Cason a Lott Trophy quarterfinalist

Arizona cornerback Antoine Cason was announced as a quarterfinalist for the Ronnie Lott Trophy yesterday.

The award is presented to college football’s best defensive player of the year and rewards character as well as athletic performance.

The trophy was started in 2004 and has donated more than $300,000 to various charities throughout the country.

The previous winners were Georgia’s David Pollack in 2004, Alabama’s DeMeco Ryans in 2005 and California’s Daymeion Hughes last season.

Cason is among 17 quarterfinalists, who include four Pacific 10 Conference defenders.

The winner will be announced Dec. 9 in Laguna Beach, Calif.

Women’s hoops picked 8th in Pac-10 preseason poll

The Arizona women’s basketball team was picked to finish eighth in the Pacific 10 Conference preseason poll released yesterday. The Wildcats received 31 points in the coaches poll, ahead of Oregon State and Washington State.

Seven-time Pac-10 champion Stanford was picked to finish first for the eighth straight year, gaining eight first-place votes and 79 points.

ASU and California received the other two first-place votes, with USC and UCLA rounding off the top five.

– Arizona Daily Wildcat