Roundup: Arizona has unfinished business

Mar 19, 2015

We are finally ready for the real first round of the NCAA tournament, and Arizona kicks things off for the Pac-12 with an 11:10 a.m. PT jaunt against Texas Southern (TNT). There’s nobody better to check in with Pac-12.com contributor Adam Butler, who reminds us that Arizona has some “unfinished business” to take care of. Great read.

UCLA is up next with SMU on the ledger (12:10 p.m., TruTV), and Zach Helfand of the Los Angeles Times thinks Isaac Hamilton can be the X-factor for the Bruins.

Utah rounds out the Pac-12 Thursday with a 4:25 p.m. PT/5:25 p.m. MT tilt against Stephen F. Austin, and Kyle Goon writes that Utah is trying to avoid the upset. Always tough to take out those pesky 12 seeds.

Need a reason to feel optimistic Friday, Oregon fan? The Oregonian gives us 10 reasons why Oregon can beat Oklahoma State.

Props to Arizona State for knocking off UCONN in the first round of the NIT on the road. The Sun Devils beat the defending national champs 68-61 thanks to 22 points from Shaquielle McKissic.

Kyle Ringo examines how Askia Booker and Dustin Thomas are leaving the program. Colorado defeated Gardner-Webb 87-78 in its first-round CBI game Wednesday night.

Learn a thing or two about the teams joining Oregon State women’s basketball in the Corvallis sub-regional. South Dakota State, George Washington and Gonzaga will be lacing ‘em up at Gill alongside the Beavs.

Washington State women’s basketball lost its WNIT opener to Eastern Washington 67-65 on a layup with 0.4 seconds left. Still, props for the Cougs for making their second consecutive postseason appearance for the first time in school history.

Scott Hanson of the Seattle Times features Washington women’s golfer Jennifer Yang. The senior has led the Dawgs to a No. 1 national ranking despite losing two of their top players to the LPGA Tour midseason.

Mike Vernon informs us that Cal quarterback Jared Goff is taking on a greater leadership role. He is entering his third spring in Berkeley; seems like just yesterday that he was a frosh. These kids grow up so fast…