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Arizona takes OSU’s best shot literally and knocks Beavers from tournament

by on Mar. 10, 2011, under Sports

Arizona's Derrick Williams defends Oregon State center Joe Burton, ejected in the second half for taking a swipe at Arizona's Kevin Parrom. Burton complained to referees that Arizona played physical with him all game (US Presswire photo/Jayne Kamin/Oncea)

LOS ANGELES — Oregon State center Joe Burton complained to referees that Arizona’s defenders were all over him all game, hence his sucker punch of Arizona’s Kevin Parrom in the second half.

Parrom fell, sprawling on the ground. Replays at Staples Center showed Burton’s swipe at Parrom’s face, prompting boos mostly from the Wildcat contigent. Arizona in turn knocked out Oregon State from the Pac-10 Tournament with a 78-69 victory in front of an announced crowd of 10,782 (Staples seats 19,079).

The 16th-ranked Wildcats (26-6) advance to the semifinals, where they will play upstart USC (19-13) at 7 p.m., Tucson time, Friday. The Trojans defeated California 70-56 in the first quarterfinal game Thursday.

Parrom did not retaliate, which is significant, because he could have been ejected along with Burton when the incident occurred with 10:25 remaining and Arizona leading 60-51. Parrom, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds, started in place of Kyle Fogg, who strained his left quadriceps earlier this week in practice.

Fogg said he did not start because he was unable to practice since Monday. If Parrom retaliated, he probably would have been forced to sit out the USC game per NCAA fighting rules. That would have put Arizona coach Sean Miller more in a bind against a Trojans team that has won six of their last seven games.

“I thought Kevin handled that with a lot of poise,” Miller said. “That’s not always an easy situation to handle.”

Burton was unavailable for comment. Parrom commented briefly on the matter, saying, “I was just being physical. From what I remember, he just hit me. So I just fell and got back up, and you know, nothing.”

Arizona guard LaMont “MoMo” Jones was assessed a technical foul for approaching Burton, but that was offset by Burton’s technical so the Beavers did not attempt a free throw. Parrom made 1 of 2 free throws on the flagrant-foul call. The Wildcats proceeded to score seven more unanswered points to open a 68-51 lead with 2:18 remaining.

When asked if he saw Burton’s swipe at Parrom, Jones said, “Not necessarily. That’s my teammate so I’m going to stand up for him.”

Burton’s biological father, Joe Burton Sr., a former football player at Utah, hardly flinched when he saw the replays at Staples Center of what his son did to Parrom. He smiled and slightly shook his head. The Burtons are part of the Soboba Band of Luiseno Indians.

The younger Burton is the first from his tribe to get a full athletic scholarship to a major university in the 127-year history of the reservation

When Burton was ejected he was a force inside for Oregon State, scoring nine points on 4-of-7 shooting from the field with four assists and five rebounds.

“When you’re the underdog against a No. 1-seeded team and you see the game slipping away, people get frustrated,” said Arizona forward Solomon Hill, who achieved a career-high 11 rebounds to go with his nine points. “I’ve been there myself. You let it get the best of you.

“I don’t think he meant to take it that far. It just got the best of him. Before he could control it, it got too late. It hurt them when he left. He was a big part of their offense. He created things. It got to be more individual than team for him, so yeah, it was a big turning point for us.”

Oregon State coach Craig Robinson took the high road during the postgame press conference.

“I couldn’t see the screen; I just heard the crowd,” he said. “I didn’t see anything. I haven’t seen it, so i can’t even comment on it.

“But it was a physical game, and I am sure there was something leading up to that. But I don’t want to take anything away from the University of Arizona. I don’t want to take anything away from Joe’s play. He was playing a good game up until then, and we certainly missed him in there.”

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  • macjoneszona

    What goes around, comes around regarding the ” cheap-shot ” antics of O.S.U.  Even Sol said last week Robinson’s team was playing dirty in Mc Kale. He said certain conference players will engage in cheap-shots and most of the time the officials miss these ” subtle ” hardwood tactics.
    Also, from my personal observation, O.S.U. was cleverly employing the low-blow game in Corvallis.
    And the Beavers aren’t the only subtle sly dirty low-blow squad in the PAC-10. Because, there’s WASHINGTON, U.C.L.A. and U.S.C.
    I’m just glad Arizona has finally recruited some baller’s whom aren’t intimidated by the likes of the O.S.U.’s, Huskies, Bruins and Trojans.
    Yeah, yeah rough play is a reality in today’s major college hoops ( Nasty Beastly Big East and Big Ten and Big 12 to name a few. ). However, the subtle antics of a Beaver, Bruin, Huskie and Trojan go beyond the issue of fair play.

  • Jack C

    This is about as one-sided an argument as there is.  Kevin Parrom is as cheap-shot as they come, but he has learned to do it on the sly this year.  Parrom did not retaliate to Burton’s slap because he was too busy playing the drama queen to Burton’s retaliation.  That’s right.  Burton was the one retaliating.  It’s always the second guy who gets caught.  Right?  Well Burton didn’t even care if he was caught or not.  He was sick of Parrom’s most recent actions, and he just gave him his due.
    Take the tape back a couple seconds before the incident sometime if you dare.  What you will see is Kevin Parrom punching Burton in the crotch, turning around and giving Burton a hard elbow to the chest.  Burton deserved to be ejected for treating Parrom the way Parrom deserved to be treated.  But don’t believe for a second that the dirtiest player in the Pac 10 is some rag doll angel who just flops when he’s blown on because he’s just some delicate flower who wilts when big, bad evil axis socialists (read: anyone who touches Kevin Parrom) come within three inches of the dirtbag.

    • T.Ram

      Jack C:
      Scoreboard!

      • Jack C

        Meaning what?  I readily admit we lost.  I readily admit that Burton should have been ejected for hitting Parrom in the face.  I also readily admit that video doesn’t lie, and Kevin Parrom is as dirty as they come.  Punching someone in the privates then elbowing them in the throat is just another day at the office for Parrom.  Scoreboard all you want, but I’m speaking to the “we’re such angels” attitude portrayed in this article.  Even the first comment on this thread supports this mentality.  It’s as if people are ignorant to the reality that we have machines which can record these events and play them back for edification.  The picture above shows a clear foul by Williams, unless you believe holding someone’s jersey is not a foul.  But then you would be arguing with NCAA rules, not me.  Parrom was lucky to only get slapped.  He was lucky to have only irked someone who is so nice.  I expect a brawl against USC if he and Arizona front court keep playing the way they did last night and against USC the last time out.  I think Arizona plays these games to their own detriment.  If they weren’t trying so hard to get under their opponents’ skin, they would probably wipe the floor with all comers.  I think they’re that good.  But right now they’re just one Facebook date away from being the same group of punks that is the Washington Huskies.

        • macjoneszona

          Eh bubba, at least you agree that Washington squad are cheap-shot street brawler’s.

    • macjoneszona

      Perhaps Robinson should get a few more wrestlers/boxers whom aren’t as STUPID as Burton. That’s because you are ” speaking on behalf ” of Burton and insinuating that ” he didn’t care if he was caught or not. ” Way to think of your TEAM DE JURE.
      By the way, what’s socialism have to do with O.S.U.’s DIRTY BALLING. If I’m mistaken, isn’t this a college hoops blog.  Wait, I get it. Robinson + President Obama= socialists.
      Well, RIGHT-WING good ol’ boy. You brought the political schtick into the forum.

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