SB Nation Arizona - Arizona vs. Texas: Wildcats Advance, Defeating Longhorns 70-69https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/46593/arizona-fave.png2011-03-20T18:40:39-07:00http://arizona.sbnation.com/rss/stream/18231412011-03-20T18:40:39-07:002011-03-20T18:40:39-07:00Video: Arizona Wildcats Advance To Sweet 16 With Controversial Win Over Texas
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<p>They don't call it "March Routine" or "Basketball Games Played In March". No, it's called "March Madness" for a reason and once again we saw that in the thrilling and controversial ending to the Arizona Wildcats victory over the Texas Longhorns. As has become the norm in college basketball with all the good teams featuring young players on the one- (or two-) and-done plan, the end of game execution on both sides left a lot to be desired. </p>
<p>In this case however, it's the Texas fans who are throwing virtual rotten tomatoes at the officiating crew. And while this is SB Nation <i>ARIZONA</i>, we have to admit they have a point. Here's what Peter Bean, proprietor of SB Nation's Longhorn blog, Burnt Orange Nation, has to say:</p>
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<p><a href="http://www.burntorangenation.com/2011/3/20/2062647/texas-vs-arizona-jim-burr-officials-hose-longhorns" target="_blank">Texas vs Arizona: Jim Burr, Officials Hose Longhorns - Burnt Orange Nation</a><br>I'm just royally, righteously furious about the screw job that Texas just got at the end of the game, courtesy of -- guess who? -- Jim Burr. The same clown who single-handedly jobbed Texas against UConn and, more famously, blew the Rutgers-St. John's Big East Tournament game three weeks ago.</p>
<p>For the record? My game watching crew reviewed the DVR ten times and it wasn't five seconds. It wasn't five arm-ticks. And it wasn't five seconds objectively. We used a stopwatch and if you're generous, it gets up to about 4.6 seconds. He rushed it, and we got hosed. The theme for the tournament. The no-calls at the end with J'Covan and Gary were just icing on the cake.</p>
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<p>Ouch. Of course, Arizona fans will be quick to point out -- as Steve Kerr did on the broadcast -- all the questionable calls that went Texas' way in the game. Longhorn guard J'Covan Brown averaged about 2.5 free throw attempts per game this season but took 13 in this contest. Fair? I guess that depends on which school you are rooting for or which team you have advancing in your bracket.</p>
<p>Regardless of your personal bias, no one wants to see a game decided by the officials and to have Jim Burr once again involved in a controversial ending is certainly a troubling turn of events.</p>
<p>Here's video of the final seconds of the game. What do you think?</p>
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https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-wildcats/2011/3/20/2062683/video-arizona-wildcats-advance-to-sweet-16-controversial-win-texas-ncaa-tournamentSeth Pollack2011-03-20T17:28:32-07:002011-03-20T17:28:32-07:00Arizona vs. Texas: Derrick Williams Leads Wildcats Past Longhorns, 70-69
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<p>Texas was unable to take advantage of Arizona's poor free throwing shooting in the second half, and consequently the Wildcats squeaked by the Longhorns 70-69 in Round of 32 action in Tulsa, Oklahoma.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Derrick Williams was kept in check for most of the game, with aggressive man-to-man employed on him. This defense did open up room for other Wildcats to step in. Williams only shot 8-for-14 from the free throw line, allowing the Longhorns to fight for the victory down to the wire.</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 0px;">Williams came up huge when it mattered the most, however. The All-American converted an essential three-point play in the waning seconds to pull off the 70-69 victory. Williams keeps finding ways to push his team over the top, and today's victory was no exception.</p>
<p>Jordin Mayes connected on all four of his three point attempts, scoring 16 points and providing a much-needed spark off of the Wildcats bench. His play in the NCAA Tournament was a nice surprise for Arizona (29-7) fans, who averaged less than five points a game during the regular season.</p>
<p>Jordan Hamilton had a strong game for the Longhorns, leading the team with 18 points. Tristan Thompson had an off game, making only one of his five field goal attempts. Texas (28-8) couldn't stop Arizona's long distance shooting, as the Wildcats shot 57% (8-for-14) from three point range.</p>
<p>Lamont Jones was a non-factor for the majority of the game, going 0-for-6 from the field.</p>
<p>Arizona finally was able to defeat a ranked team for the first time this season, and it couldn't have come at a better time. <a href="http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/rankings" target="_blank">Texas was ranked 8th overall by the Associated Press</a> on March 14. While many experts thought Texas deserved a higher seed, they drew a favorable draw against the Wildcats -- they were just unable to get past Solomon Hill and the balanced Arizona attack.</p>
<p>The game nearly came down to free throw execution -- Texas made 18-of-22 attempts, while Arizona only managed 14-of-22. But in the end, Arizona made the one free throw that truly mattered.</p>
<p>With the win, Arizona advances to the Sweet 16 to face the top-seeded Duke Blue Devils in Anaheim on Thursday.</p>
<p><i>For more Arizona basketball coverage, head on over to <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com">AZ Desert Swarm</a>.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-wildcats/2011/3/20/2062515/arizona-vs-texas-derrick-williams-leads-wildcats-past-longhornsCory Williams2011-03-20T10:40:03-07:002011-03-20T10:40:03-07:00Arizona vs. Texas: Round Of 32 Action Tips At 3:10 P.M. AZT
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<p>The Arizona Wildcats look to extend their NCAA Tournament run on Sunday when they take on the fourth-seeded Texas Longhorns in Tulsa, Oklahoma.</p>
<p>Arizona (28-7) advanced to the Round of 32 after defeating the Memphis Tigers 77-75 on Friday afternoon. Derrick Williams led the Wildcats with 22 points and 10 rebounds, winning the game with seconds to go by blocking Wesley Witherspoon's shot attempt.</p>
<p>Texas (31-8) held off a late surge by the Oakland Grizzlies to punch their ticket to the third round of NCAA Tournament action. The Longhorns put together a balanced attack, with four of their players scoring double digits. </p>
<p>Which Texas players should Arizona fans pay close attention to? Jordan Hamilton and Tristan Thompson are a good place to start. Hamilton averages 18.7 points a game, while Thompson puts in 13.4. Both players grab about eight rebounds a game.</p>
<p>Hamilton, a sophomore, and Thompson, a senior, have <a href="http://dallas.sbnation.com/texas-longhorns/2011/3/19/2060806/longhorns-stars-jordan-hamilton-tristan-thompson-say-they-will-return" target="_blank">both pledged to return to Texas for another season of basketball</a>. Together, they will make the Longhorns a favorite to win the 2012 NCAA Tournament as they gel together as a unit even further.</p>
<p>In order for the Arizona Wildcats to defeat the Texas Longhorns, a few things will need to happen. First of all, Arizona needs to keep the game at a manageable pace. They struggled against Memphis when the Tigers started to push the ball in transition, and putting the game into a halfcourt battle will improve Arizona's chances.</p>
<p>Kyle Fogg and Jesse Perry will need to have better games, as well. Fogg scored only four points on 1-for-5 shooting, and Perry didn't score despite shooting the ball four times. Both players must contribute in a more significant fashion, as the Longhorns will be focused on stopping All-American Derrick Williams.</p>
<p><i>The game tips at 3:10 P.M. Pacific time, and will air on TNT. Check out AZ Desert Swarm for more <a href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com" target="_blank">Arizona basketball</a> coverage.</i></p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/arizona-wildcats/2011/3/20/2061920/arizona-vs-texas-round-of-32-action-tips-at-3-10-p-m-aztCory Williams2011-03-19T08:28:53-07:002011-03-19T08:28:53-07:00Arizona vs. Texas: Sweet 16 On The Line Between Wildcats And Longhorns
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<p>Texas and Arizona were able to advance to the Round of 32 after close victories over Oakland and Memphis, respectively. Both teams fought hard and had to play good basketball against a pair of athletic, motivated underdogs that refused to quit.</p>
<p>Perhaps, then, it's fitting that both the Longhorns and Wildcats will meet in the third round of the NCAA Tournament. Sunday will bring the type of game that March Madness is renowned for -- a battle of quality basketball teams with the winner punching a ticket to the Sweet 16.</p>
<p>"They're a great team," said Arizona All-American Derrick Williams when asked about the Longhorns. "If we come out tonight how we did [against Memphis], on Sunday it could be a long night for us... but I don't plan on that happening."</p>
<p>Texas does have a lot of firepower offensively, and are led by Jordan Hamilton, a 6'7" forward that has averaged 18.6 points per game this season. Hamilton was a significant part of Texas' victory over Oakland on Friday, scoring 17 points and fighting for 10 rebounds to pick up a double-double. </p>
<p>This game will be an epic contest, with more information soon to come. Keep checking back here or head over to AZ Desert Swarm for all the <a target="_blank" href="http://www.azdesertswarm.com">Arizona basketball</a> coverage you could want.</p>
https://arizona.sbnation.com/2011/3/19/2331810/arizona-vs-texas-sweet-16-on-the-line-between-wildcats-and-longhornsCory Williams