Citizen Staff Writer
UA HOOPS
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
Talk about a no-brainer. Arizona basketball junior guard Nic Wise was named the Pac-10 player of the week Monday.
Wise led UA to victories over USC and No. 11 UCLA by averaging 26.5 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.0 assists. He shot 70.8 percent from the field (17 of 24) and 62.5 from 3-point range (5 of 8) in the two wins.
UA has won seven in a row overall, including six straight in Pac-10 play.
Against USC, Wise had 27 points, hitting 8 for 11 from the floor. He also had three rebounds and four assists.
Against UCLA, he continued his torrid pace. He had 26 points for his sixth 20-point game this season.
It’s the first time Wise has been named the conference player of the week.
“It’s a pleasure to watch Nic play,” said UA interim coach Russ Pennell after the win over UCLA. “He is fearless, aggressive, and whenever we’re going to be going up against a good point guard, he is always stepping up.”
For the season, Wise is averaging 14.7 points and 4.6 rebounds.
Just missed
Arizona hasn’t been in the rankings since Jan. 7, 2008, when it was No. 24 in the USA TODAY/ESPN poll.
The Wildcats missed again this week when they came in at 31st in that poll. UA also missed in the Associated Press poll, coming in at No. 29.
UA travels Sunday to Tempe to take on Arizona State, the highest-ranked Pac-10 team in the polls at No. 11 (coaches) and No. 14 (AP).
The other ranked Pac-10 teams are UCLA (15, coaches; 20, AP) and Washington (19, coaches; 22 AP).
Wildcats-UW time set
There is finally a time set for the Arizona-Washington game in Seattle on Feb. 28.
Fox Sports Net will broadcast the game nationally beginning at 1 p.m. Tucson time.
The game has been a “to be announced” contest all season.
Arizona’s final two regular season home games have yet to get designated times. UA closes the regular season against California (March 5) and Stanford (March 7).
Unscientific guesses
In the latest ESPN Bracketology report, Joe Lunardi still has UA as a 12th seed and one of the last teams placed in the tournament.
UA is projected to play Ohio State in the first round. He had the Wildcats in the same position last week.
Jerry Palm, writing for Sportsline.com, has UA as No. 9 seed, playing No. 8 Florida in its opener.
Steve Rivera’s e-mail: srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
UA HOOPS
Arizona (18-8, 8-5) at No. 14 Arizona St. (20-5, 9-4)
When: 8 p.m. Sunday
TV: FSNA
Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5 FM