Cats vow to toughen up

Chase B'inger will be around next year. His trainer confirmed that Noodles isn't quite ready for the NBA:

"I know he's not ready," (Trent) Suzuki said. "He can't guard Kobe Bryant. He can't even guard Kyle Weaver" of Washington State.

Let's hope the entire team is committed to the new toughness regime.

Lute in good company

Lute Olson was joined by good friends Bobby Knight and Coach K in the "One and Done" club. The three coaching legends were booted from the NCAA tournament just as the fun was starting.

Wait 'til next year

With yesterday's drubbing by Purdue, Arizona Basketball v.2006-07 is over. Finally. Not the way Ivan or Shakur pictured it, I'm sure, when they started their careers here. Here are a few reasons we had the season we did:

• Shakur was not the kind of player we all thought he was. The freshman "Golden Child" turned into another false point guard.
• We thought were tough. We weren't.
• Not enough depth. Either the bench didn't develop for the entire season or the talent just isn't there.
• And what about Lute? You know the talk is going to be "he's too old...he's lost it...his age hurts us in recruiting.." The guy only needs 19 more wins to reach 800 career victories, so let's make sure he gets them here.
• We struggled without JMac and got too little too late.
• No passion. The team just didn't seem to care about the game, at least not as much as all those of us cheering them on.
  
• Bad Karma. When Williams declared Zona as the "Standard in the Pac10 against which all others are judged" it spelled the beginning of the end of the season. It figures it would happen in the city of Voodoo.

So another basketball season wraps up and we can start thinking Wildcat Football again! Life is always good in Wildcat Country.

Here's the first sign that the end is near - Don King to meet with the Pope.

Agent Zero Update

Wilma found this great video about Gilbert and his drive to excel. And what a cute baby picture....
Oh - check out Hibachi's NBA Best Blog. Or this one even.

Tourney Time!

It's getting down to crunch time in the bracket challenge, and I can't wait to see who the other players are picking to take it all. How many of us picked the Cats to get past Purdue?

• Need help with your picks? - here are the brackets of some SI sportswriters to give you some ideas. Here's another set. I wonder if Bob Barker is going to play again this year?
• Dillon blows - more than 0.08, that is. Looks like we'll be going into the tourney short one defensive stopper. Like our offense needs any more pressure, right?
• Inconsistency is AZ's consistency - that pretty much sums it up. I know we can put two games together, though. And so does this guy.
  
• Tips for an office pool - and all perfectly legal.
• Whoo Purdue - here's Lute's take on the Boilermakers.
• Bobby Wade update - here's what the former UA receiver is doing these days. Vacation in Barbados? Nice.
• Iggy is 76er's new AI - and he's starting to come into his own these days.
  

So Niagara played itself in to the tourney tonight - welcome aboard, Purple Eagles.

Is it Thursday yet?

The Man Behind the Madness

We've all heard of the Sagarin Rankings, so here's the story of the man behind it all.

Utt Bugly

That's about the only way to describe yesterday's PAC10 tourney game against Oregon.  Since I was working, I had Brian Jeffries on the radio, telling me for a couple of hours how much the Cats sucked in LA.  I don't know if the new uniforms went to their heads (or cut off the circulation), but if we see a repeat performance next week in the Big Dance we'll be back in the "one and done" circle of friends.  No heart, no brains - Lute's got to figure out a way to get these kids back on track, pronto.  And, no - I don't care that UCLA and Duke both lost yesterday, too.  We're talking about the Cats here.

• Miles Simon - Q&A with the Wildcat Asst. Coach
• Daniel Schlereth - UA's closer on the mound leads Batcats to Hawaii.  How come I didn't see this road trip coming??
• What's Your Seed? - this writer puts AZ as the #6 seed in the San Antonio Regional.  Is he dreaming?  I say no higher than an 8 seed.
• Nic Costa sighting - former Cat QB signs with the Toronto Argonauts.  Last seen scrambling to the border.

Go Cats!

Get Your Brackets Here

It's easy to get in on the Family Pool Bracket Challenge. Go to this link:
http://catscratchfever.mayhem.sportsline.com/e
You'll need the group password, which is - what else- wilbur

Create a profile if you're a new player (or can't remember last year's login) then wait for the pairings to be announced. Don't forget - $10 a bracket.

And remember - it pays to be bad. Your money refunded if you come in dead last.

Who are these guys?

Five straight road wins (total margin - 22 pts), a season-ending sweep of the Bay, and the PAC10 tourney dead ahead. Are these Cats actually thriving on the mostly self-inflicted challenges they face daily? It's been crazy being a fan, too. Poor Wilma - I haven't heard her say "Gosh Darn!" this much in a loooong time.

Put time back on the clock

The NCAA decided that trying to shorten the game of football was futile, so the rules revert back to pre-2006 standards or starting the clock on the snap of the ball, not on change of possession. Smart move. As a fan, I don't want a quick game. I've waited all week (sometimes longer) to be at the game, and I don't want it to be over in 3 hours. Give me overtime!
Also, kick-offs will be moved back 5 yards (to the 30-yard line), which should add a little excitement to the game as well. Does that mean we'll have fewer footballs to toss out of the South endzone??

Favorite Wilbur

Nice Shirt

There is mention of the UA/Oregon game in this column, but I just thought that the fan's shirt was priceless.

Red Road Uni's Help Cats Find Their Mojo

After going 0-4 in close games this season the Cats finally win one. It's also nice to play against a team that is struggling just like AZ has done this year. Wasn't it sweet to hold Brooks to just 6 points? That rumbling sound you hear is the bandwagon loading up. Again.

• Quacked up - Seeing Aaron Brooks with a bandage on his cheek and Coach Kent with his left shoulder useless was kind of a strange ending, though.
• Batcats roll - Starting off 7-0 this season gives hopes for the season. I hope this doesn't work like the old announcer jinx on free-throw shooters.
• Commitment to Excrement - the Sun Dribbles continue to flame out, big-time.
• Ivan to Win - I just liked the headline of this article. And what a shot by Ivan.
  

Agent Zero Saves DC

I couldn't believe it when I saw this article in Time Magazine on Mr. Arenas. You know you've hit the big time when Time is on your side.

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Tarred, Heeled, Declawed, Redemption

Wilbur here has been MIA for the past week, much like the Wildcats have been.  After suffering through the meltdown against Carolina last week, then watching a rare home loss to WSU (giving the Cougs their first season sweep of the Cats - ever!), I admit I was a little concerned as I prepared to watch today's game against Washington.  The Cats psyche was to the fragile state, shooting percentages were lower than low, and fans were jumping off the bandwagon faster than partners off Paris Hilton.  Turns out the Huskies were just what Dr. Lute ordered, as the Cats pounded UDub for a 30-point win.  And this in an early morning game for a team that can't seem to wake up late enough.  The confidence gained from today's win will be much needed for the road trip to the Oregon schools next week.  Have the Cats got their mojo back?  Time will tell, but a good showing for the rest of the season will be a requisite going into the PAC10 tourney and beyond.  Go Cats!

• Student section disappointing - empty seats don't go unnoticed at McKale.
• J-Mac gives the spark - coming off the bench for this game, Jawann fired up the Cats with an emotional performance.
• Jordan's the Man - Jordan Hill has starting playing as old as he looks.  What a force he's become on the inside.
• BatCats win opener - Coach Lopez's shutout Gonzaga in season opener, and come just 3 outs shy of a no-hitter.  Yeah!
  
• What UA & UConn have in common? - they're both storied programs that are in trouble this year.  At least we're in good company.
• Stoops adds receivers coach - Darrell Wyatt joins the staff and gets excited about the new offense.
• Luke Walton and the Hawaiian Pipeline - convinces his cousin, Kaniela Tuipulotu, to commit to UA football.  What am I missing here?  Whatever, Tui's listed as the number 1 prospect in the island state.
• PAC10 overrated? - this guy thinks so.  Figures that he lives in St. Louis.
• Two former Cats in the Super Bowl - that makes six games out of the last seven to feature former Cats.  Go Bears!

Go Cats!  The bandwagon is loading up again.

More Gilbert

I just can't get enough of this guy. Read about some of his pranks here.

More from the Hibachi

Gilbert Arenas says he'd give up one year in the NBA if he could go back to college just to play Duke. Ever since Coach K and others cut him from the national team last summer, Agent Zero has been on a Revenge Tour.

Cats Swagger while Sun Dribbles Stagger

What a great night last night.  Wilma and I celebrated our 37th anniversary in style, taking in the movie Dreamgirls before hustling over to Rookies Sports Bar in Oceanside to watch the Cats pummel ASwho.  Just before tipoff, a young man wearing a Wildcat cap sat down at a nearby table.  "Go Cats!" I said to him, whereby he scooted over and joined us to watch the game on one of the big screens which we'd already requested the game be shown on.  Turns out this wasn't just any young man.  "My girlfriend is Chase Budinger's sister," he said, which immediately endeared him to Wilma and I.  We talked about Chase quite a bit, and learned even more about the Wildcats' freshman phenom.  Soon after the game started, another couple decked out in Wildcat gear walked in.  "Is this the Wildcat section?," the gentleman asked.  "Go Cats!," was the response, so they joined, too.  Turns out the husband works in the UA Athletics department, and he and his wife were spending the week at the beach, too.  Not only that, but his wife went to the same high school as Wilbur, Rincon HS in Tucson.  The party really kicked off then, and the five of us easily made as much noise as the UA student section does for most games.  The 24-point victory over ASwho made it all the sweeter.
If you're reading this, Frank - thanks again for the beers.

• Mohamed out indefinitely - we heard the announcers say that a Wildcat had been taken to the hospital with a concussion, but didn't find out much else until today.  We all wish him a speedy recovery.
• Marcus Williams' X-ray experience - according to this article, Marcus had to wait 3 hours at UCLA Medical Center for wrist X-rays after last week's loss.  Ex-Bruin Don MacLean went to his own private physician instead of waitng in the ER when he was a student there.  The good news is the X-rays were negative, much like the whole experience in LA.
• How's your trivia? - check out the trivia question in this article.
• Tired legs, bad defense - interesting take in this SI article about Arizona's short bench.
• National game of the week - and it's at McKale.  UA vs UNC.  This Saturday.  In Highdef.  Be there.

Agent Zero for Hire

Gilbert Arenas, the human highlight reel, is looking for something more. Something more to go along with his game-winning shots and hot sound bites. He'd like some commercial endorsements.

Still, Arenas hasn't busted through to the upper tier of marketable
players in the NBA despite the dazzling performances, the MVP-caliber
numbers and the long-range buzzer-beaters that now are part of his
nightly routine.


Don't let the hibachi cool off just yet, Gilbert. Your time is coming.

Rivalry Night

Herb Sendak gets his first taste of the UA/ASSu rivalry tonight, and signs point to another lopsided loss for those hated Sun Dribbles. Wilma and I will be watching the "game" at Rookies, a sports bar here in Oceanside, celebrating our 37th anniversary in style. I was checking the odds earlier this morning and the Cats are anywhere from a 17-point favorite to a No Line, meaning no competition.