Arizona vs. No. 21 Oregon State

Bryan Roy, assistant sports editor

This year’s Pacific 10 Conference dark horse comes from the only team that controls its Rose Bowl destiny: The Beavers. They’ve shown, so far, that overconfidence hasn’t been a factor, in light of defeating then-No. 1 USC in Corvallis, Ore. If Arizona can reform into its early-season dominance, the Wildcats have a chance. And that’s only if David Hasselhoff shows up.
No. 21 Oregon State 35, Arizona 21

Nicole Dimtsios, sports writer

As No. 21 Oregon State is looking to continue its march to the top of the Pac-10, they must stop in Tucson. In hopes of an upset in the desert, Arizona will play against the Beavers in the style of last week’s second half against Oregon. Like the game resembling the Wildcats’ contest with USC, Arizona will make it interesting by keeping the score close throughout the game. Even with the defense clicking, Arizona’s offense still falls short at the end.
No. 21 Oregon State 28, Arizona 21

Bobby Stover, sports writer

After last week’s loss to Oregon, Arizona players and coaches were saying the team did not appear ready. Others said it felt the UA looked tired at times. Oregon was not a throw-away game. So where was the intensity? This week is another, even tougher test. Will Arizona remember to play the first half of this game? It’s hard to tell, and that inconsistency will hurt the Wildcats again as a second-half surge will not be enough against this tough Beaver team.
No. 21 Oregon State 24, Arizona 21

Arizona vs. UC-Santa Barbara

Bryan Roy, assistant sports editor
Both men’s and women’s basketball teams play the same punching bag-type UC schools over the next four days. Both Arizona squads have first-year head coaches and relatively young squads. The only difference? Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill have potential NBA careers, while the WNBA counterpart scouts probably haven’t visited McKale Center lately.
UCSB 69, Arizona 63

Nicole Dimtsios, sports writer
Paradise was good to the Wildcats. They return home from Hawaii to face UC-Santa Barbara in a game that would help Arizona continue their winning ways. The Gauchos enter Tucson a little far from home. With help from forwards Ify Ibekwe and Amina Njonkou, (try saying those names three times fast) and the perimeter offense from Arizona’s guards, the Wildcats should earn their third victory of the season.
Arizona 53, UCSB 48

Bobby Stover, sports writer
When I saw this young Arizona team play in its first exhibition game of the season, it showed a little fight. Two weeks later in its opening-season tournament the Wildcats proved to be strong-willed, as they lasted three overtimes to pick up their first win of the season over Layola Marymount en route to a Hawaii Tournament Championship. First-year head coach Niya Butts said Arizona’s turnaround will take some time. But perhaps the energetic Southerner works faster than anyone knew, including her.
Arizona 71 UC Santa Barbara 65