30 p.m.; Notre Dame at UCLA, 11 a.m.; Arizona State at Oregon State, 6:30 p.m.; Washington State at California, 8:30 p.m.
SUNDAY: Washington at Stanford, 3:30 p.m.
Wednesday’s result: UCLA 76, USC 60
Thursday’s results: Arizona 56, Oregon State 53; Arizona State 66, Oregon 57; California 86, Washington 71; Stanford 65, Washington State 54
PAC-10 LEADERS
Scoring
1. James Harden, ASU 22.5
3. Jordan Hill, UA 18.0
Rebounding
1. Jordan Hill, UA 11.7
2. Jon Brockman, Washington 11.0
Assists
1. J. Randle, Cal; D. Collison, UCLA 5.1
5. Nic Wise, UA 4.7
Blocks
1. Taj Gibson, USC 2.9
2. Jordan Hill, UA 2.1
PAC-10 STANDINGS
Conf. All
School W L W L
UCLA 8 2 18 4
Washington 7 3 16 6
Arizona State 6 4 17 5
California 6 4 17 6
USC 6 4 15 7
ARIZONA 5 5 15 8
Stanford 4 6 14 6
Washington State 4 6 12 10
Oregon State 4 6 10 11
Oregon 0 10 6 16
SPORTS SOUND-OFF
Road win no breakthrough
Re: Cats hold off Beavers; win streak at 4
• Whereas I’m thrilled UA finally won a game on the road, I’m thinking this wasn’t a breakthrough game. Just too ugly and too much relying on the other team shooting themselves in the foot. Some stronger power took our side last night and pushed that last shot back out. I don’t know if we’d have survived an OT. We’d been letting them back in for the latter part of the game. JORDANLIVE
• A win, is a win, is a win! The sad thing is it won’t mean a thing if we don’t beat Oregon. . . . P.S. If the BIG THREE want to leave their mark on the history of UA hoops, they will all come back next year. . . . All the cool kids are doin’ it in football – Tebow (Florida), Bradford (Oklahoma) McCoy (Texas). TOIA3
• Good Win: Except for Horne. Where are the offensive boards for second and third shots? They are needed to win. JCS