Citizen Staff Writer
THE PRESS
STEVE RIVERA
srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
Arizona vs. California: Steve Rivera’s breakdown of the game • Wildcat notes • Players to watch
BACKCOURT
Advantage: California
Cal has one of the most underrated backcourts in the West. Who would have thought Jerome Randle and Patrick Christopher would be so good? Together they combine for 35 points, with Randle averaging 18 of those. They’ll be tough to stop in the backcourt. UA will have to extend its defense. But UA’s Nic Wise and Kyle Fogg have played well for Arizona. Not sure, however, if Wise and Fogg can stop Cal’s duo.
FRONTCOURT
Advantage: Arizona
Depending on the health and mobility of Jordan Hill, UA should win this battle. Cal doesn’t have anyone near the basket that can stop a healthy Hill. And Cal plays at a fast enough tempo where Chase Budinger will feel comfortable. Jamal Boykin is the best Cal big man. UA should dominate on the boards.
DEFENSE
Advantage: Arizona
UA’s defense can get aggressive when it wants to, depending on the opponent. Cal is the perfect opponent. But UA will have to extend the zone on the perimeter and not allow penetration to the basket. Cal’s field goal percentage defense (45.2) ranks seventh in the league; UA is at 43.0 – good enough for fourth in the conference.
OUTCOME
This will be a close game for about a half. Cal is unquestionably one of the more improved teams in the league. UA must play like its life depends on a win. UA doesn’t call it a must-win, but I do.
Prediction: UA by 9
UA-CAL SERIES AT A GLANCE
All-time meetings: UA leads 51-26
Pac-10 meetings: UA leads 48-16
Longest UA win streak: 10 (2000-04)
Longest Cal win streak: 5 (1936-58)
Current series streak: Cal, 1 in a row
Earlier this season: Cal 69, UA 55 (Jan. 2 in Berkeley)
Last season: UA 79, Cal 75 (Jan. 19 in Berkeley); UA 83, Cal 73 (Feb. 14 in Tucson)
First meeting: Cal 38, UA 30 (1924 in Oakland)
NOTEBOOK
More honors ahead for Lute
It will be a busy couple of weeks for former Arizona coach Lute Olson. Tonight there’s the UA tribute during halftime of the UA-Cal game. Next week, he will be honored at the Pac-10 Tournament in Los Angeles.
“I’m glad to see they are doing something for him – it’s well deserved,” said Cal coach Mike Montgomery, a longtime friend of Olson’s and a longtime friendly rival while at Stanford from 1986-2004. “He and I go back a long way. I hope everyone appreciates the job he’s done for Arizona basketball.”
Interim coach Russ Pennell agreed, saying he hopes there is more than just the ceremony. And there is. UA will hold a get-together in August with former players for a dinner and ceremony.
“What this guy has done for this university, he deserves it,” Pennell said. “I really believe, as time goes by, people are going to see exactly what he did here, and how special that is.
“Sometimes you can get calloused to greatness. When you look at the history of college basketball, they should build a wing in Springfield, Mass., for UA basketball and what he has done in college basketball.”
STEVE RIVERA, srivera@tucsoncitizen.com
ASU’s Pendergraph calls out his teammates
Emotional and angry, senior Arizona State forward Jeff Pendergraph called out his teammates after their overtime loss at Washington State.
“I know what we have to do to win,” Pendergraph said, “and I’m trying to get everybody else to realize it. It’s not like (I was saying) ‘I know what I have to do and I’m fine and my teammates suck.’ . . . We’re just so close to figuring out what that little, itty-bitty piece is that we need to go from being really good to being a great, championship team.”
Thursday night, No. 21 ASU hosts Stanford, which fell to the Sun Devils 90-60 in January, when Pendergraph scored a career-high 31 points.
The Arizona Republic
The Bounce: Cal as close to a must-win as it gets
UP NEXT
Thursday: California (21-8, 10-6) at Arizona (18-11, 8-8), 8:30 p.m. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5 FM
Saturday: Stanford (16-11, 5-11) at Arizona, 5:30 p.m. TV: FSNA. Radio: 1290 AM, 107.5 FM
How teams match up
Arizona Cal
71.6 Points per game 75.1
47.2 Field goal % 49.0
67.3 Points allowed per game 67.2
43.0 Foes’ field goal % 43.7
Tickets still available
UA says some tickets are left for Thursday’s 8:30 p.m. game vs. Cal and Saturday’s 5:30 p.m. game vs. Stanford at McKale. Call 621-2287 or go to McKale ticket office from 9 a.m.- 5 p.m.
PAC-10 STANDINGS
School Conf. Overall
Washington 13-4 22-7
UCLA 11-5 22-7
Arizona State 10-6 21-7
California 10-6 21-8
Arizona 8-8 18-11
Washington State 8-9 16-13
USC 7-9 16-12
Oregon State 7-9 13-14
Stanford 5-11 16-11
Oregon 2-14 8-20
PAC-10 SCHEDULE
Thursday’s games: California at Arizona, 8:30 p.m.; Stanford at Arizona State, 6:30 p.m.; Oregon State at UCLA, 8:30 p.m.; Oregon at USC, 8:30 p.m.
Saturday’s games: Stanford at Arizona, 5:30 p.m.; California at Arizona State, TBA: Oregon State at USC, TBA: Oregon at UCLA, TBA: Washington State at Washington, TBA
PAC-10 LEADERS
Scoring
1. James Harden, ASU 20.8
2. Jordan Hill, UA 18.2
Rebounding
1. Jon Brockman, Washington 11.3
2. Jordan Hill, UA 11.0
Assists
1. Jerome Randle, California 5.1
6. Nic Wise, UA 4.6
Blocks
1. Taj Gibson, USC 2.8
2. Jordan Hill, UA 1.9
Jordan Hill
I can’t remember the last time any Cat played with as much courage as Hill last weekend against Washington after he suffered that left ankle sprain. I believe Hill will play Thursday in a game that UA needs.
Brandon Lavender
He got into the game last week against Washington and didn’t disappoint. He may get another opportunity Thursday against Cal. UA could use the help off the bench, in fact it could have used help all season.
Jerome Randle
Randle is the star of the Bears. Cal doesn’t have a lot of stars (that’s what makes this team special), but Randle has come out of the blue with quick moves and a rainbow shot. Short in stature (5 foot 10) but long on ability.
Patrick Christopher
Last week on ESPN, former coach Bobby Knight raved about Christopher’s athleticism and his ability to shoot the fade-away jumper. If he gets going Thursday, UA will find it tough to stop him.