Roundup: The Arizonas rule the road
21-0. Arizona keeps getting every team’s best shot and Arizona keeps on getting W’s. Last night was but another example as Arizona is still perfect after grinding out a narrow win at Stanford 60-57. Truly remarkable defensive performance by both teams, but especially so from the road warriors, who held Stanford scoreless for more than eight minutes in the second half.
Cardinal supporters are shaking their heads in disappointment after that one because Stanford missed a golden opportunity to upset No. 1 Arizona. Very tough loss to take, but the Farm Boys will now have to regroup and try to get Arizona State on Saturday.
Arizona State kept the road dominance going as the Sun Devils sweated out an OT victory over Cal 89-78. Credit Jermaine Marshall for being nails in crunch time and hitting a triple to send it to free basketball. Huge win for the Forks.
Oregon is getting ready to host a big one against UCLA tonight (6 p.m. PT, ESPN2), but the game now has an aura of intrigue around it for the Ducks after Johnathan Loyd broke his nose in practice Tuesday and apparently underwent surgery. Hope to see him on the floor.
Despite following up a 22-point performance against Stanford with a bagel against Cal, UCLA’s Tony Parker is not frustrated by a mercurial sophomore season. He’ll need to stay out of foul trouble tonight, which has been an issue for him this season as he has seen increased minutes.
Cal women’s basketball has a huge roadie tonight at Stanford, and Lindsay Gottlieb is probably pretty pleased that a couple of signees in Mikayla Cowling and Gabby Green were named McDonald’s All-Americans yesterday (UCLA had three signees named to the McDonald’s All-American game as well). But yeah, it’s Battle of the Bay Part I tonight with No. 21 Cal at No. 4 Stanford; 8 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks. Don’t miss it y’all.
Before that one we got Beavs-Trojans in men’s hoops live from Corvallis at 6 p.m. PT on the Pac-12 Networks, and as the USC games approaches, the Beavers are eager to end their second-half woes.
The Los Angeles Times is reporting that quarterback Max Wittek will transfer from USC. Upon graduating at the end of the semester, he will be able to play somewhere else immediately.
On the women’s hardwood last night, Utah’s hot streak continued with a victory over Colorado 58-55. After starting Pac play 0-5, the Fighting Levretses have won three of their last four.
Tough times for both basketball squads in Boulder, but here’s some news that might cheer Buffs fans up: Colorado will host ESPN’s college basketball “GameDay” show for the Feb. 22 contest against Arizona. Always a fun time when these two teams meet.
Time to hit up the #BellWell once again, for he pens a story about Washington women’s soccer goalkeeper Megan Kufeld being at the top of her class. In addition to netminding, Kufeld carries a 3.96 GPA as a molecular biology major and won UW’s president’s medal as the school’s top student in her class. And what have you done with your life?
Jacob Thorpe writes that Washington State center Jordan Railey’s low minutes are due to a lack of offensive production. Although he is averaging just 3.0 points per game, the Iowa State transfer has shown he can score, pouring in 13 in a win over Purdue earlier this season.