3.07.14 by Arizona Daily Wildcat

GAME DAY

FRIDAY, MARCH 7, 2014 • PAGE 20 TWITTER.COM/WILDCATSPORTS

Red-hot Ducks host Wildcats Say hello is ninth with 74.3). The 2014 Wildcats could become the first UA squad to lead the conference in scoring defense since Arizona joined the league in 1978. The mark of 58.5 is the Wildcats’ best since holding foes to 55.3 points per game in 1950-51. The 2014 statistics and their Pac-12 rankings are through the March 5 games.

JAMES KELLEY College basketball fans are often puzzled by Oregon’s unique court, but the Ducks themselves have been just as much of an enigma this season. On Saturday, No. 3 Arizona men’s basketball (28-2, 15-2 Pac-12 Conference) faces UO in Eugene, Ore., to close out the regular season at 2 p.m. MST on CBS. The Ducks (21-8, 9-8) have won six games in a row, but that comes after a five-game losing streak in January. Oregon almost beat Arizona in Tucson, but after losing at ASU last month, it dropped to 3-8 in the Pac-12. The Ducks’ win streak, especially their 85-78 win over fellow borderline team ASU on Tuesday, looks to have them on the right side of the bubble, but a win over Arizona could clinch them a spot in the Field of 68. In their latest bracket projections, CBS Sports has the Ducks as a nine seed in the NCAA tournament and ESPN and USA Today have Oregon as a 10th seed. Arizona’s a No. 1 seed in all of those projections. With only the Pac-12 tournament left until the Big Dance, the Wildcats are expected to lock up a No. 1 seed with a win over the Ducks, if they haven’t already. The Ducks are 15-3 at home. Last season in Eugene, the Ducks snapped Arizona’s 14game win streak to open the season. Arizona is 0-1 all-time in Matthew Knight Arena and 3-2 in its last five games at UO.

Who to watch:

Joseph Young –junior guard –#3 – 6-foot-2, 185 pounds “Mighty Joe Young” is fourth in the Pac-12 in scoring, with 18.6 per game. That is 0.1 points behind the two players tied for second and 2.2 points behind first place, Roberto Nelson of Oregon State. Young, who had 14 points, led the Ducks in scoring in the Tucson game despite missing time due to an injury.

Fun fact:

TYLER BAKER / THE DAILY WILDCAT

FRESHMAN ELLIOTT PITTS (24) and UO sophomore Elgin Cook (23) try to get a rebound in Arizona’s 67-65 win against Oregon on Feb. 7. The two teams will face off again on Saturday. Cook leads the Ducks in shooting with a percentage of .553.

Something’s gotta give:

Oregon is No. 1 in the Pac12 in offense with 82.9 points

dailywildcat.com/sports

HOCKEY LOSES IN FIRST ROUND AT NATIONALS WOMEN’S HOOPS’ SEASON ENDS GYMCATS HOST OREGON STATE

per game (Arizona is eighth with 74.1) and the UA is first in defense, allowing only 58.5 (UO

SCORE CENTER SPARTAN VICTORY No. 22 Michigan State 86 No. 24 Iowa 76

LAC DROWNS LAL Clippers 142 Lakers 94

“

Oregon’s unique court is a tribute to its national champion team, the “Tall Firs,” which won it all in 1939. It is meant to evoke “Oregon’s beautiful environment” according to matthewknightarena.com. Opponents facing Oregon on its home court will find themselves “Deep in the Woods,” the site continues, but the gym, which opened in 2011, has more than 200 TVs.

— Follow James Kelley @jameskelley520

TWEET TO NOTE

“RT” or favorite if you’ll be at @ArizonaSandVB Opening Day [today] at Jimenez Field. 1:30 p.m.: Ribbon Cutting 2:00 p.m.: Opening Match —@AZATHLETICS, Arizona Athletics

to sand volleyball, Arizona TYLER KECKEISEN The UA’s newest athletic team, sand volleyball, will debut this weekend by hosting the two–day Arizona Invitational. The Wildcats will begin their inaugural season at 2 p.m. Friday against Arizona Christian. The Arizona Sand Volleyball Courts are at Jimenez Field, on the corner of Enke Drive and Campbell Avenue, near McKale Center. Admission is free and fans are encouraged to bring lawn chairs and blankets, as there are no bleacher seats. Arizona’s 20th varsity sport features 13 players, nine of whom were members of the indoor team in the fall. “I think our team has been meshing very well,” said Madi Kingdon, who was named to the All-Pac 12 team last season. “All of us have been coming out and practicing hard almost every day. We are looking forward to starting the season, and I think we are all in a good mindset now.” On Saturday, Arizona plays Grand Canyon at 10 a.m. and ASU at 4 p.m. Arizona head coach Steve Walker said he has been very pleased with the progress the Wildcats have made. “The team has been meeting my daily expectations of coming in, being willing to learn, and going hard every single day to improve,” Walker said. Junior Jane Croson , who finished second on the indoor team with 300 kills, said the wind can be a factor moving outdoors.

SAND VOLLEYBALL, 20

‘Like’ us on Facebook facebook.com/dailywildcat

DAILYWILDCAT.COM