Poor outside shooting ruins UA's bid for Pac-10 repeat, keeps UCLA's season alive

LOS ANGELES ÷ The Wildcats and Bruins both entered the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament playing possibly their best basketball of the season.

The only difference was what the teams were playing for.

No. 1 Arizona (25-3 overall, 17-1 Pac-10) has all but assured itself a top seed in the NCAA tournament and played to repeat as champions of a tournament their head coach opposes. [Read article]

LOS ANGELES ÷ A lot has been said about how the Wildcats don't care too much about the Pacific-10 Conference Tournament.

Since Arizona lost to UCLA in overtime yesterday afternoon, 96-89, many people around the Staples Center blamed the loss purely on motivation, or lack thereof.

For example, the team arrived in Los Angeles at 5:30 p.m. on Wednesday, making them the only team to not practice in the arena that day. [Read article]

Four of Arizona's best will travel to the indoor track and field finals in Arkansas this weekend with championship aspirations weighing on their minds, arms and feet.

Both the men's and women's squads will be sending two athletes to the Randal Tyson Track Center in Fayetteville, Ark. today and tomorrow to compete in the NCAA Indoor Track and Field Championships.

Leading the charge into the 25th state is defending NCAA pole vault champion Amy Linnen. Linnen, a junior, currently holds the NCAA's top mark of the indoor season with a leap of 14 feet 5 inches. [Read article]

If you're not familiar with Wagner college, (enrollment 2,150), you're not alone. Neither are most of the Wildcats.

"I had never heard of it before," center fielder Terrence Taylor said.

But that didn't stop Arizona (15-7) from getting to know the visiting Seahawks by pasting a 15-0 loss on their guests from Staten Island, N.Y.

Wagner (0-6) starting pitcher Robert Kostic (0-3) received a particularly harsh Sancet Field welcome, getting shelled for seven runs ÷ all earned ÷ on five hits and four walks before coming out of the game after two-thirds of an inning. [Read article]

The last time senior Lovie Jung was batting against Jessica van der Linden, it was the 2002 semi-finals of the College World Series and the game went for 11 innings.

Not as much was at stake yesterday, when the two teams took the field at the KIA Klassic in Fullerton, Calif., but the Seminole wind did not blow in Florida State's (19-8) favor.

After walking in the first inning, Jung followed sophomore Courtney Fossatti's single with a deep homer to center, Jung's 15th of the season. [Read article]

Senior team captain Nikki Beyschau has at times been lost in the talk about the youth of the Arizona gymnastics team, but tonight it's all about her.

Beyschau will bid farewell to the McKale Center when the No. 18 Gymcats host No. 14 Oklahoma (9-6) tonight at 7:30.

Beyschau, who last week was fifth on the bars with 9.825, will be honored in her last home meet. The Glendale native said she is more excited than sad about her last home meet. [Read article]

UA riders dominate at 64th annual rodeo

The Rodeo club had two of its members finish in the top three, including a win in steer wrestling last Saturday at the 64th Annual UA Intercollegiate Rodeo.

Wes Kimble placed third in steer wrestling and second in calf roping while Clint Bucklew won steer wrestling to lead the Wildcats.

Head coach John Marcello öö who has been involved with the 64-year-old event for 35 years öö said he felt the team did well even though Larry Gibbons didn't place as high as expected. [Read article]

The rest of the field takes the court today following UA's matchup with UCLA

No. 4 Arizona State (11-7, 19-10) vs. No. 5 Oregon (10-8, 20-9) Game time: 3:30 p.m.

After getting smoked by Arizona State a week ago, Oregon wants a little revenge in the rubber match. Many experts of "Bracketology" say the Ducks need a win against the Sun Devils to secure a berth in the NCAA Tournament. On the other side, ASU is trying to win 20 games for the first time since 1995, and a win against the Ducks today would accomplish that. A victory would also nearly guarantee a spot in the tournament for a Sun Devil team that has only been dancing twice in the last 21 years. Luke Ridnour, the Pac-10 Player of the Year, could be playing in his last conference game if the Ducks lose. It's been rumored that the Oregon junior point guard will declare for the NBA Draft after the season. For ASU, the Sun Devils have an award winner of their own with freshman player of the year Ike Diogu. [Read article]