PAC-10 Player of the Week: Week 3

PAC-10 Player of the Week: DeMar DeRozan (USC)

WhileDeRozan’s total stats aren’t that impressive (32 points, 12 rebounds), DeRozan was largely responsible for holding James Harden to 0-8 and 4 points in a fantastic defensive effort. To me, that’s more impressive than Rochestie’s 44 points, 6 rebounds, and 14 assists against the Oregon schools. Partly because Rochestie did put those numbers up against the Oregon schools, and partly because to hold Harden to 0 field goals is unbelievably incredible.

Runner-Up: Kevin Brill (REF)

Brill almost single-handedly won the game for the Trojans on Saturday. He came up with the big play in a crucial moment that gave the Trojans the confidence and momentum they needed during the final 3:50 to pull out a 1-point home win.

Arizona Player of the Week: Chase Budinger

Budinger is officially out of his slump. After rough outing after rough outing, Budinger finally steps up big. He was the focal point for UCLA and USC defensively and still put up solid numbers against these kids. He gave us fans a glimpse as to why he was so highly touted coming in and why he’s projected as a first-round pick in this year’s NBA Draft.

Runner Up: Jordan Hill

Hill had a monster game against UCLA, and save but first half foul trouble he had a good game against USC as well.

 

 

 

 

Do you think Kevin Brill would’ve gotten this one right?

Hansen – Getting it Right?!

Typically when I head over to azstarnet.com I read through the articles about the Wildcats followed by the reader comments. After getting annoyed by some of the narrow-sighted articles and reader comments (not all of either are that way, but there are plenty of them to be had) I grit my teeth and check out what Greg Hansen has to say for something to supplement my blog with to fire back at.

As I was going through my normal “routine” Hansen threw me a curve ball. As I was reading what he had to say, I had to agree with more than I usually do. Sure, he was still getting a good share of his pessimism about the ‘Cats in there, but he had two points that I agreed with (and that’s two more than I usually do).

 He’s a caretaker who is doing a terrific job at public relations as he nurses a flawed team through a predictably bumpy season that is most likely to end with an NITgame or two. – Greg Hansen on Russ Pennell

I like what he has to say here. Pennell is doing exactly what should be expected and handling the pressures with great poise. He’s not spitting vulgarities and anger towards reporters, fans, or players like Kevin O’Neill did last season. But I’m not sold on the NIT ending… yet. Arizona has a chance to make a spurt the rest of the way out to make the NCAA’s, but it’s getting more and more difficult with each game.

Yes, the refs goofed on the intentional foul call; at best it was a no-call or a double foul. It put Pennell is a precarious spot and from there his fragile team couldn’t hang on. – Greg Hansen on the Intentional foul

He nailed this one – though I’m sure he views the team as far more “fragile” than I do.

Until then, this is just practice. – Hansen on the season

Surprisingly this gives more insight to the fans who follow and agree with Hansen on a regular basis than it does to Hansen himself. I’m sure Hansen has packed it in and is just filling space and time when he writes about the ‘Cats this year. But the people that are typically in agreement with him aren’t caring about the kids on the team and seeing player progression and enjoying what they’ve got. They’re already jumping ahead and looking into 2009. Quitters and fair-weather fans.

PAC-10 Power Rankings: Week 3

1. UCLA (E)
   They made Arizona’s make-shift 1-1-3 zone look awful. They had an offensive explosion with five players reaching double-digit scoring. But losing at home against ASU in a game you controlled in the second half shows they aren’t as far ahead of the rest of the conference as they would hope.
   Last Week: W vs. Arizona 83-60, L vs. ASU 61-58
2. CAL (E)
   With their first loss in conference play coming against a rival in a close game, you can’t fault CAL too much – especially when you went on the road for a game filled with more drama than any other rival game will contain this year. The game against UCLA is getting bigger and bigger each week.
   L at Stanford 75-69
3. ASU (E)
   A win at Pauley is impressive. But as great as that was, the loss against USC was bad enough to keep them from moving past CAL. Losing by 12 to a defensive minded team exploited their lack of players outside of Pendergraph and Harden. Shut Harden down and they falter.
   L at USC 61-49, W at UCLA 61-58