This is High on the Ball with Steve Rivera and Jay Gonzalez on Fox Sports
fourteen fifteen. Subscribe now to the podcast. I'll the iHeartRadio while just searching
I on the Ball. Hey, welcome back to the ball here on Fox
Sports fourteen fifty. I'm Steve, He's Jay, and now we have sid
with breaking news. This is High on the Ball Breaking news on Fox Sports
fourteen fifteen. All right, start off the breaking news today with Uh,
you have a football announcing the Pro Day as March fourteenth. Oh, okay,
did they did? Did they say who is going to be at at
Pro Day? No one yet? Well, obviously you know the seniors from
from from but the Jade Delores one that I'm not. I still don't.
We don't know if he's coming back here for Pro Day. Yeah, I'm
not. I still haven't heard anything about him. He might. I assume
there's a good chance though that he will. Well, I mean it's the
last school he played for, so yeah, and I would think that they
would welcome him back to do that. But you know they've had some Well
go all the way back to Antonio Pieris, right, who was the reason
he doesn't He's not fond of it. Of the U of A is that
you know, Macovic wouldn't let him work out here and stuff like that,
and it pissed him off. So but you know, you would think that
even though it's Brent Brannan and stuff, that they he would say, yeah,
you can come back and do your workouts and get ready for pro tay,
give him a chance. Yeah, and if he's if he's not thought
of, I would say, coach, you need to do that. Let
him come back here, y yeah. Right. Moving into Arizona baseball,
they lost yesterday to number five TCU. They have a tough schedule this weekend.
So today they'll play number twenty five Dallas Baptist and then on Saturday they'll
play number sixteen Alabama, and then on Sunday they play number twenty Indiana.
So who that So a tough stretch for Arizon baseball. Okay, Okay,
Tommy Lloyd, let's nick a tough on the kids team. Okay, sticking
with coach sports, Yesterday Alabama got the win, which gets them a share
of the SEC as of right now. Oh really, so it sneakily Alabama's
up there. I'd walk in the door at home last night and my daughter
Rachel's watching Auburn Tennessee good game. I had no idea Tennessee had moved up
to number four. Yeah, yeah, no, yeah, they're they're like
I said before, Tennessee, North Carolina, Arizona vuying for that last number
one seed. Yeah, and everybody they're in the same situation. They need
to win. They have a tougher schedule than Arizona given their right conference,
but if they went out there, they're gonna be the number one. See
yeah, see people here, it's like the fau thing for last year where
they come from. Yeah, you don't know until you know, right,
I know, I mean I knew they were good, right, knew they
were ranked in the whole bit. But I walked down. I saw they
were playing Auburn Auburn, and Auburn was winning when I walked in at that
Arbital kick there. But then then you know it's got the rankings on the
scurt on. I'm wait, a manue, when did Tennessee get to number
four? Right? Right? No, they're good and I can say those
three teams. North Carolina almost lost a couple of days ago, Arizona lost
last week. Than the album these three cannot. But who's got who's got
who's more likely to lose in this last Tennessee? Right, those three those
guys have, but they're playing against quality teams. Yeah, so do you
how weight do you put on there Verzona loses to whoever they have left?
That's trouble. Well, that's trouble. Absolutely, No, Arizona can't lose
any of those games. They have less margin for air as far as that
goes, But they have You know, the likelihood of one of those teams
losing in their conferences is very much significantly. Although the NC the ACC is
nothing, not that good. Well, they're saying the same amount of name,
number of bids as the pact. Well, so I think the one
that has the most to lose is probably Tennessee given them their schedules. So
tough, Yeah, all right. Moving into women's college basketball, Caayland Clark.
She had forty eight points, She had another thirty point triple double,
and she set the single season women's three point record. Did you see that?
Did you see the video that one play where where she went into the
lane kind of recklessly went into the lane, got her back to the basket.
So she just threw the ball up backwards, you know, backwards,
over her head. Hit No, hit the backboard, okay, And she
she wasn't trying to make the shot. She was just trying to hit the
backboard. So she throws it over backwards, over her head, hits the
backboard, she catches it, and then lays it in. Cut the hell
birdish become creative. Yeah it was. I mean, I've never seen anybody
else do that, you know, I mean, I've seen you know,
where guys go, if somebody's leading the fast break, they throw the ball
up, bounce off the backboard. Another guy catches it and dunks, and
I've seen that, but this is one where she threw it back. I
don't know how she thought she was going to be the one to catch it,
but she did. And then and she and she made the layup,
and I'm like, what the hell? She just continues to kind of and
she did pass that that one, that player who who was on AI,
Yeah she did pass her last night as well. But now another one has
come up, another player has come up. They played like way back when
who's got four thousand in some points and they say, she'll never catch you.
They're coming from the wind. Yeah, they're digging them out. I
don't know where where she came from. And pistol Peter, I think is
the one is the one that people are walking And because it wasn't not sure
a guy, it was like three points short. And then they didn't make
the playoffs, so you know, there's three short. They didn't let him
play in the plaoffs or whatever happen. And then he added three point short,
which of course is still a pretty big fee. But he Merriage also
did it in three years, didn't he. I can't remember think he played.
I wish you think he played four years. But were you too old?
Were you too young to see him playing the bag of socks and the
whole bit. I just saw highlights. You saw. He was unbelievable.
He was to the point of ridiculous where you thought, Okay, you're playing
this game by yourself. You do have four other guys, you know,
on your team. I mean it was that. I mean, I thought
he was fantastic and and the stuff that he did. He was way ahead
of his time in terms of what he did. But uh, you know,
he played a different game than everybody else. But I never just saw
clips like Yeah. Moving into n b A for those that haven't been keeping
up with NBA news, the Timberwolves are now in first places of the West.
Uh huh. They were. They were pretty much up there for a
while earlier in the year, I think, yeah, and then they kind
of faded off a little bit and then all their back. So it's just
super interesting this year with the amount of talent that there is in the West,
to see the Timberwolves in first, right, I had no Again,
I looked at the NBA standing the other day for some silly reason, and
I had no idea that they want or the thunder right right right, So
that was that was weird. I'm just just hoping that the kur Led Warriors
get in. They've been playing well, you have them? Yeah, I
didn't, I haven't been didn't know. Okay, No, I would be
do I would bet there again, let's chuck keep it. There's a new
Billy Jean king A Ward which is going to be given to the best coverage
of women's sports. So that's that's that's interesting. Good for good for women's
sports and other other war to give out there. There's a ton of coverage
now compared to hours before I'm sure. Well, just the women's NCAA tournament
is on TV, yeah right, and like on network TV. So yeah,
well, I don't know if you've noticed this shape, but the women
are inherent team the world. They just thought we got a new PAC twelve
to pack two commissioner. She's a woman. Yeah, we have an a
d who's a woman. Here we have there was something else we haven't.
We have an intern who's a woman. Good luck with that. Good luck
with that with us, you know, because they're they're taking over, which
is great, which is great. There was something else. There's a woman
I missed. Miss we'll get to that. Literally. I wanted to talk
to this too, for Jani is married and got married and no one knowing
the hipped it, which you know, no one knew, and he announced
it yesterday and I sent all to my you know, single lady friend said
sorry, well, okay, here comes the question, though, how will
he do this year? He's going to kill it. He's gonna kill it.
His wife will have something to say about that. You know what.
He'll be fine, you may maybe getting married. We'll let him to kind
of like put that, you know, and just do do his business.
No no, you know, he's gonna he's gonna be just fine. He's
gonna be really damn good. And I can't wait to see him in the
regular season in dodgery form, you know. I was looking at the schedule
today. They play two games in Korea against Yadre that are part of the
regular season. They're on like the nineteenth of the twentieth or the twentieth and
the twenty first, while everybody's still in spring training. Then they come back
here, play some more spring training games, and then go into the regular
season schedule, you know, like everybody else. I assume that those two
games buy them a couple of extra days off during the season, but their
regular season starts I think on March twentieth in Korea really the Padres, which
would be really interesting some interesting NFL news. I don't know if you guys
have seen the stuff that's going on with Mikael Hardman, but a lot of
the Jets players are coming out and saying that Hardman wasn't happy with his role,
and actually in one of the games, he leaked the game plan in
one of the games. That's what quarterback Sauce Gardner said. They's just been
going back and forth Hardman. It all started kind of when hard leaked the
game plan to who I think it was. I believe the Eagles. What
happened. I think they still the Jets still won, They still just I
think that was one of the first one of the three games that I lost.
Yep. It was just interesting because always happened that. That's like when
I had bet on a game that Headache Smith points and I lost. You're
still holding on to those oh one hundred you screwed me on a on a
on a bet. You're You're dead to me. You're dead to me,
and I don't forget it if I see you, Oh man, oh forgive
me, father for you need to go to confession. Dude. That that's
that's that's like a grudge in granite in my mind. It's like that will,
that one will never go away. Interesting other NFL news, This one
involves the Cowboys owner Jerry Jones ordered to take a maternity test. Yeah still
this thing. Yeah, well it's been in the courts and a judge is
ordered he's got to take a paternity test for this This woman who says that
you know her, she and her mom were getting money from him. You
know, and then it stopped, and now she's saying, I want,
I want some of my billion dollars. So yes, I saw that.
You know, Jerry, you know what, just cough it Upwboys team suck.
Too many things going on with Just cough it up and and move on.
I got one last thing here, So this one is more soccer news.
But I thought it was interesting. Paul was banned is banned for four
years for doping. It was interesting because it was testosterone. Who was this
Paul Pugler, one of the star players from France. He's banned for four
years for u for using testosterone. Ouch, okay, why you always get
caught, all right, you always get caught? Okay. Yeah. Did
you see that Caleb Boys was making how much she was making in color?
No, ten million? He was not ten million. Came out this morning
or last night. Ten that's kind of verified. Yeah, because of the
campus this year, Doctor Pepper, all the other he was on. He
was the main dude on Dr Pepper. Yeah, yes, so there's ten
million, twenty even leave school. But he's gonna make a lot of money
obviously be in the prestpective. But that's how much. That's how the world
has turned. Yeah, I saw, I saw Darren Ravel on social media's
getting his face kicked in because Caitlin Clark declared for the WNBA today, and
he immediately comes out and says she's going to take a seven hundred and fifty
thousand dollars pay cut, And all the female writers are coming back and saying,
why are you assuming that she's gonna make less money in the WNBA.
All the money she's making isn't nil, isn't money coming through their collective.
It's endorsements and stuff that she has. Those are going to go on.
But you're an idiot. You're an idiot by assuming that the woman who leaves
who's making money in college and leads college, that she's going to lose all
that, and they are shredding him on social media. Point it's especially excellent
point, especially from a pretty good analyst in that world. Well, that's
what Nicole Aarbach said. For somebody who for somebody who does this for a
living, you sure sounds stupid, is basically what her too. She didn't
use the word stupid, but it basically said, for somebody who knows,
who knows the business, you sure don't know the business. Right, No,
that makes him she really shredded him. Yeah, it makes sense,
yeah, because why wouldn't you know that? Right? Yeah, Okay,
we got about a minute. Who we got with the three fourteen? Who
do you have Josh, Josh, Josh fourteen. Let's want to just cool,
Let's go all right, let's take our break. I do want to
bring up a thing in the on the backside talking about the college football playoffs
and all the stuff. This happened, and then we're going to talk about
the question for us. So yeah, and you're Steve is or whatever,
it's going exact that guy. Okay, if I can remember what that well,
No, all right, stick around, Josh pastor coming right up.
The Windows Depot is more than a Windows store. The Windows Depot is a
one soft warehouse with everything you need for your complete Homer model shot. The
aisles of pre built cabinets in a variety of colors, granite and courts,
countertops, sinks, skylights, and hardware. To complete your project. Need
a custom order, we can help. Our designers offer free design services and
can special order everything you need for your kitchen or bathroom remodel today. Shop
the Window Deepot dot com. Or find a location near you. The window
depot more than a windows store. Steve Rivera here to talk about Dorato Rock
Materials. I needed a lot of gravel for my driveway, so I called
Eric at Dorato Rock. He found out the amount and color I needed and
boom, it was taken care of and at a great price. How do
I know radio commercials work. I heard one of his on the radio.
Dorato Rock Materials provides a wide range of landscaping materials, including decorative rock,
boulders, gravel, soil, and sand for residential and commercial use in the
Tucson area. They are locally owned and have been around for more than fifteen
years. Give them a call at five two zero four zero zero four two
three three. Where do you buy exercise equipment? Arizona Health Arizona Health Arizona
Health. Of course, to feel better and look better, it makes sense
to buy your fitness equipment from the people who know it better than anyone else.
At Arizona Health, our goal is to help you choose that's the equipment
you need to reach your goals. Your health and fitness deserve the best you
deserve. Arizona Health the leading edge and exercise equipment on twenty second, just
west of Wilmot. Did you know sports cards a memorabilia are setting record sales
last month of nineteen fifty two tops Mickey Mantle SO for twelve point six million,
Lebron James Rookie SO for five point six Also, collecting cards is a
family fun hobby that can be very profitable. If you want to start a
collection or expand your collection, check out Showtime Cards. They are one of
the leading card shops in the country and have served our local community for twenty
five years. They are located on e Speedway. That's show Time Cards.
Nova Home Loans. We believe everyone deserves the opportunity to enjoy the independence that
comes with home ownership. Paul Volpi is ready to help you find an option
that best fits your needs. Whether you're a first time or veteran home buyer
or want to get cash out with the refinance. Nova has a variety of
home loan programs to meet your unique situation. Visit voltepeteam dot com. That's
Volpe Team dot com or call five two six one eight five six two six
Today n MLS three oh eight seven Arizona b K nine two nine four two
equal housing opportunity, how to commitment to lyndrixon credit rates and available loan programs
or subject to change with ut notice. It's twenty twenty four, a new
year, and it's time to think of recognizing your employees, salespeople, managers,
team members and agents with a Creative Award for the great job they did
in twenty twenty three. Come visit Creative Awards beautiful showroom with over one thousand
items to choose from. Creative Awards is located at two twenty eight West Rackman
Street and Tucson, or visit Creative Awards website at Creative Awards az dot com.
It's that time of year, Summer in Tucson. Time to take control
with Temperature Control for all your air conditioning needs. Will keep you cool during
all the hot streaks. All you have to do is stay in control with
Temperature Control, where we handle everything you need with prompt response, affordable pricing
and sound solutions. We also excel in plumbing and electrical work. We handle
everything you need. Give us a call at five two oh eight one five
five six sixty five or visit our website at tempdash con dot com. And
remember, stay in control with temperature control. Need concrete, hard Works Concrete
has it. We have more than twenty five years of experience with all things
concrete. Installing sidewalks and patio floors are our specialty, and handle masonry work
and retaining walls. We're locally and family owned. Just let us know what
you need, how you want it, and we'll take care of it.
Leave the hard work up to us. We're a hard Works Concrete. Call
us at five one two nine six' two five six six zero or visit
our website Hardworksconcrete dot com. We'll put the work in for you. Gut
bugs, termites, bees, or rodents, Arizona Pest Control will hunt them
down. Arizona Pest Control is your complete desert pest management. Specialist's can't run
or hide from Arizona Pests Control if they use only the latest and most technologically
advanced methods pest elimination available, which minimizes the effects on the environment. Let
Arizona Past Control get rid of your bad bugs, termites, bees, or
rodents serving Tucson and Southern Arizona since nineteen forty seven. Go to azypast dot
com to schedule your free evaluation today. Steve Rivera and Jacin Salles. They
have their eye on the fall. On Tucson's sports station SAT, Fox Sports
fourteen fifteen. Hey, welcome back to I in the ball here Fox Sports
fourteen fifty. I'm Steve Rivera, pe'z Jaginsaus. Now on the phone.
We have former you of a basket Wellfayre Josh Pastor now on ESPN college basketball
analyst and favorite son of Tucson. Josh, how are you, hey,
gentlemen, Thanks for having me on and looking forward to a great opportunity to
be at the game on Saturday, Oregon at Arizona. So tell me what
time are you going to be at Michael on Saturday morning? I have to
schedule the red carpet and the trumpets. No need for that on this one.
I appreciate that, Steve, but you know, all focus will be
just strictly on the on the Oregon Ducks in the Arizona Wildcat Should be an
interesting game, should be a good game. Lot at stake for both teams.
Obviously for Arizona they're trying to hang on to a one seed. They
need to continue to win to get that one seed. Trying to obviously play
for a Pac twelve regular season championship, and for Oregon for them to have
any shot on being back in the discussion of the bubble, they have to
win this game at Arizona on Saturday. It's a must win situation. They
do have Colorado and Utah at home the following week, which will give them
two more good opportunities, but they have to win this game. So a
lot riding on this game for both teams. Well, yeah, and so
you know, Steve and I were talking just a few minutes ago because I
was I was surprised to learn that Tennessee is ranked number four and you know,
in a position to you know, possibly get get that other number one
seed as well. You know, when you think about and we went to
North Carolina, Tennessee, and really Arizona, who are sort of vying for
the last number one seed. You know, my thought was Arizona is probably
the least likely to lose a game because of the strength of the conference versus
Tennessee or or North Carolina. What are your thoughts on that? I mean,
what what do those three teams need to need to do and who can
afford to take a small misstep? Yeah, I would for cert Jay,
I would I would one percent say that Purdue, Yukon, and obviously Houston
are all three probably going to get three of the four number one seeds.
And I think Yukon and Purdue or locks. I think Houston's you know,
if you're gonna win the Big twelve, you're probably a lock for that.
And then obviously then there's a few other schools fighting for that last number one
and three of the that you mentioned Arizona, Tennessee, uh, possibly Carolina.
I really think it's going to be a fight between Arizona Tennessee. You
know, you can maybe you know, see if there's something happens here late
of another team out of the SEC, you know, and I don't think
he would happen. You know, let's Tucky made some kind of crazy run
or something like that, which I you know, you know, maybe you
know, run the table in this last last stretch year. If there's something
in the Big twelve where Iowa State, you know, it made an incredible
run as well too. But I really think it could be fighting down between
Tennessee and Arizona. I think actually those two will be above Carolina, and
I just think it comes down to I think if Arizona drops a game in
the remaining regular season, I think then it becomes an uphill battle for him.
But I think they need to win. They have to win Saturday,
They've got to win next week, and they probably got to win or at
least get to the championship of the PAC twelve Championship. And I think that
in Left Tennessee won the championship of the SEC. I think as long as
Arizona wins out and then gets to the at least of the Championship of the
PAC twelve Championship game, they would put themselves in position to be the one
seed. And you guys know this. You know, look, it makes
a big deal for that first round game, but then you know, once
you get past that first round game game whoever, it really comes down to
the matchup. So you're playing in at eight to nine and if you're the
number one seed, and you know, it just comes down and who you're
matched up to and what happens from there. And then if you're forced to
win that game, once you get to the sweet sixteen and the lead eight
in that round of those two games, there anything can happen. I mean,
it's a crapshoot. It's a you know, it's you got to get
a little lucky. You're gonna have to grind it out. You got to
get a fortunate win along the way. You got to get lucky. And
then of course you've got to have really good players, and which Arizona does.
And I think a big key for Arizona guys. You know, obviously
I've been so high and I've talked about Johnson for so much just the difference
in commy Lloyd's three years. Like, I just think Johnson is such a
difference maker this year because of his ability to defend all five positions on the
floor. But you know, Caleb Love, who I think is going to
be the you know, either the PACT All Player of the Year or one
of the top vote getters from the PACT All Player of the Year. You
know, he's got to A lot will rest on his shoulders and his ability
to make big time games and plays for him in tournament time. And you
know, some of the closer games that they've had, they've they've looked to
go to Caleb to lean on them and so and he'd obviously had an outstanding
year. So a lot will be on Caleb Love shoulders as well. So
I can't remember this, Josh, so remind me. I know, in
ninety seven was not a question of whether you'd be a seed or not,
because you were going to be a seed, and it was you know,
your last two games. But when you were in ninety eight, I think
you were the clear number one team. There was no nervousness about not being
a number one right. No, And in fact, in fact, Steve,
if you remember in ninety eight we started the year, I think like
we were three and two. We had that loss in MAUI do dude,
we lost the Florida State before the Christmas break. We might have lost one
more too along the way there we weren't really playing well. However, we
got extremely hot, as you know, Steve. After the Christmas break,
we we just we steamed roll to Pack ten and just smashed everyone. And
of course we had that unfortunate loss first UFC, we should have gone eighteen
and oher at that time we were seventeen and one, and then the next
we lost the USC on Thursday, and the two nights later we just on
a Saturday afternoon just smashed UCLA and then we were playing as well as anyone.
We didn't have a conference tournament at that time, the Pack ten did
not have the conference tournament, and then we went rolling into the night Tournament
and just still haunts me to this day. Still, I still think about
it daily. It still makes me sick to even talk about it. We
should have been back to back national championships and been in that rare as much
as a rarefight there to win a national championship, to have gone back to
back. We just you know, hit a buzzsall in the in the Utah
game, the way we shot the ball and the triangle and two we just
couldn't. We couldn't hit the you know, we couldn't hit the Pacific Ocean
standing on the pier there in Anaheim. We just wasn't able to do it,
and still still haunts me to this day. You could have called you
down again and said, Dad, I told you this is how easy it
is. Yeah. After after we won the first one, I remember calling
my father, this is easy. We're gonna do this every year, And
I remember him vividly telling me that it savor this because it's so hard to
do. It's in this almost an impossible feat. And since then I fully
have understood what he meant, and it is it is a very very hard
thing to do. And I will say I do think two things. One,
I do think Arizona is in Tommy Lloyd's this is a third season,
and he's done an incredible job. He's he's he's been outstanding, as everybody
knows. But I do think his team is best suited and prepared to make
a run to Glendale, which is where the Final four is at this year,
of any of his three teams, I think this is his best team.
And then secondly, I think Yukon obviously have you know, obviously I've
watched a lot of basketball of different teams, different leagues. I think Yukon
has the best chance to repeat as national champions of any team in the last
decade that has that has won a national champion. They have a real legit
chance of repeating. They're really, really good and they have a real shot
at repeating. Okay, as good a chance as you guys thought you had
in ninety eight. Better chance. What do you think? Because I kind
of I've kind of compared them to that. I just think that they're I
think they're going to be a tough gut here a couple of things. Number
One, they're all four of their games because they're going to be in the
East region, are going to be you know, it's going to be a
drive driving distance for their fan base. And they really you know, only
people you know, you know follow Yukon basketball, but if you they really
travel well with their fans. It's sort of like Arizona going to Las Vegas
or or Los Angeles or whatever, San Diego, you know they're going to
have a good following. So that's what happens with Yukon. So I don't
see how they're not getting to Glendale because it's almost going to be like four
home games for them. But their talent level, how hard they play,
They've got shooting at all, all spots on the floor. You know,
I would say, I don't know if this is good of a shot.
Because the team in ninety seven, we had everyone back, we had multiple
lottery picks, and we just we blew it. I mean, there's no
other way to talk about it. We just we just blew that Utah game.
And now Utah obviously you look who they had that year, and Steve
knows they had a they had a really good team. But but I think
you can it's not the same. But they're in that they're in that talking
uh, in that circle that you could say they've got a real shot.
Any Look, anything can happen when you get to the tournament. But I
just think it's it's gonna be hard for them to be beat at this point.
So do you look as a former coach and current coaches probably still looking,
do you at this time of year March happens, do you look at
teams differently and say, Okay, this team is built for it, not
built for it, or this team cannot afford to do this or that.
Yeah, yes, yes, I can see some different things on that.
And and and Steve, you've you've covered a Jay you understand you you both
of you guys know. And when you get to the tournament in a neutral
site situation, I mean, there's a lot of factors that go involved and
you just you know, it's it's as as rewarding as the profession is,
it can be very grueling at the same time because if you it can be
cruel to you because if you know, you go in the tournament, like
last year Arizona ends up when the PAC twelve championship, had a great year,
and then within six days later they're done. The season is over,
and it's all anyone focused on was a loss to Princeton. And and that's
it's cruel, it's it's it's it's awful as it's just it's it's no fun
when you're because that's what the whole focus is. And it can be just
so abruptly ended. That's what makes the tournament so uh darn special, is
that things can be just up and ended abruptly as as you know, as
quick as anything, and so and and you and and what happens in the
tournament. Every team goes through it where to win it or to get to
a deep end of the final four, you're going through, you're gonna play
a game where you don't play well. You just kind of get out physical.
There's it's a grimy, grinding type of game, and it's an ugly
game. You're not shooting it well. But those are the games you have
to find a way to win the game and to be able to advance.
And it's sort of like Steve knows, like with us in ninety seven when
we won it all, we had that South Alabama game. It was an
ugly bad basketball game in a way, but you had to find a way
to win that, to to put yourselves in a position. And that's what
happens and the teams every team usually encounters that. Now, Yukon last year
did not encounter that. They were stressed free in their six games in March.
They went right through and and and beat everybody pretty handily. So you
know, they that that was kind of not the norm, but most teams
will have to encounter that and be able to get through that. Josh Passner,
You'll be on the call for esp IN on Saturday with the Arizona Oregon
also player and coach at Arizona and coach at Georgia Tech and Memphis and all
these cool places. So so, Josh, a little bit about Arizona.
Now, I don't know if you got a chance to watch a game last
night. You know, I thought, I thought, so what what you
know? What do you make of these guys? Because Steve and I talk
about all the time their unpredictability, call it inconsistency from one game to the
next, and even within a game. Uh, you know, as you
made some runs at them last night, I'm sure Arizona fans are nervous about
that. What what are your thoughts on what these guys are doing game in
and game out? Yeah, Jay, you know. Look, I mean
one is it's really hard to win on the road. I mean, I
don't care what it is. I mean they've you know, obviously even playing
at Arizona State, and I know Arizona has favored going in and keep the
fan base and expecting them just to you know, win by a lot.
But it's hard. Winning on the road is really hard. It's really really
hard, and and and so any road win is is a special win.
Uh but but Jay, you you ailed it. I mean, you didn't
even need me to come on in this segment to say it. It's everything
about Arizona is consistency, and it's it's it's all about consistency with them.
It's the consistency of Caleb Love because when he's playing as like the PAC twelfth
Player of the Year, they're just a different team. So if Arizona is
playing at a high level defensively with the consistency of of their ability to do
it, they're a high level team. I mean obviously offensively, there's they're
as good as anyone. They're as fast as anyone. They can score as
well as anybody. They're great in offensive transition. Uh, they move the
ball, they share the ball. But it really comes down to the keyword,
Jay, Are they? Are they? The consistency of them? I
mean, you know, they've had a couple of times where they've been inconsistent,
and uh, and there's and there's been some losses to show for that,
and and and and I would also tell you this what will be interesting
is can and you brought this up earlier J two, that you know,
they haven't seen the physicality night in, night out that maybe the Big twelve,
the SEC, the Big East you know, has seen every time they
step on the floor, and so maybe Arizona hasn't seen that as much.
Will that be a factor when they get to the NT tw A tournament and
maybe the game is called differently, you know, by the officiating, and
so how will that you know, how will that be? How do the
guys respond? So, look, Arizona is really good. It would not
like there'd be no upset for them to win the national championship. Like they're
good enough to win the entire national championship. And you guys know this,
like, there's only a certain amount of teams that can realistic. Someone might
get hot and win and win it. But you guys know there's a there's
a there's a number of teams that you can count on your one hand,
maybe two hands total, that has a realistic shot of winning it all on
Arizona is one of them. Yeah, but but you know how they respond
in the in a situation where it could be a you know, just a
dogfight of a game or or you know, whatever it may be, or
the physicality of something that they haven't seen a lot in the Pac twelve,
that's gonna be that that's gonna be the question mark. And that's where you
mentioned the word consistency. Okay, we have someone to ask you, but
we have about two minutes. I'm gonna let uh, I'm gonna let Jay
give you some career career, career career advice. But you must be enjoying
what you're doing right now. I love what I'm doing. I'm having a
blast. It's been outstanding. I've worked with great people, I've worked for
great people, I've worked with with multiple networks, so I really have have
had a good time with it. It's it's now. It's a lot of
travel, but I've but I've really had a blastet that I've really enjoyed it
more fun in the studio or or at the games. You know what,
I've enjoyed both. It's they're both different, and I like both of them.
And uh, you know, when you're at the games, you get
the the adrenaline rush and you're there at the atmosphere and the energy. Obviously
in studio you're you're watching a lot of games all at once. But I
I I really like both. Don't have a don't have a preference on either.
Okay, hey you saw your buddy last night. Mike maybe as big
as ever. And I'm sure I guess I joked to him. For a
guy who doesn't like to talk or didn't like to talk thirty years ago,
it is now talking for the Sacramento Kings. He's really doing he's really doing
well for him. I know he wants to try to also get into coaching.
Told me and and and the other thing is he he looks like he's
obviously a bodybuilder, and he like crazy he couldn't play basketball anymore because his
shoulders and his biceps are too big, but he's doing well, and he's
doing well for himself. And what an incredible player that that that he was
both in high school obviously at the University of Arizona and then in the NBA,
you know, one of the great guards just and he's done extremely,
extremely well and he's a great guy. Okay, I just wanted to say,
Josh, because I made a comment last time you were on about all
the pieces of paper that you have on the desk when you're doing the studio
show. I'm just gonna let you know right now, make sure that you're
aware we're only giving you one copy of the stats during timeouts on Saturday.
Okay, just one, that's all you get. Every time I'm in studio,
people are like they can't believe all my notes that I have out all
the I have all these papers of notes, and I'm treating it like I'm
the head coach Scott in preparation for a game and so no, but but
but the good news is when you're when I'm at a game, I'm only
got paper for two teams, but I'm in the studio, I've got to
be locked in for about twenty different teams. So uh, well, I'll
make sure I'm doing the game with the legendary Dave Pash on Saturday, so
I'll make sure I don't take up any of his space, and I keep
my thing nice and neat on the on media row. Right now, do
me a favorite next time you're in studio, take the dentist with you.
That would be classic glad, would be classic. Little little shield there they
a lot of people have asked me about that to wear at one time.
I might one of these days they have to pull it out, break it
out, break it out. Thank you, Josh, Shosh. We'll see
you sad day Saturday guy. Thank you, Jesh Pastor. You didn't give
me your advice? What stop coaching and just do this? Oh yeah,
I'm not even gonna say that to him? Are you kidding me? See,
you talked talk, You talked talk. When it came down to it,
you could do it. No, you know what I forgot what it
was what you're referring to. That's what happened. I supposed to tell hell
is he talking about? All right, let's take our break. We're gonna
come back. Last segment. We'll take your calls. Five two zero four,
one six seventy four to forty. Steve and I have a couple of
topics, but would love to hear anything that you want to talk about,
So stick around. If you're an Arizona men's basketball fan, you know it's
been successful for nearly forty years. Now take a look back at the Ludelsen
era in my new book, Lessons from Loot. It was a labor of
love through the eyes of twenty five former players, coaches and friends to give
insight to the coach and the man who led them, competed against them,
and inspired them. Twenty five chapters for his twenty five years as Arizona's beloved
coach. Lessons from lut is an insight to how he built the program into
a national power. What one email me at Steve dot RIVERA ninety five at
gmail dot com. Hi, this is formal while get leman huntly with Arizona
Health, Imagine how home GM can change your health, your comfort, and
your time. Arizona Health is everything you need to transform your personal space and
your life. We off a complete line of cardio machines, multigms and freewrate
equipment. I'll certify fitness experts and technicians will set you up with the right
equipment and training to get you started to keep you going. Visit our shureroom
today at twenty second in Wilmot, Arizona Health the lead edge and exercise equipment.
What's your goal a new career or career advancement? How about transferring to
a four year college. PEMA Community College can help you make some day today
and reach your goals affordably on your schedule. With over one hundred programs to
choose from in financial laid available, It's time to earn the degree or certificate
you need to prepare for the career you want. PEMA offers free career exploration
classes so you can choose the field that's right for you. Learn how at
Pima dot Edu. Slash Someday Heat and There Working Estate up care make sure
your family is safe and warm during the cooler months. I'm Ronorinas, the
owner of Picture Ocks, Cooling, Heating and Plumbing. Heating is our middle
name, and we can make sure your furnace is running efficiently. Call us
at five two zero four four zero four zero six nine or honest heating and
plumbing service to the Tucson area for over twenty years, Texture Rocks going,
heating and plumbing. The holidays are fast approaching. After a difficult year,
We're sure everyone could use a little financial help. Pyramid Federal Credit Union is
bringing back the Holiday Helper Loan, a low entry, short term loan that
can help get you through the holidays. In support of our community, Pyramid
is making a donation to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona from each a
loon. For more information or apply online, visit Pyramid SEU dot com slash
Holiday Helper. All loads are on approved credit. Other restrictions may apply.
Dearramid Federal Credit Union Insured MCUA. Do you want to be part of a
winning team? A Team Security is looking for friendly, outgoing event security guards
and event staff to be a part of our team. We've been providing our
outstanding services to some of Arizona's biggest sporting events and concerts for over twenty years.
We want you to join the action. A Team offers a fun and
exciting opportunity to work in the sports and entertainment industry, with flexible schedules that
are perfect for those looking for a part time job or a second income.
Come be a part of a winning team The A Team Apply online today at
a Teamsecurity dot Net. Steve Rivera and Jacin Salez. They have their Eye
on the Ball on Tucson Sports Stage jet Fox Sports fourteen fifty streaming live on
the iHeartRadio app. Hey, welcome back to Eye the Ball hero Fox Sports
fourteen fifty. I'm Steve. He's Jay. Gotta guy said with us.
Should have so many very here to visit. So the question we couldn't talk
to Josh always It's always great, he said, you know, he's so
good Again when he was here as a player, he knew that he was
he could be doing media or anyone of a number of things. He was
always so well spoken. You're just smart dude, hard worker, does his
homework, knows his stuff really good for diligent, you know. Okay,
So let's go back to the question. Sam tweeted at me, Steve,
do you think you blows leads with poor decision making and still is still dependent
on threes when they don't need to shoot them. First of all, I
don't think they blow leads by that meaning that like they're doing something wrong or
doing something horrible that they blow leads all the time. The Steve is was
gonna say, is other teams are playing and other teams to do things,
and every and every coach will tell you that they're always and even Tommy said
it last night, they're always expecting the other team, whether it's a football
game, a baseball game, a basketball and whatever, to make a run
because their competitors they compete there. You know, it's very few instances where
a team just lays down. And I know we've seen that in the past,
and we've seen Arizona teams do that, uh, particularly in the Kevin
Summeling years. But the point being that to imply that they blow leads,
Do they lose leads, Yes, I don't think they blow them, like
they quit playing and you know, other teams are going to do stuff and
and and then you've got to figure out what they're doing to end a run
or whatever it is. So and I just think that no. I think
if if, if the three is there, they get it. You know,
when I was watching them last night, you know, when a cut
that lead, I'm like, they could use a three, but just get
it, Just get somewhere and get a basket, Just get a basket.
So you don't I don't think they rely on three. So so last night.
I wanted to use this in my story today, but I didn't because
I spaced it like we do things today. But to me, it's like
a child. You feed them them like a little child, and they eat
all the food, they get bored and then they start kind of like you
know what, playing with their food past, and that's what they kind of
do. Uh, we've got a fourteen point lead, let's just show up
and win the game. Blah blah blah. Sometimes and other times the team,
the team comes out. In fact, Bobby Hurley, did you see
his comments? I had one of my said he's seen since he's been there.
Yeah, that and he said that it was almost like methodical that he
had him right where they wanted him in the second half because he knew that
they were gonna come out and play hard. His team. Yeah, and
they did, and they did and they did so you know, and Arizona
just withstood that and didn't They didn't panic, they didn't freak out. They
just did what they were doing. You know, the guys that they have
can make the plays that they make, so I know, I don't think
they rely on the three. I think they use it right because they have
it well last night. Also, don't did you did you watch all Tommy?
He talked about something we talked about every now and again with love I
have. I feel little uncomfortable what he does with the threes, like no,
no, no, good shot? Yeah, you know we all everybody
does that. What are you doing with a twenty five footer? And then
he makes it? Yeah? But see I see him take it every time
he takes a shot. I think he's gonna make it every time? Does
he? Well? Yeah, but that's what I'm saying there. And I
can't remember the last time Arizona had a guy that when he lined up for
a three that I thought, this is going in Selene right, Selene right,
But but he's not Selene that. No, he's not Selene. But
he's better than anybody I think they've had since Selen since then. Don't don't
and don't throw what's your name Gabe York out there? All right, don't
throw any of those guys out there, you know? But so uh but
every time, I every time he even though the ones were, there are
times where he's like, you know, twenty five feet and somebody, some
guy's just gonna let him shoot that. They shoot the damn ball. Yeah,
well Tommy feels the same way as everybody else. Yeah, okay,
good shot. Yeah, but but he wants to tail it. No,
he's only got three or four games left to look and and and and look
what what he what Caleb Love has done so far his work for them.
Has he made the one at the end that they need to make to win
a game? He has not? And so that's a question of Okay,
so is there something besides you know the fact that you're taking a shot.
Is it the fact that you're taking a shot to win a game? Is
that messing with your head or something like that? I don't know. Well,
let's look go to the callers and see what they feel about if we
get a caller too with their trust and Caleb too, because some like him
doing what he's doing. Some say well what are you doing? And I
know there's people out there who say that, you know, he's got to
give up the ball more that he forces it sometimes and maybe he does.
I was looking for him to force it last when he got to it.
When he did, when when when as you cut into the lead, he
did. I was looking for him to say, I'm doing this myself.
Get the hell out of the way. And he did not do that.
That's why I loved his game last night. Only took twelve shots. Yeah,
hit five two crucial threes. I love the way you played last night
because it was not over over the he's a volu shooter. He didn't go
up the past that he made the pella was was unbelievable that the full copacity.
Yeah, make this call. Hi, you're on the air andline on
the ball. Hi, Jay, Hi, Steve, this is done.
What's up done? I gotta disagree with Jay. Okay, when you give
up sixteen points of your need in about a dozen possessions, that's flowing a
lead. If you give up sixteen points over eight minutes, that's losing a
lead. And that's what this team does. And that's the part that's why
the question comes up, is because they'll be sitting there twelve fourteen points ahead
and next thing you know, it's only two, and then the other team
makes a three pointer. Now they're down one. Those are blown leads.
When when it happens that fast, that's blowing a lead. In my opinion,
Okay, I hear you. This is this is like my debate with
you a momentum novementium. Well, I come with don I mean, it's
not that they're purposely blowing it. They're just losing the lead, which is
kind of similar. It's coming the same you were talking the same language.
I guess what I what I was trying to be clear is that when you
say they blow the leads, it's like, yeah, like they're like they're
not like they stop trying. And I don't think they do that. I
think, you know, other teams come at them, and they and they
and they and you know, they catch up or you know, cut into
the leads or whatever. I don't think they purposely and I don't think they
stop playing hard. I think, you know, there are times when other
teams play better and they and they and they catch up. That's what I
was I guess that's what I was saying. Well, yeah, I mean
during the game, sometimes the momentum switch to the other side, like really
fast, and Arizona misses the shots that they always take. I mean,
they always take the long jump shots when they have them, or they try
to go inside, you know, when they have it, and it just
seems like sometimes the momentum switches to what the other side and the lead goes
away pretty quickly. But they play fast and that might be a part of
that. Yeah, yeah, that could be too right. Their possessions don't
last a long, that's the whole thing. And they started l's if they
had eleven turnovers, which last game they only have five in the forty five
point blowout. They do kind of fays play fast and loose sometimes when they
don't have to. I agree. I think I think that there are times
where you can, when the lead's getting away from you, work the ball
a little bit, get a good shot, make it a layup or one
of those middle eights and flooters, and make the other team wait to get
back on offense. But they don't do that. That's not the way they
play. And yeah, you know, if they do that doesn't work.
You know what the criticism will be, why are you playing to not lose
the game, because that happens too and that's how other teams catch up.
I just I don't think anybody plays not win the game. Do you know
that way? You know? Yeah, right, exactly exactly, And that's
to Jay's point, but no, exactly. You start kind of playing prevent
defense and they start scoring, right, you know what I'm saying. Oh
yeah, right, exactly, Okay, done, thanks about don thank guy.
Yeah, anybody want to call him please do five, two, four,
one sixty. Uh. Let me ask you another thing. Do you
your thoughts on the ball? The battle umer? Uh? Eight straight double
doubles. I think he's changed some minds of people who were calling him soft,
right Uh. And maybe that's still the case. But he's done very
well in the last two months. He's a factor and and and he's he's
the guy that clearly as the season is moving along, he's getting better and
better and better to the point of he's pretty reliable right now. Yeah,
I know one of them is his rebounding has gotten better, right, Yeah,
he's getting I mean he got some he got some key and hard rebounds
last night where you know as you missed like like I mean, I still
can't you know that the rebound that he didn't get at the end of the
Washington State game, you know where if he gets that rebound, aires won
to wins that game and where not. Nobody's worried about anything right now,
right, but I feel like he's he's gotten tougher underneath the basket. He's
getting more of the fifty to fifty balls and and more importantly, he's getting
the ones he should get. And that's what I've seen. But you know,
the stretch of double doubles first time since Alf Fleming. We're talking in
the mid seventies, right then, there was anybody's done that, and there's
a gun him eating who was here to do that? Didn't do that,
and didn't do that and set a record for uh you know, set a
pack cub record for double doubles, uh, you know, in that one
season. So I mean to your point, I think that I think you
said this and maybe just said it differently. The pieces are coming together.
They seemed to be seven or eight guys, you know strong because to me,
the last piece that's kind of been missing over the last seven games has
been Colin Boswell. He had one great game. It would if he gets
you know, if he gets into some ass, Josh Passer said, starts
being a little more consistent with that, and maybe, you know, maybe
getting yelled at on the court by Tommy, by Tommy Lloyd. I think
that's helped. Last week Tremo may have flipped the switch, I think.
So we talked to both of them about it. I think you know how
that is. You kind of just recalibrate and say, yeah it. Maybe
you realize, Okay, I was doing I was being stupid, or I
was doing some bad decision making bad decision. I wasn't given the effort that
that was expected me. And somebody had to call me on it. Sure,
and it was the boss and it was the bos and he called him
on it in such a big way. Everybody got to see it, almost
to the point where you almost had kind of felt like he apologized, I'm
telling Tommy, yeah not but and then you saw that, you know.
Boswell said, he texted him that day and apologized for the effort and the
whole he realized. Maybe there was the realization, Okay, whatever I'm doing,
no, that's what he said, that's not working. I gotta stop
doing that. He said, I realized that that's what he's there to get
on me. Yeah, and he was and and uh, I don't know
if it was meal Box or who was on Roberts Robinson, one of the
two of them last night said when Colin Boswell is good, Arizona can win
the National champions Jay, okay, I'll go you there. Yes, we
know that if what Pella Larson is good and didn't Josh to say, if
Caleb Blove is Taylor Blove. Guess what they're talking about? Pieces you're talking
about, pieces about all those pieces, but the has been missing. This
is the one thing that national people, the national people is there. Arizona's
great. Guess what they see those games or see those stretches. They don't
see the bad bad Arizona, right, but they see those stretches where God,
this team is really good. Really yeah, it's like good, you
see good. I've been saying that McHale's not like what it used to be.
Blah blah blah. Get over here. When was the last time he
was here? Get over here, you know, and let me. Can
I tell you how to raise your kids when you don't have no kid,
you can try well, you know what I say. People who tell me
how to raise a kid you don't have any kids, shut up. That's
kind of it's appropriate. Come to the games and let me tell you.
Yeah, get I get here and then tell us, you know, right,
not just one game, yeah, come here in a few Yeah,
I mean that Washington State game, even in a loss, that was and
with the lights in the camera. It was crazy. So if you miss
those games, oh I wasn't there, well, didn't shut up. Yeah,
and I'll tell you how to raise your kids, even though I don't
have it. All right, it was fun. Josh Passer, thanks for
being here. Anthony Leone, good luck to you. And then Audrey Human
isn't her quest to get on the Olympic team. We might have a good
guest tomorrow, doctor President Robert C. Robbins joining us, and we're gonna
we're gonna ask some questions. Well yeah, you know, and he knows
that, and we're not on the So doctor Robbins will be joining us at
three fifteen tomorrow, so be sure to check in on that and we'll get
to some of the issues and then Jake Fisher and maybe another guest on top
of that. So be sure to come back tomorrow and we'll get on it
and then head into the weekend. So be sure to be back tomorrow.