"Tell them … tell the team to bear down"

Budinger and Frye pleasant surprises, others not faring well

ALL-STAR LINKS OF INTEREST:

• Chase Budinger rates as the 15th best rookie according to David Thorpe of Scouts, Inc. Jordan Hill ranks 39th.
• Former UA recruit Brandon Jennings talks about his surprising success in his rookie season with the Bucks
• ESPN reporter writes that former UA players Richard Jefferson and Mike Bibby are two of the biggest disappointments of the NBA season
• San Francisco Chronicle: For repentant athletes, Gilbert Arenas sets fine example
• Andre Iguodala “posterizes” LeBron James? Yes, he does in this video.
  

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  Jason Terry: Jim Rome correspondent at Dallas’ All-Star festivities

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  By Javier Morales

  One of the best recruiting pitches going for new UA coach Sean Miller these days are the 10 former Wildcats in the NBA. His message to recruits of the Classes of 2010, 2011 and even 2012: You can get there from here.

  If, for example, the Sixers’ Andre Iguodala makes ESPN’s Top 10 plays of the day — which is the norm more than the exception — chances are Miller or his assistants tell a recruit, “Check out ESPN’s top 10 plays. Did you see what Iguodala did? You know he played at Arizona right?”

  Iguodala, Phoenix free-agent acquisition Channing Frye, Houston rookie forward Chase Budinger and Dallas veteran Jason Terry have played well enough at the All-Star break to be shining examples for the Arizona program. While the season has seen some extraordinary individual performances — including Terry’s 36 points against Golden State on Monday — some of the ex-Wildcats are hoping for a reversal of fortunes.

  (more…)

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Ex-UA player Marnell maintains strong ties to Wildcat program

By Javier Morales The name Anthony Marnell III might escape the memories of most UA followers. Due to injuries, he had only 130 at-bats from 1993-95 with the Wildcats. His name, however, is as noteworthy as anyone involved with the Las Vegas casino industry. Marnell, owner of the $1 billion M Resport Spa Casino in Las Vegas, completed his college education at UNLV, earning a bachelor’s degree there in hospitality administration. As a prominent affluent businessman in Las Vegas, Marnell is no doubt on the radar of UNLV athletic director Jim Livengood, formerly with the UA, as a potential donor for the Rebels.

Mike Bibby Lance Briggs Trevor Hoffman Top Ex-UA Player Salaries PLAYER SPORT EARNINGS Trevor Hoffman Baseball $72.5 million Mike Bibby Basketball $114.3 million Lance Briggs Football $24.3 million Source: USA Today Salary Database Note: Anthony Marnell, a former UA baseball player, opened last March his M Resort Spa Casino, valued at $1 billion

Although Marnell is not a UA alum, he still follows the baseball program closely and he shares a close bond with his former UA teammates, including Rich Tomey, son of ex-football coach Dick Tomey. You can read about his former teammates attending the grand opening of the M Resort and more at TucsonCitizen.com.

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Ex-UA forward still trying to find niche in San Antonio

[TABLE=32]

CAREER MILESTONES 2009-10

ANDRE IGUODALA:

• 1,996 assists: four from 2,000

• Achieved 7,000 points (now with 7,041)
• Achieved 2,500 rebounds (now with 2,575)

MIKE BIBBY

• 4,988 field goals: only two from 5,000

• Passed the 5,000 assist mark (now with 5045)

JASON TERRY

• Achieved 5,000 field goals (now with 5,014)

• Eclipsed 4,000 assist mark earlier this year (now with 4,048)

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Four Cats should add to recent surge in draft-worthy players

By Anthony Gimino and Javier Morales

The NFL has drafted 10 Arizona players in the past three years, which nearly matches the Wildcats’ total from the previous seven seasons, speaking once again to how coach Mike Stoops has upgraded the program.

Former UA defensive tackle Earl Mitchell is a fifth- or sixth-round prospect as rated by NFLDraftScout.com

UA had a mere 11 players drafted from 2000 to 2006. There could be four more selected this year — tight end Rob Gronkowski, defensive tackle Earl Mitchell and cornerback Devin Ross, plus possibly fullback Chris Gronkowski. Mitchell would project as a third- or fourth-round pick in most years, but this could be the best and deepest group of defensive tackles ever. Rob Rang of NFLDraftScout.com rates Mitchell as more of a fifth- or sixth-round pick because of that quality depth at the position. If that happens, some team likely will be getting a steal. “I think he has an NFL future,” Rang said, “it’s just that he’s part of a class that is a special class.” … Rang told us in September that Ross was moving up the draft boards, but the cornerback didn’t stand out during the Pac-10 season and had a horrible Holiday Bowl, which damaged his status. “I thought he had a solid senior year,” Rang said. “Not spectacular, not catastrophic by any means.” Ross has been downgraded to a fourth- or fifth-round prospect, but he and Mitchell can improve their stock at the Jan. 23 East-West Shrine Game and at the NFL scouting combine, starting in late February. What’s there to like about Ross’ game? “He’s stronger in the upper body that he appears and he certainly has some speed,” Rang said. …

What was one of Chris Gronkowski’s favorite memories at Arizona? “I never lost to ASU,” said Gronkowski, who spent two seasons at UA. Chris Gronkowski said he has heard his draft projections as anywhere from the fourth round to undrafted free agent. The guess here is that he is a draft longshot, but he would be a super end-of-the-roster guy — willing, hard-working, versatile on offense as a blocking fullback/pass catcher and a guy who runs well enough to help on special teams. … Arizona is listed as a 100-1 favorite at bodog.com to win the BCS national championship after the 2010 season, which, oddly, is the same bet you can make on Arizona State. Can’t recommend either option — especially laying down money on the Sun Devils — but getting the Cats at 100-1 is way more enticing than UCLA at 60-1. Alabama is the betting favorite at 3-1. … The Wildcats lost mid-year junior college signee Eddie Elder, a safety who fell short of transferable credits. So he’s apparently ready to enroll at Arizona State, which will accept his credits for enrollment right now. Elder reportedly chose that option over getting his coursework in order in the spring and then enrolling at UA in the summer. UA loses a guy who figured to compete for open spots at free safety and nickel back. Makes the commitment of safety Marquis Flowers, the state’s top high school recruit, all the more important. …

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Highest drafted UA player (No. 2 in 1998)

[TABLE=32]

CAREER MILESTONES FORTHCOMING

ANDRE IGUODALA:

• 1,974 assists: 26 from 2,000

• 6,985 points: 15 from 7,000

MIKE BIBBY

• 4,988 field goals: 12 from 5,000

JASON TERRY

• 4,984 field goals: 16 from 5,000

CHANNING FRYE

• 1,492 rebounds: 8 from 1,500

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A potential NCAA tournament bid goes through senior guard

STREAK FACT: When the UA’s streak began on March 15, 1985, the Wildcats had only three previous NCAA tournament appearances: 1977, 1976 and 1951.

By Javier Morales

How unlikely is an Arizona NCAA tournament appearance this season?

About as improbable as two last-second shots by Nic Wise to win consecutive games.

UA coach Sean Miller was fortunate Wise was on the floor to create the buzz that put Arizona in a positive light nationally for once. No other player on the roster could have nailed a three-pointer without squaring up against Lipscomb, or drive three-quarters of the court for a layup past three defenders against North Carolina State.

Aside from his two buzzer beaters, Wise scored 30 points — including 16 of Arizona’s final 19 points — in an overtime thriller over Colorado in Maui. Those three games could have been — should have been? — three losses but Wise saved the day. Arizona is a handful of possessions from being 3-8 right now but Wise was the difference in a three-win swing.

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Outscores fellow ex-UA standout Iguodala

FEATURED EX-CAT LINKS:
>>Trade season approaching (Hoops World)
>>Up Close with Mike Bibby (Hoops World)
>>Can the Hawks win a championship (Dime magazine)
>>NBA & ABA players who attended the University of Arizona (Basketball-Reference.com)

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