game Day • FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2014
wildcat weekend • 17
Beavers’Oregon defensive dam could hold Cats State had a rough start to the season but is now off to its best Pac-12 Conference start since 1998-99
game advantage over Oregon State in the all-time series and have beaten the Beavers in each of the last five contests. Before that, however, Oregon State had taken three from Arizona — defeating the UA in both matches of 2010 and the first matchup of 2011.
evan rosenfeld Oregon State infiltrates McKale Center on Sunday night with its best conference start in 15 years. The UA should not take this game lightly, as just last week the Beavers swept the Los Angeles schools at home, which included a 71-67 win over UCLA on Sunday. Since starting conference play with a 0-2 record, Oregon State has worked its way back into the middle of the Pac-12. Going into this week’s games, Oregon State held a 5-4 record in conference matches — the first time since 1999 that the Beavers finished above .500 in their first nine conference contests. As of late, the Beavers have found a rhythm on offense. OSU is one of the hottest shooting teams in the Pac-12, and heading into its trip to Arizona is one of the best shooting teams in the conference. Oregon State’s Roberto Nelson, Eric Moreland and Hallice Cooke are some of the best conference shooters, and will be a offensive threat on Sunday. Freshman guard Cooke hasn’t had the hype that Arizona freshmen Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson have had, but Cooke has quietly emerged as one of the best freshmen in the conference, despite not being a starter or
Who to watch out for:
Roberto Nelson — senior guard — #55 — 6-foot-4; 198 pounds Nelson is a sharp-shooting, scoring machine. The Santa Barbara, Calif., native recently became the sixth Beaver to score 1,500 points in his career. Nelson scored 20-plus points in six straight contests this season and has scored double digits in more than 36 games this season.
Fun Fact:
tyler baker/The Daily Wildcat
Fans start to take their seats before the Arizona vs. Oregon basketball game tips off at McKale Center on Thursday. Arizona won 67-65 against Oregon and plays Oregon State on Sunday at 5 p.m.
receiving many minutes at the beginning of the season. Collier and Moreland were suspended to start the season. Collier missed only the season opener while Moreland sat out the Beaver’s first 12 games for breaking team rules. The two big
men’s presence was missed as the Beavers lost their first game to Coppin State and four of their first 12 games. It took some time for Moreland to find a role in a rotation but since returning, he has clearly been one of the best players
on the team. An established rebounder coming into his junior season, he has become one of the best in the country. Without Moreland, the Beavers would be well behind Arizona in the conference standings. The Wildcats hold a 56-20
Prior to their game Thursday at ASU, Nelson, Collier and center Angus Brandt had combined to average 48.6 points per game — the highest total by three teammates in the Pac-12.
Prediction:
No. 2 Arizona defeats Oregon State 77-71
— Follow Evan Rosenfeld @EvanRosenfeld17
Wildcat chat: Softball’s journalist roberto payne
& Q
Arizona softball opens its season today with the start of a three-game series against Southern Mississippi. The Wildcats host the Golden Eagles today at Hillenbrand Memorial Stadium at 6 p.m., Saturday at 2 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m. The games will be streamed live on Pac-12.com. Newfound depth and the return of redshirt senior pitcher Kenzie Fowler from injury should jumpstart the Wildcats. Fowler said she is excited to finally get back on the field after having to medical redshirt last season and answered some questions about herself and this year’s squad.
A
As a senior, what kind of leadership role are you going to undertake this year? There are five seniors, me being obviously the oldest. From us seniors, and combining with the juniors, we have a good core of upperclassmen that have been there before … and can lead the new girls.
Why did you become a journalism major and how has that shaped your interactions with the media? I kind of became a journalism major because I gave so many interviews my freshman year when we were at the [Women’s College] World Series. I thought all the sports
journalism was really interesting. It’s weird being on both sides, but it’s been a cool major. Have you given any thought to what you want to do after softball is over? Hopefully a career in sports media. Whether it’s in front of the camera, behind the camera … there’s a lot of options I have. I think I want to do too many things, so I need to kind of focus it down to one thing. But it is coming; softball will end at some point. Hopefully not too soon.
— Follow Roberto Payne @HouseOfPayne555
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