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NBA Draft Notes, May 29: Here Comes DeRozan! And James Harden's Ego

Posted: May 29th 2009 8:45AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Knicks, Timberwolves, Wizards, NBA Draft, NBA Rumors, Thunder

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* At the Chicago combine, players submit to interviews by team personnel. Lots of interviews. On Thursday, Chase Budinger was asked if he has any "friends with benefits" and Ty Lawson learned about an uncle he didn't know he had. The Sacramento Bee's Sam Amick has those stories and more.

* Amick also passes along the new sentiment that Oklahoma City wants USC prospect DeMar DeRozan at No. 3, leaving Ricky Rubio to the Kings at No. 4.

* According to DraftExpress' Jonathan Givony, James Harden canceled interviews with teams outside the top five picks. He will reportedly not work out for the Wolves, who pick No. 6, because Harden's crew believes he will land in OKC at No. 3 or Washington at No. 5. In other news, someone in Harden's crew is a lunatic in thinking it's impossible for the kid to fall to Minnesota or further.

Continue Reading NBA Draft Notes, May 29: Here Comes DeRozan! And James Harden's Ego

NBA Draft Notes, May 26: All Ricky Rubio, All the Time

Posted: May 26th 2009 11:45AM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Clippers, Grizzlies, NBA Draft, Thunder

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* The Oregonian's Geoffrey C. Arnold talks to various GMs about Ricky Rubio's leverage. Meanwhile, the Memphis Commercial-Appeal's Ronald Tillery reports the Grizz met with Rubio agent Dan Fegan in Spain Saturday. C-A columnist Geoff Calkins practically begs Memphis to draft the Spaniard.

* TrueHoop's Henry Abbott investigates the tape on Rubio to get fans' toes a'tingling while splashing a pot of cold water.

* Darnell Mayberry of The Oklahoman talks up the potential of a Clippers-Thunder swap involving Rubio and Blake Griffin. Steve Perrin of Clips Nation attempts to pour cold water on said rumor.

Continue Reading NBA Draft Notes, May 26: All Ricky Rubio, All the Time

NBA FanHouse Mock Draft, Version 1

Posted: May 4th 2009 1:30PM by Tom Ziller (author feed)
Filed under: Clippers, Kings, Timberwolves, Wizards, NBA Draft, Thunder

4 COMMENTS

FanHouse covers the 2009 NBA Draft.

All mock drafts are not created equal. And why would you want them to be? That'd be awful boring, just reading lists of names over and over. At FanHouse, we emphasize the commentary -- so in our mocks we'll (try to) explain why we think certain players fit in their theoretical slots. We will also project our own biases (positive and negative), of course.

At this early stage -- and let's be honest, at every stage -- this is 5% homework, 5% supreme divination, 90% guesswork. (A great endorsement, no?) After the jump, a full first-round mock draft for your ~~amusement~~ bemusement.

Continue Reading NBA FanHouse Mock Draft, Version 1

Louisville Elite But Flawed

Posted: Mar 27th 2009 9:06PM by Dan Graziano (author feed)
Filed under: Big East, Pac-10, Midwest Region

2 COMMENTS

Louisville made sure it was a rough night for Arizona in the Sweet Sixteen

Well, that was authoritative.

Not surprising, though, that the top-seeded Big East regular-season and tournament champion would have no problem whatsoever with a 12-seed from the Pac-10. This was pretty close to a bye into the Elite Eight for Louisville. For the Wildcats to have had a chance, everything would have had to go perfectly for them. And the Cardinals' entire game is based on making sure things don't go perfectly for their opponent.

Continue Reading Louisville Elite But Flawed

On Campus With 'Cinderella' Arizona

Posted: Mar 25th 2009 6:00PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Pac-10, Tourney Fans, Midwest Region

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After winning two tournaments in the NCAA and advancing to the school's first Sweet 16 since 2005, Tucson is buzzing with excitement for a super-size-d Cinderella. We talked with the Arizona Daily Wildcat's associate sports editor Lance Madden about the entire experience (and their cool video of the run).

Continue Reading On Campus With 'Cinderella' Arizona

Save the Last Dance for Arizona

Posted: Mar 11th 2009 10:44AM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Arizona, Pac-10, March Madness

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Update: Is it over? The Wildcats fell to Arizona State 68-56 in the opening round of the Pac-10 tournament.

It was 1983 when Lute Olson first came to Tucson as the head coach of an abysmal basketball program. He had just taken Iowa to the Sweet 16 the year before and was brought to the University of Arizona to turn the Wildcats around. His first season was a rebuilding year. They only won 11 games, missed the NCAA tournament and finished eighth in the Pac-10.

Since that season, Arizona hasn't missed the NCAA tournament, making it 24 straight times.

Now the streak is in jeopardy.

Continue Reading Save the Last Dance for Arizona

Pac-10 Roundup: Arizona Teams Struggle, LA Teams Roll

Posted: Mar 6th 2009 9:48AM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Pac-10, Oregon State

1 COMMENT

On a night when the University of Arizona honored famed coach Lute Olson during halftime, something became very clear as the ceremonial speeches ended and the basketball began. If the Wildcats want to continue their NCAA streak of 25 consecutive tournament appearances, they would need more than an uplifting video (it got dusty in my apartment) and the memory of a coach that has been through a lot the last two years. The Wildcats need a W.

It wasn't happening, as Jerome Randle absolutely murdered the 'Cats in the second half, helping California (22-8, 11-6) improve to third in the Pac-10 with the 83-77 win and put the Wildcats in another uncomfortable position similar to last season -- leaving their March Madness dreams up to chance.

Continue Reading Pac-10 Roundup: Arizona Teams Struggle, LA Teams Roll

Washington Takes Control of Pac-10

Posted: Feb 28th 2009 6:17PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Arizona, Washington, Pac-10

1 COMMENT

It wasn't very pretty, but the Washington Huskies did what they hoped to do: Sweep the Arizona schools and assure the program at least a share of the Pac-10 regular season championship for the first time in nearly a quarter century.

Washington took down Arizona State on Thursday 73-70 in Seattle, and today had the Wildcats come to town in desperate need of one more big win to assure they'd be returning to the NCAA tournament for the 25th straight time. The Wildcats dominated in the first half on the back of Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger, but an injury to Hill in the second half and foul trouble for the 'Cats allowed the Huskies to pull away and take it 83-78.

Continue Reading Washington Takes Control of Pac-10

Arizona Sweeps LA Schools, Brings Excitement Back to Tucson

Posted: Feb 14th 2009 4:30PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Arizona, UCLA, Pac-10

2 COMMENTS

One thing has always haunted the Wildcats -- their inability to finish games.

On Thursday night against Southern California and Saturday against UCLA, the Wildcats again let both teams back in the game before doing something that is very un-Tucson like ... they stepped on some throats.

The win over the Bruins was about streaks, and Arizona continued one while putting the other to rest. UCLA had taken down the Wildcats in eight straight games before Russ Pennell's crew kept it together, winning 84-72 to take their current winning streak to seven.

Continue Reading Arizona Sweeps LA Schools, Brings Excitement Back to Tucson

Arizona Making a Late Charge to Keep NCAA Tournament Streak Alive

Posted: Feb 7th 2009 8:36PM by Shane Bacon (author feed)
Filed under: Arizona, March Madness

3 COMMENTS

Some teams need a kick in the pants to get going. The Arizona Wildcats apparently needed one to the grill.

Since the now famous Facegate, when Houston's Aubrey Coleman placed his foot directly on Chase Budinger's noggin, the Wildcats have been on fire, winning five straight including that one against Houston. The latest was an impressive win Saturday against Oregon in Eugene, making it a sweep for the Wildcats on their road trip after going winless in meaningful road games this season.

Latest College Basketball Photos

Oregon State's head coach Craig Robinson reacts in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game with Arizona State, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona State's Jamelle McMillan (10) steals the ball from Oregon State's Daniel Deane (30) in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona State's Jeff Pendergraph (4) pulls down a rebound as Oregon State's Joey McConnell (12) looks on in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Arizona State's head coach Herb Sendek shouts to his team in the second half of their NCAA college basketball game with Oregon State, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, at Gill Coliseum, in Corvallis, Ore. Arizona State defeated Oregon State 49-38. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)

Duquesne's David Theis (22) celebrates with teammate Aaron Jackson (1) in the final seconds of a 72-68 upset win over Xavier in an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Duquesne fans flood the court after a 72-68 upset of Xavier in an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Ohio State's William Buford, center, shoots over Minnesota's Damian Johnson, left, Al Nolen (0) and Blake Hoffarber (24) during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009, in Columbus, Ohio. Ohio State won 64-58. (AP Photo/Terry Gilliam)

Xavier's B.J. Raymond, left, shots over Duquesne's Melquan Bolding (23) during the first half of an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Duquesne's Aaron Jackson, left, drives past Xavier's Dante Jackson during the second half of an NCAA college basketball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68 with Jackson leading all scorers with 21 points. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Duquesne coach Ron Everhart reacts during the final minute of an NCAA college basketball game against Xavier in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Feb. 7, 2009. Duquesne upset Xavier 72-68. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Continue Reading Arizona Making a Late Charge to Keep NCAA Tournament Streak Alive