DW
the arizona daily wildcat • friday, november 20, 2009
sports Senior Day: See what the UA players have to say before their last game at Arizona Stadium ›› b2 Sports previews: Football isn’t the only Wildcat team in action this weekend ›› b4, B5
dailywildcat.com/sports
Kevin Zimmerman — Sports Editor — 520•626•2956 — sports@wildcat.arizona.edu
One-game season Rose Bowl bid hinges on showdown against the Oregon Ducks
‘GameDay’ Top 10 10 reasons you should go to ‘College GameDay’ and stay for the whole game
10. Be on TV.
“GameDay”is seen by millions, so here’s your chance to get yourself on the small screen.
9. Clever signage.
The“GameDay”crowd is notorious for the signs made by fans, so go to work and make ‘em funny. Eternal fame awaits you.
8. Waking up at 4 a.m.
You’d be hard pressed to find a better reason to wake up when it’s still dark than this one.
7. Morning festivities.
Day-drinking is where it’s at on Saturdays, but have you ever tried incrediblyearly-morning-drinking? It’ll change your life.
6. Wearing Wilbur.
Be there and erupt when Lee Corso (hopefully) puts the Ducks mascot head on, but then takes it off and puts on Wilbur.
5. You gotta’
support the team.
Be there all day and all night. It’ll help the team get pumped and help the program recruit.
Alan Walsh/Arizona Daily Wildcat
If every fan actually does wear red, it’ll be quite a scene. I can’t even imagine how excited it’ll make Brent Musburger.
Jack Hunter/Oregon Daily Emerald
By Tim Kosch Arizona Daily Wildcat ESPN “College GameDay.”The Zona Zoo “redout.”A ticket to the Rose Bowl. A chance to become Pacific 10 Conference champions. All the ingredients to electrify this game are there, but only one thing matters for Arizona: Beat Oregon. “It’s a big game, but even if (“GameDay”) wasn’t coming we’d still go out and do what it takes and give it 100 percent,” said Arizona senior offensive lineman Mike Diaz. Defeating the No. 11 Ducks, who are currently in sole possession of first place in the Pac-10, will not be an easy task for the Wildcats (6-3, 4-2 Pac-10). Oregon (8-2, 6-1 Pac-10) is one of the most wellrounded teams in the conference and boasts one of the most effective offenses in the country. “This is a very challenging week for everybody,” head coach Mike Stoops said.“I think when you look at Oregon play, their athleticism, their skill and their speed really jump out at you. “Defensively, our discipline is going to be tested across the board in our assignments and our ability to slow them down,”he added.“I don’t think you’re going to stop them in the entire contest, that’s very difficult
to do.You’ve got to try and get stops and get turnovers and come up with some big plays on third down.” It sounds like the famous SportsCenter catch phrase,“You can’t stop him, you can only hope to contain him.” The“him”in this case is Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, whose 11 touchdown passes and nine rushing touchdowns have made him one of the most dangerous offensive playmakers in college football. “They’re much more dynamic when they have a quarterback that can read things, that can run, and that can throw,” defensive coordinator Mark Stoops said.“Certainly somebody like Masoli, who is so physical, it definitely is much more difficult to defend with a player like that.” A quarterback so dangerous with his legs puts extra pressure on each defensive player. Defensive linemen have to keep, contain and wrap him up in the backfield and linebackers have to make sure Masoli doesn’t get beyond them. No position has more pressure on it than the defensive backs, though, because they need to be able to defend the pass while also helping with the run. “There’s definitely some pressure (on the defensive backs) because you have to add guys to the run game with the quarterback so there’s definitely
4. Seeing red.
going to be some one-on-one situations that we have to win,” Mark Stoops said.“It’s going to be hard enough to play that one-on-one, especially when you use poor technique like we did last year.” Last year, of course, was the devastating 55-45 loss in Oregon’s Autzen Stadium. The Wildcats surrendered a staggering 45 points in the first half, only to roar back in the second half but fall short. Arizona spent countless hours watching the film of that game this week, figuring out what didn’t work in the first half and what did work in the second half. “Frustrating first half,” Mark Stoops added.“What frustrated me about that game last year is that there were plays we should’ve defended, and didn’t.” An emphasis on defensive fundamentals has been the theme of practice this week, but what about the offense? People have been so quick to praise Oregon’s offense and voice concerns about whether Arizona’s defense that they’re forgotten about“Air Zona.” But sometimes the best defense is a good offense. “Every week you want to go out and put up more points than the other team, especially with Oregon because of the things they do on offense,”said senior wide receiver Terrell Turner.“This is going to be a shootout, we know that. We’re prepared, we’re going to go out and execute and put points on the board.”
3. Greet Oregon’s announcers.
The last time the Ducks were here their TV network announcers called UA fans despicable. Make them do it again.
2. Get a chance to fight a Duck.
Running back LeGarrette Blount fought an opposing player and then tried to fight the crowd after the Ducks lost to Boise State. If getting on TV is your goal, this is the way to go.
1. Storm the field.
If Arizona wins it will be an upset, so party like it’s 2007. —Compiled by Tim Kosch
THANK YOU TO OUR COACHES, PLAYERS, AND FAMILIES FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK
B2
• friday, november 20, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat
SENIOR DAY
a last hurrah at home for the graduating ‘Cats
This game against No. 11 Oregon marks the last time a slew of Wildcat players will take the field in Arizona Stadium. This group of seniors has been through many ups and downs in their careers. Here’s a sample of what some of the coaches and players have to say about Senior Day.
Defensive coordinator Mark Stoops
Outside receivers coach Dave Nichol on his favorite memories:
on his thoughts about this group:
I tell everybody that my favorite Wildcat is Corey Hall and he’s kind of been the rock on the defense. He knows our defense almost as good as some of our coaches … (The seniors) signed their papers to come here after a 3-8 season, you know? Now we’re doing some great things. We went from 3-8 when they signed, to “GameDay” being here and it’s because of guys like him, just being Steady Eddie and doing what he’s supposed to.
I just have a lot of love and a lot of good feelings about these seniors. These guys are great guys, they’ve been through some ups and some downs and I just really appreciate their commitment to the program.
Safety Cam Nelson
on the gratification of having “College GameDay” on campus for his last home game:
It’s a lot of fun. Coming in, we knew that coach Stoops was going to turn the program around. We came in, everyone in our class pretty much were on the same visits together, and we talked about it and we wanted to be that class to come help turn it around. We’ve contributed a lot with that happening. It will be good just to get one final win at home in our last game.
Wide receiver Terrell Turner on if he’ll cry:
I’m going to try not to, but I said that in high school and as soon as the clock hit double-zero I just started balling. You never know, I’ve got to try to put the tough-guy face on, but then I might see my mom come down crying so I don’t know what will happen.
Cornerback Devin Ross
on what he’ll miss most:
I’ll just miss my coaches. I love my coaches — coach Mark, coach Mike, all the coaches — and just being here and playing for the Wildcats.
Head coach Mike Stoops
A lot of these guys could have gone to other places, and this shows an extreme amount of confidence and belief that we could do something great. That’s not always easy to do, and they believed in what our message was and I would say it was accurate. They’ve done a lot and I think they learned a great deal from this experience. It’s easy to be on top all the time but to get knocked down and keep getting back up, I think shows a certain amount of toughness and courage and perseverance that will definitely help you in life and being successful.
Defensive tackle Earl Mitchell on his favorite achievement:
The accomplishment for me so far is just watching the team grow, watching coach Stoops grow as a coach and just seeing the progression. Nothing’s really changed, it’s just the players who have been brought in have really good character. I’m just proud of the progression and everything I’ve been a part of.
on the magnitude of his last home game:
On my recruiting trip I saw (Arizona) play Wisconsin and it was raining like crazy and that’s what sold me because I thought,“Man, these guys could be really good.” But those first couple years were bad, but for it to play out like this is real cool.
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The attitude is a big change. It took a big change in the right direction. There were times we had guys who didn’t want to come out to practice and now there’s guys who can’t wait to get out to practice, so that’s been helping us out in getting this whole program turned around.
on if he took a risk coming to the UA:
I didn’t think of the program being as bad as people said. They had their ups and downs, but I came in respecting the coaching staff and respecting what they did and I just wanted to be a part of that family. We’ve improved a lot and I’m glad I made that choice.
Linebacker Vuna Tuihalamaka
on his emotions about Senior Day:
It’s crazy. Everyone’s going to be there, live on TV with the whole nation watching. It’s a big game, and we’ve got to win if we want a chance to go to a nice bowl game. I’m pumped, I’m ready to go.
on what’s changed in the past four years:
Offensive lineman Mike Diaz
Defensive tackle Donald Horton
H-back Chris Gronkowski
Linebacker Xavier Kelley
on if he thought the program would get to this point during his time in Tucson:
It was really about believing in the coach’s words when I came here. You really don’t know whether to believe it at first, but when you get here you start believing right away when you start hearing what the coaches are trying to tell us; and now we’re a few games a away from being the conference champs.
Arizona football seniors Jason Bertoni – Long Snapper Nick Booth – Running Back Mike Diaz – Offensive Line Adam Grant – Offensive Tackle Chris Gronkowski – H-back Corey Hall – Defensive Back Herman Hall – Center
Donald Horton – Defensive Tackle Xavier Kelley – Linebacker Blake Kerley – Center Sterling Lewis – Linebacker Earl Mitchell – Defensive Tackle Kevin Morris – Running Back Cam Nelson – Safety
Brad Posten – Receiver Devin Ross – Cornerback Shawn Trowbridge – Receiver Vuna Tuihalamaka – Linebacker Terrell Turner – Reciever Anthony Wilcox – Safety Ricky Wolder – Long Snapper
arizona daily wildcat • friday, november 20, 2009 •
Points of debate
Going bowling
Editor’s Note: Saturday’s matchup between the Arizona football team and No. 11 Oregon is a big contest in more ways than one. The Arizona Daily Wildcat’s Brian Kimball and the Oregon Daily Emerald’s Lucas Clark discuss some of the storylines surrounding the Pacific 10 Conference clash. Lucas Clark: All season long I’ve been comparing this year’s Oregon Duck football team to that of the national title contender in 2007 when Heisman Trophy-hopeful Dennis Dixon was running the zone-read offense with pure elegance. And while the Ducks are no longer in the top-10 and battling for a shot at the BCS National Title game, they are still fighting to win out and claim their first Pac-10 title since 2001. Every Oregon fan dreadfully remembers that Thursday night in Tucson, Ariz., when Dixon hit the turf with his season-ending knee injury, which to me makes this year’s match-up that much more intriguing. Oregon has proven twice now that it can bounce back from a tough loss as it defeated ASU 44-21 last weekend, but the Ducks are 2-2 on the road this season and are definitely not going to overlook the talented Wildcat attack — which ranks second in the conference in both passing yards per game (242.1) and total offensive yards per game (429.2). Brian Kimball: It’s true that Arizona’s high-flying offense has ranked near the top of the Pac-10 for the majority of the 2009 season, but the Wildcats have sputtered a bit during recent games. Despite beating UCLA 27-13, Arizona’s five-turnover performance kept the Bruins in the game for longer than they should have been. Even after the 48-7 blow-out win against Washington State the following week, UA offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes said he didn’t think the offense really got into any sort of groove. As evidenced by a sloppy performance during last week’s 24-16 loss to California, Arizona still hasn’t been able to correct whatever the problem might be. But after receiving news that ESPN’s “College GameDay” will be in Tucson this weekend, the team was as amped up as I have seen all season long. Maybe that — along with all the Senior Day festivities that will take place during Saturday’s contest against the Ducks — will breathe
B3
Editor’s Note: The Arizona-Oregon game has many implications as far as the Pacific 10 Conference bowl picture is concerned. The Pac-10 already has six teams that are bowl eligible and UCLA and ASU could join the party depending on how each team’s respective season plays out. Here’s a look at what bowl games will be played with a Pac-10 team:
Pac-10 bowl game tie-ins
Colin Darland/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Safety Robert Golden and nickelback Corey Hall take down a Washington State player in Arizona’s Nov. 7 win over the Cougars at Arizona Stadium. Arizona’s defense will face a versatile Oregon offense tomorrow.
new life into the Wildcats. LC: “GameDay” definitely brings a different feel to the entire weekend when it comes to college football, and no one understands that more than the Ducks who blew-out the visiting USC Trojans on Halloween night. But after Oregon’s loss to Stanford two weeks ago, I would be surprised to see anything other than a fiery start from the Ducks’ versatile offense. First-year head coach Chip Kelly is constantly reiterating how important it is to get off to a fast start in every conference game, which often means a heavy dose of redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James . James has rushed for 1,193 yards and 11 touchdowns on just 171 carries — almost 100 carries less than Pac-10 leader Toby Gerhart with 1,395 yards on 262 carries — and has provided junior quarterback Jeremiah Masoli with some freedom in the passing game, something that was evidently lacking in the early season. BK: LaMichael James has been difficult for most teams to stop so far this season as the diminutive tail back has rushed for more than 100 yards in seven of his nine starts. However, Arizona might be equipped to slow down James as
the Wildcats were able to contain another small running back from the state of Oregon earlier in the year. Arizona held Oregon State’s Jacquizz Rodgers to 85 yards on 16 carries in a 37-32 UA win in Corvallis, Ore. The Wildcats’ main concern regarding the Ducks’ offense will likely be quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Last season in Eugene, Masoli torched the Wildcats for 298 yards through the air and another 89 yards rushing and accounted for five of the Ducks seven touchdowns in the 55-45 UO win. This time around, Arizona should be better prepared for the vaunted Oregon offensive attack. LC: There’s no question that this year’s contest will likely result in another shootout between two strong offenses, but the defensive side of the ball is where the game will likely be decided. Oregon enters the game with the topranked scoring defense (20.9 ppg) and pass defense (181.3 ypg) in the Pac-10, and considering that it has been without preseason All-American Walter Thurmond III and senior Willie Glasper in the secondary shows how talented the Ducks’ young defense actually is. Sophomore defensive back Javes Lewis leads the team with 66 tackles on the year and fellow defensive back freshman John
Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi: Jan. 1, Los Angeles, Calif. — First place vs. Big Ten champion (Ohio State) Pacific Life Holiday Bowl: Dec. 30, San Diego, Calif. — Second place vs. Big 12 third place Brut Sun Bowl: Dec. 31, El Paso, Texas — Third place vs. Big 12 fifth place OR Big East second place OR Notre Dame Emerald Bowl: Dec. 26, San Francisco, Calif. — Fourth or fifth place vs. ACC fifth, sixth or seventh place MAACO Las Vegas Bowl: Dec. 22, Las Vegas, Nev. — Fourth OR fifth place vs. Mountain West champion San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl: Dec. 23, San Diego, Calif. — Sixth place vs. Mountain West second place
Boyett ranks second with 62. Oregon was able to contain Cal’s Kevin Riley and USC’s Matt Barkley through the air, but redshirt sophomore Nick Foles and the Wildcat passing attack will be yet another tough test for the Ducks.
Bowl-eligible teams
BK: The Ducks faced an offense like Arizona’s once during the season — Stanford — and Oregon doesn’t need to be reminded how that game turned out in Palo Alto, Calif. As you said, Arizona ranks second in the Pac-10 in passing offense and the team also ranks third in rushing offense (187.1 ypg). And the Wildcats have put up a lot of those numbers with banged up skill-position players. Junior running back Nic Grigsby has finally recovered from a nagging shoulder injury and junior wide out Delashaun Dean is back at 100 percent after nursing a slew of injuries throughout the year. The bulk of Arizona’s offensive troubles this season have come in the redzone as the team has typically been forced to settle for field goals, hence the squad’s 30.4 points per game average that ranks fifth in the Pac-10. Arizona plays better at home — the Wildcats are unbeaten in Tucson this season — and the similarities this week’s contest has with the Stanford-UO game can’t be ignored.
Teams on the brink
Oregon: 8-2 (6-1 Pac-10) Stanford: 7-3 (6-2) Oregon State: 7-3 (5-2) California: 7-3 (4-3) USC: 7-3 (4-3) Arizona: 6-3 (4-2) UCLA: 5-5 (2-5) ASU: 4-6 (2-5)
If Arizona beats Oregon…
Barring the Wildcats dropping both of their final two games, they would avoid the lower-tier bowl games. A win would also keep the team in line for a Pac-10 championship. If Arizona can beat the Ducks, the team would likely be headed to southern California — whether it’s Los Angeles or San Diego is a different story. If Arizona loses one more game after the Oregon contest the Sun Bowl is another possibility.
If Arizona loses to Oregon…
It would be a disappointment for the team. A defeat would give the Wildcats three conference losses and land them in the bottom half of the Pac-10. The folks in Las Vegas would likely pass on a repeat trip from Arizona and the team would have to win at least one more game to slide into that spot. The most likely destination would be San Diego for the Poinsettia Bowl unless the Emerald Bowl officials fancy the Wildcats more than other bowl candidates. — compiled by Brian Kimball
OPPONENT ANALYSIS
Keys to the game BEN SCHORZMAN sports editor Oregon Daily Emerald
Who to watch on the Oregon offense
Public Enemy No. 1 for the Arizona Wildcats this weekend will be No. 8 Jeremiah Masoli. The junior quarterback is the key to head coach Chip Kelly’s spread offense and he runs and passes extremely well. Masoli is averaging 175.7 passing yards per game and he has thrown for 11 touchdowns and three interceptions. On the ground, Masoli is averaging 62 yards rushing. Oregon has a lot of weapons, but if Masoli isn’t on his game, the Wildcats will have a chance at the upset. The other main part of Oregon’s offense is speedy redshirt freshman running back LaMichael James. Through 10 games he’s averaging 119.3 yards a game and has 11 touchdowns. He has been outstanding since taking over the starting position after running back LeGarrette Blount was suspended on Sept. 4. But the dark horse of the offense will be tight end Ed Dickson. When he has a big day, the Ducks roll. He leads the team in reception yards with 488 and five touchdowns and he’s the leader of the receiving corps. Masoli is always judicious in spreading the ball around to five or even six receivers, but Dickson is the main target.
Who to watch on the Oregon defense
In the secondary, it will be senior safety T.J. Ward. Known for his hard hitting, Ward is leading the team in tackles since he came back from an ankle injury that sat him out from the Purdue to Washington games. He will be a key component in stopping the outstanding passing game of Arizona. In the linebacking corps, Casey Matthews is the man to watch. He has 62 tackles on the year
and 2.5 sacks. The 6-foot-2, 235-pound junior is the perfect combination of speed and size and fits nicely in the middle of the Oregon defense. Upfront in the trenches, defensive ends Will Tukuafu and Kenny Rowe will try to penetrate Arizona’s offensive line. The two have 9.5 sacks combined and 15 tackles for a loss.
Keys on offense
• Oregon must establish a tempo early. Much like last year in Eugene, the Ducks need to jump out to an early lead. Kelly emphasizes tempo in the no-huddle offense, but to keep the Wildcat defense at bay, the Ducks will look to keep them on their heels. • Run the football. The Ducks are the No. 6 team in the nation in rushing offense with an average of 237 yards a game. It’s their bread and butter and if they cannot run the ball, then Arizona will win the game. • Limit the turnovers. The past couple of games the Ducks have not won the turnover battle after starting the year with an advantage. Limit the fumbles and miscues on special teams and the Ducks will be very hard to beat.
Keys on defense
• Defend against the pass. Nick Foles has been a brilliant replacement for Willie Tuitama. He’s averaging 217 yards a game through the air and the Ducks are notorious for their sometimesshoddy pass defense. If Foles has time to throw, the game will become a shootout. • Pressure Nick Foles. This is a side note of No. 1. The Oregon D-line has been OK at pressuring the quarterback but against Stanford, Andrew Luck had all day to throw. When that happens, quarterbacks usually find open receivers down field. • Win the turnover battle. Kelly has challenged the Ducks to score 10 defensive touchdowns this year and the Ducks have stalled the past three games without a single defensive score. Oregon needs to force Foles into a couple of bad passes to keep the game in control.
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B4
• friday, november 20, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat
Looking for a strong finish COMMENTARY By Nicole Dimtsios assistant sports editor
Alan Walsh/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Junior outside hitter Whitney Dosty spikes the ball against ASU on Nov. 13 in McKale Center. The Arizona volleyball team will focus on closing out the season with some wins.
Arizona volleyball has been trying to get the bitter taste out of its mouth for a whole year. The painful upset against Washington State at the end of last season and their subsequent absence from Selection Sunday refocused the Wildcats’ concentration on ensuring their return to the NCAA tournament in 2009. This season, Arizona has only dropped two matches while competing in McKale Center. When it hosts Stanford at 7 tonight and California at 1 p.m. for Senior Day this Sunday, Arizona must take advantage of facing the teams for the second time in their house. The Wildcats have already played and lost to each of the teams, so there should be little surprise about what each respective opponent will bring to the court. If Arizona is to play at its peak performance heading into the postseason, it simply needs to execute plays on its side of the net. “I think if they get rested and in the right mindset, that’s what it’s all about,” said head coach Dave Rubio. UA has been trying to garner looks from the tournament selections committee since the very first match in August. And now with just two
weekends of play left in the Pacific 10 Conference schedule, it’s time they made a resounding statement. Examining No. 19 Arizona volleyball (18-7, 7-7 Pac-10), the selections committee sees a team sitting above average, with a .500 conference record and great success against non-conference teams. Their record and national ranking alone almost guarantees a spot on the Division I Women’s Volleyball Championship roster, but the Wildcats won’t be taking any chances after last season’s sour ending. “We don’t want to be where we were last year,” said junior outside hitter Tiffany Owens. “That would be heartbreaking.” If the postseason is really what teams work for all season, then Arizona’s start isn’t as important as its finish. The Wildcats have to clamp down for their four remaining regular-season matches. In order to solidify their chances of returning to the tournament for the first time since 2005, Arizona must have a strong showing against the four California schools, all of whom are ranked ahead of them in the AVCA Division I Coaches Poll. If the Wildcats want to earn tickets to Tampa, Fla., the first step will be defending their home court for the last time this season. Making it back to the tournament will require UA to end this season on the always-rocky road through the Pac10. The Wildcats traditionally struggle while away from McKale Center, but this season seems to have broken their curse. Two conference road wins is
unheard of for an Arizona team in recent memory, but unfortunately it might not be enough for the Wildcats. Cal has three road wins against the Pac-10 this season, while Stanford has four, UCLA has five and Washington has six. In order for Arizona to be considered among the elite in the conference and the nation, they should be expected to at least keep pace on the road. The beginning of the season provided a spark for UA. They won 12 straight matches, including three on the road in Louisville, Ky., and two in Santa Clara, Calif. But winning at least one more game without home court advantage, and within the highly-competitive Pac10, would not only strengthen Arizona’s case for the postseason but also contribute to the Wildcats’ momentum through the end of the season. In addition to improving their conference record, Arizona also needs to take advantage of the opportunities they have on the road. Close losses at Stanford and at Oregon State this season have set the Wildcats back, especially mentally. Rubio talked about bridging the mental gap between an average team and having the mindset of a champion. Had Arizona emerged victorious in those losses, it would be in a much better position than just the midrange of the conference, and their attitude would reflect that. “I think one of our motivations is Selection Sunday,” Owens said. “Our motivation right now is to play well, beat the teams we need to beat so we can be in the tournament.”
s t r o p S A U ly
oc verage dai ly
All the action, none of the sweat
Mike Christy/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Forward Jordan Schupan pins a Colorado player against the Tucson Convention Center glass in a 4-0 loss to the Buffaloes on Friday. The Icecats face Colorado State this weekend at home.
Icecats look to build momentum, offense
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The Arizona Icecats (3-8) finally captured their first home win of the season last Saturday and hope to tack on a few more this weekend when they host Colorado State at the Tucson Convention Center. “We’ve got to build on what we did on Saturday,” said head coach Leo Golembiewski. “We anticipate it to be a physical game and we’ve got to be ready to play.” With some newfound confidence and no longer bearing the burden of their five-game losing streak, Golembiewski’s squad needs to ensure that last Saturday’s 2-1 win against Colorado is more than just a one-hit-wonder. “It’s good to get the weight off of the shoulders,” said freshman forward Scotty Willson. “Hopefully we can string a couple of
wins together and get some sweeps.” If the Icecats hope to garner their first sweep of the season, it is imperative that their offensive attack finally scores some goals. The Icecats’ offense looked like their strength through the first six games, netting an impressive 25 goals. But during their last five games, the offense has been non-existent — scoring a lackluster 1.4 goals per contest. “Our goal scorers need to score,” Willson added. “Once we get that clicking, we should be alright.” The offensive attack seems to be the missing link for an Icecats team that was defensively stellar last Saturday. Freshman goaltender Dave Herman gave the team a much-needed lift, stopping 55 of 56 Colorado shot attempts — good for a .982 savepercentage. The defensive unit in front of
Herman was equally as impressive. Their chemistry is only improving as the season progresses, and the Icecats expect to see a similar performance out of the defense this weekend. “I think the defense is getting a lot stronger,” said 18-year-old defenseman Nick Stolz. “We’re getting really good at getting the puck out of the zone and not trying to be to fancy.” In contrast with the first half of the season, in recent games the offense has struggled and the defense has flourished. If the Icecats hope to succeed in their journey back to .500, they must be effective on both sides of the ice and build off of their first home victory. “We need to play like we did on Saturday and be tougher in all aspects of the game, from the goalie all of the way to the forwards,” Willson said. “We just have to keep battling and take it one game at a time.”
THAT’S WHAT THEY SAID Dave Herman:
“We’ll definitely be able to take some momentum from (last weekend) and hopefully get back to five-hundred in the next couple of weeks. I definitely have some more confidence heading into Colorado State.”
Scotty Willson:
Nick Stolz:
“(Dave) Herman stepped up big time. We haven’t really had a solid goalie spot throughout the whole season and he stepped it up, so he’s got to keep it up and solidify that starting position.”
“Obviously we’re still not happy with our record but we want to drive to get a better record and win some more games. “
Austin Capobianco:
“Our winning streak will be really dependent on how (Herman) can play.”
“The mood has been really positive, I think we’re motivated to start a winning streak.”
Staff Picks Bobby Stover
sports reporter
Lucas Clark
Kevin Zimmerman
Ben Schorzman
sports reporter OREGON DAILY EMERALD
sports editor
B5
arizona daily wildcat • friday, november 20, 2009 •
sports editor OREGON DAILY EMERALD
No. 11 Oregon vs. Arizona If you’re in a Pac-10 weekly football pool, I’m sorry. To date, you’ve likely lost a lot of money and this week’s key matchup between Arizona and Oregon poses a similar threat to your wallet. Oregon is the favorite and should win. But two things about Arizona football’s recent history suggest otherwise. Firstly, every season the Wildcats seem to drop a game they should win; California – check. Secondly, nearly ever year Arizona also knocks off a ranked team at home – Oregon is No. 11 in the nation. This is the last chance for the Wildcats to continue their upset-trend, and I think they will. Arizona 35, Oregon 31
It’s Senior Day, “College GameDay” is in town and the Wildcats are fighting for their first Rose Bowl bid. But do the Wildcats think the atmosphere will carry them to a win? It won’t. Wildcat fans forget that the game is a must-win for the Ducks as well. They’re a talented team and just as hungry as the Wildcats. Plus, the Ducks are led by quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Just as a waterfowl can both swim and fly, Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli can throw and run through opposing defenses. I have a bad feeling that’ll be Arizona’s defense tomorrow. Oregon 42, Arizona 34
The Ducks have shown that they can beat anybody in Autzen Stadium this year, but they’ve had some trouble on the road, picking up their only two losses at Boise State and at Stanford. Unfortunately for the Wildcats, I don’t think that Arizona has a strong enough defense to contain Oregon’s Jeremiah Masoli and LaMichael James, despite having only given up 104.9 yards per game on the ground. Oregon’s zone-read option has given UA head coach Mike Stoops trouble in the past, and I wouldn’t be surprised to see Masoli break out with another five-touchdown performance similar to last year’s 55-45 UO victory. Oregon 51, Arizona 21
Personally, I think the Zona Zoo is in for a disappointment Saturday. First, I predict that Lee Corso will put on the Duck head, then the Ducks will go on and exact revenge for the loss the Wildcats put on them in 2007 in Tucson. Running back LaMichael James will have at least 130 yards rushing and two touchdowns and Nick Foles will do well, but not well enough to beat Oregon.
Oregon 41, Arizona 31
W-hoops faces tough road battle in San Diego By Michael Fitzsimmons ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT
The Arizona women’s basketball team will face an early test this weekend when they travel to Southern California to square off against a strong San Diego State (2-0) team. “I think San Diego State is going to present a little bit of a challenge for us,”Arizona head coach Niya Butts said. “They are a really good team. They’re a well-coached basketball team that’s had success in the past, and they’ll be confident.” The Aztecs are coming off an NCAA tournament second-round appearance last season, and return four starters from that team. Arizona (2-0) has momentum after beating Iona and Miami (Ohio) last weekend in New York, but will have their hands full with SDSU. “They’re going to be a tough road test for us, we have to go in there with the right mind-set and focus, and I think we’ll be OK,” Butts added. Butts immediately put her team to work in practice this week, focusing on defense and trying to reverse the turnover trend that has plagued the Wildcats in the first two games. “Our defense as a whole, our rebounding, our turnovers, those were three things that were glaring this weekend in New York,” Butts said. “We’ve got to do a better job defensively, and we have to do a better job of boxing out and rebounding the basketball.” The Aztecs enter the game shooting at a 49.5 percent clip from the field and an impressive 52.6 percent from behind the 3-point line, so defense
will be key in slowing SDSU’s offensive attack. Hot shooting was also a large part of Arizona’s success in the first two games, largely by freshman Davellyn Whyte and sophomore Brooke Jackson, who each connected well above 50 percent from the field in the New York tournament. Both players are still adjusting to Division I basketball, but continued development will help them to complement Arizona’s returning players. “I think, collectively, the team took great strides,” Butts said.“We’re still trying to adjust and figure out what our niche is going to be, what our roles are going to be and when we start figuring those out, I think good things are to come.” Butts was cautious, however, about concluding too much from the first two games, concentrating on taking the season one game at a time while keeping a bigger picture in mind. “For us it’s certainly early. You don’t want to get too excited about it,” Butts said. “You certainly don’t want to minimize the importance of a good start, but it will be a long season.” From the players’ standpoint, the victories reward their hard work during practice. “We’ve been in here working hard, building chemistry and the 2-0 start gives us a little momentum that we want to try to build on,” redshirt junior Shanita Arnold said. The game against the Aztecs will wrap up Arizona’s three-game road trip to start the season, before the Wildcats head home to McKale Center to take on Ole Miss on Nov. 23. Tip-off is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. on Saturday at Viejas Arena.
Alan Walsh/Arizona Daily Wildcat
Guard Reiko Thomas gains control of the basketball in a Nov. 8 game against Grand Canyon University at McKale Center. Thomas and the Wildcats head to San Diego on Saturday to face the San Diego State Aztecs.
UA diving hosts invitational Reaps benefits of ‘home-pool’ advantage By Mike Schmitz ARIZONA DAILY WILDCAT For the second consecutive season, the UA dive team will host 14 of the nation’s top diving programs at the Wildcat Diving Invitational this Friday, Saturday and Sunday at the Kasser Family Pool. Regardless of how the UA squad ends up performing, the benefits of simply hosting the event are endless. “It’s nice because you’re bringing quality competition in your door,”said head diving coach Michele Mitchell. “The weather is perfect of course. Everyone’s looking forward to coming to the sun.” Traveling to the Tucson sun will be a few of the nation’s top dive teams including Brigham Young, Arizona State and Stanford, among others. The invitational will feature Olympians Elina Eggers and Riley McCormick out of ASU and NCAA finalist and national champion Dwight Dumais of Stanford. Such a high level of competition should bring the best out of an Arizona team still working to reach its peak. “It’s always good to compete against kids that are better than you are, it makes you dive up a little bit,” Mitchell said.“You know where they are in their training and where their weak link is and how you stack up against them.”
The Wildcats expect to be in the mix for firstplace as they feature last year’s winner Ben Grado and Saskatchewan’s sensational sophomore Ainsley Oliver. Grado and Oliver are expected to lead the pack, but it is the freshmen that should benefit most from the competition. “I think that it will be directed towards most of the freshmen to help them be more secure,” Grado said. “They know what to do and what boards to use, they won’t be freaked out by the different surroundings.” For the Wildcats, freshmen like Cody Montgomery and Andy Guerra will use that comfort ability to post some productive scores. While the competition is elite and the freshmen can settle down, it is hard to discount the amount of prospective Wildcats that will be in attendance. “When they see our facility they’re pretty surprised at what we have,”Grado said.“It really puts more motivation in choosing our school.“ While all of these benefits stem from simply hosting the event, there is also the aspect of actually winning the competition; a feat that Mitchell sees as obtainable. “I think we’ll do real well,” Mitchell said. “This will be a very good competition to judge where you are against those you’ll be competing later on in the season.”
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• friday, november 20, 2009 • arizona daily wildcat