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What to watch for when Arizona men’s basketball opens Big 12 play vs. TCU

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What to watch for when Arizona men’s basketball opens Big 12 play vs. TCU


And so it begins.

More than nine months after ending its wildly successful run in the Pac-12 Conference with another title, Arizona is on the cusp of officially beginning its journey through the Big 12. The anticipation around Wildcat Nation rivals that of another recent date on the calendar.

“It’s a little bit like Christmas Eve when you’re a little kid growing up,” coach Tommy Lloyd said Sunday, the day before the UA hosts TCU. “We’ve been talking about this for a long time, and it’s here. It’s Big 12 Eve for us, and we’re fired up.”

Added junior guard Jaden Bradley: “We’re excited. Going into probably one of the best conferences known for basketball, so we’re excited going into this. As a basketball player, that’s one of the things that you want to play best of the best, and going into the Big 12 we’re definitely getting that for 20-plus games.”

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Arizona (6-5) was picked to finish 5th in the league back in October but struggled going through its nonconference slate. The five losses are its most before Jan. 1 since the 2010-11 season, and as it stands right now the Wildcats probably wouldn’t make the NCAA Tournament after being a No. 1 or No. 2 seed the previous three years under Lloyd.

But Lloyd doesn’t see any difference in his team’s “vibe” since returning from a short holiday break, one that allowed he, his staff and the players to all reset.

“I think you always look at it as like, hey, it’s a fresh start,” Lloyd said. “You break your season up into little segments, and the Christmas break is a natural pause. So now let’s get back to it. I think the team has a good vibe around it right now, but now you got to go out on game day. You got to build some game confidence. And that’s what I’m hoping our next step is.”

Here’s what to look for when the Wildcats host the Horned Frogs (7-4) at McKale Center:

A stern defensive test right out the gate

TCU ranks 17th in the country in adjust defensive efficiency, a few spots ahead of Arizona (20th). The Horned Frogs allow 63.8 points per game on 40.3 percent shooting, with opponents making only 28 percent of their 3-point attempts.

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“They’re a great defensive team,” Lloyd said. “They got this big guy, (Ernest Udeh), and his ball screen defense is about as good as you’re going to see. His ability to get his hands on balls from the way he guards ball screens and the deflections he gets from the 5 position, it’s really impressive, and it really caught my attention. They do a great job protecting the paint. You beat somebody, there’s another defender waiting for you.”

Arizona has faced five top-100 defenses this season and lost each of those games, and against teams ranked higher than TCU the Wildcats have scored 55 (Duke) and 54 (UCLA) points, respectively.

“It’s not going to be easy for us,” Bradley said. “We gotta adjust and find ways to win games. We’re going to have to work for a full 40 minutes to get wins.”

The Frogs have had to lean on defense because their offense has struggled for the most part. They’re shooting 43.3 percent, worst in the Big 12, are second-to-last from 3 (32.9) and rank 343rd out of 363 Division I schools in free throw shooting (64.0).

They also are missing one of their leaders, senior Frankie Collins, who broke his foot three games ago and is out for the season. The former Michigan and ASU guard leads TCU in scoring (11.2 points per game), assists (4.4) and steals (1.9).

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“TCU and Jamie Dixon is a program, it’s not about a player,” Lloyd said. “He’s had so much success over a long career, and Jamie’s one of the class acts in our business. Missing one player, I’m sure it sets it back. And obviously we know Frankie Collins is a good player. We played against him every year I’ve been here.”

Leaders wanted

A year ago Arizona had several players that you could consider the team’s leader, two of which are in the NBA and the other is at Indiana. This season? Not so much, despite having the reigning Pac-12 Player of the Year in Caleb Love and a pair of returning guards in Bradley and KJ Lewis. None of them have stepped up to be the guy in that respect, but there’s still time.

“We’re still working on that,” Lloyd said. “I think we have guys stepping up in that position. I think Caleb’s certainly trying to grow. I think JB, in his own way, he’s a little bit more quiet, but I think he definitely has a voice with the guys. And then now I’m hopeful, as we get into conference play, some of our veteran transfers can kind of step up in that role. Saying we have a definitive leader, we’re probably not there yet. Last year we had some guys that at this time, or on day one, I can say, yeah. Pelle (Larsson), Keshad (Johnson), Oumar (Ballo) in his own way.

“Leadership’s huge, but leadership can come in a variety of ways. What leaders do is they can pull people together in tough times. They can help hold people accountable to a standard. Whether that’s effort or execution, and it’s great when it can come from a voice within the team, as opposed to just coming from the coaches. When you can have your coaching and your coaching staff aligned with the leadership of your team, I think you’re gonna find a group that’s really in sync. We’re fighting for that. I don’t think there’s any anybody on either side working against each other.”

A very different matchup from the previous meeting

Arizona and TCU last faced off in the 2022 NCAA Tournament, a second-round 1/8 game in San Diego that saw the Wildcats escape with an 85-80 victory in overtime. The Wildcats had three future NBA draft picks on the court, with Bennedict Mathurin going for 30 and Christian Koloko 28 while Dalen Terry nearly won it in regulation after getting a steal at halfcourt but his layup was just after the buzzer.

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“I remember that the game came down to a few offensive rebounds, I think kind of on free throws,” Lloyd said. “I remember Ben Mathurin was awesome. I remember Dalen Terry hit a huge three in the corner. I remember Kerr (Kriisa) gave a great effort trying to come back and play when I don’t think people realize he probably had no business trying to play with that sprained ankle that he sprained in the Pac-12 Tournament. It was an awesome game.”

That TCU team was just as good defensively but far more methodical on offense, ranking 246th in adjusted tempo. The 2024-25 Frogs are averaging nearly three more possessions per game and take more than 35 percent of their shots in transition, compared to 25.1 percent in 2022.

TCU still makes teams work on defense, the average length of possession (18.5 seconds) one of the longest in the country. Arizona has the 20th-shortest average possession length (15.4).



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2026 NFL draft: 3 potential trades back from No. 3 for Arizona Cardinals

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2026 NFL draft: 3 potential trades back from No. 3 for Arizona Cardinals



Since the Arizona Cardinals want to trade back from the No. 3 picks, here are three deals that could work.

The Arizona Cardinals have the third pick in the 2026 NFL draft, which begins this week on Thursday. All the reports coming out are saying that they want to trade out of the pick to acquire more draft picks.

But what does a trade look like and who could be involved?

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The Kansas City Chiefs are involved in talks at some level. ESPN’s Adam Schefter expects trade talks to heat up this week.

NFL teams use a variation of a trade value chart when it comes to draft picks. Now, what a team actually is willing to give up can be influenced by potential competition with other teams, but we can’t count on that.

Here is the general trade value chart teams use.

Here are some potential deals that could be done.

Kansas City Chiefs

The Chiefs have two first-round picks, which would be appealing to the Cardinals, who reportedly want to make a move for quarterback Ty Simpson, and the 29th pick might be just the spot to get him.

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The third overall pick is worth 514 points.

The Chiefs’ picks at No. 9 (387 points) and No. 29 (202 points) together are worth 589.

To make up the difference, the Cardinals could give up No. 65 (78 points) for a total of 592 points.

One deal could be:

  • Cardinals receive get No. 9 and No. 29 (589 points)
  • Chiefs receive No. 3 and No. 65 (592 points)

Another could be:

  • Cardinals receive No. 9, No. 29, No. 74 and 2027 third-round pick (653 points + value of future third-round pick, which is 36-78 points)
  • Chiefs receive No. 3 and No. 34 (689 points)

The Cardinals keep their third-round pick and the Chiefs essentially move back five spots from No. 29.

Dallas Cowboys

The Cowboys have the 12th and 20th picks but no pick in the second round.

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Pick No. 12 is 347 points and No. 20 is 269 for a total of 616.

This deal is close:

  • Cardinals receive No. 12, No. 20 (616 points)
  • Cowboys receive No. 3, No. 65 (592 points)

New Orleans Saints

The Saints are perhaps a dark horse to move up, although they do not have two first-round picks. They have the No. 8 pick, worth 406 points. Their second-round pick, at No. 42, is worth 142 points.

This deal could work:

  • Cardinals receive No. 8, No. 42 (548 points)
  • Saints receive No. 3, No. 104 (547 points)

Then the Cardinals could use their two second-round picks to then move back into Round 1 to get Ty Simpson.

They could trade No. 34, No. 42 and No. 65 (395 points) for No. 28, No. 38 and No. 106 (398 total points).

Get more Cardinals and NFL coverage from Cards Wire’s Jess Root and others by listening to the latest on the Rise Up, See Red podcast. Subscribe on Spotify, YouTube or Apple podcasts.

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Dust returns to Phoenix area after hazy weekend – KTAR.com

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Dust returns to Phoenix area after hazy weekend – KTAR.com


PHOENIX — Breezy winds kicked up a blanket of dust across the Valley on Sunday, and forecasters say more is on the way this week.

Visibility in Phoenix became so bad on Sunday that Sky Harbor airport stopped flights for over an hour

The wind and dust peaked Sunday afternoon and gradually improved into the evening, said Michael Graves, an air quality meteorologist with the Arizona Department of Environmental Quality.

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“You might’ve seen the mountains a bit obscured in the distance,” Graves told KTAR News 92.3 FM on Monday. “A lot of haze in the air.”

By Monday morning, skies had largely cleared and dust levels near the ground had dropped significantly.

Expect more gusty, dusty days this week

The relief may be short-lived.

ADEQ is watching for increased afternoon breezes Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday, this time from the west and southwest. Though the winds are expected to be weaker than Sunday’s, Graves said forecasters cannot rule out dust.

“I wouldn’t say windstorm,” Graves said. “I would just say we’ve got some waves coming in. They’re going to increase our afternoon breeziness.”

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It’s enough to kick up dry, exposed dirt, which could create pockets of dust. There is a slight chance of broader regional dust transport, Graves said.

It will impact people with asthma, COPD or respiratory conditions the most. Graves advised those with issues to monitor conditions and stay indoors during the dustiest hours.

“If you’re going to be outside, be outside during the times when it’s less dusty or hazy,” Graves said.

Graves noted that spring weather systems typically pass to the north of the Phoenix area, delivering wind and slight temperature drops but little to no rain, a pattern likely to continue.

KTAR News reporter Kellen Shover contributed to this report.

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Trying to beat the heat: Addressing rising temperatures in Southern Arizona

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Trying to beat the heat: Addressing rising temperatures in Southern Arizona


The University of Arizona and Tucson are known for yearlong warm weather, but when is it too much? With temperature reaching record highs in March, the city of Tucson has already reported increased temperatures for this year. 

In the wake of the third annual Southern Arizona Heat Summit, integrating voices throughout the City of Tucson, community stakeholders and experts from UA gather to speak about possible solutions and policies to address rising temperatures and extreme heat. 

The summit strives to ensure that the lived experiences of Southern Arizona residents are voiced. The first summit commenced in 2024, in response to the declaration of an extreme heat emergency in Arizona by Gov. Katie Hobbs, as part of a larger plan called Arizona’s Extreme Heat Response Plan. 

With representation from organizations such as the American Red Cross, the National Council for Occupational Safety and Health, Arizona Jobs with Justice, Tucson Indian Center and many more, the summit emphasized the importance of the perspective and concerns of stakeholder groups throughout the community. 

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The summit included a variety of UA experts, including faculty representing the School of Geography, Development and Environment; the Udall Center for Studies in Public Policy; the Mel & Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health and the College of Architecture, Planning and Landscape Architecture.

One particular project, led by Ladd Keith at the School of Landscape Architecture and Planning, is a part of the Southwest Urban Corridor Integrated Field Laboratory, which is funded by the United States’ Department of Energy to explore extreme heat throughout Arizona. SW-IFL works in collaboration with other national laboratories including those at ASU and NAU. 

The team works to analyze extreme heat in the southwest and rural areas, and how communities deal with heat by conducting interviews. The team has also prescribed policy to Pima County and the City of Tucson regarding more effective strategies to combat rising temperatures, such as green stormwater infrastructure. 

Anne-Lise Boyer, a post-doctoral researcher with the Climate Assessment for the Southwest, shared that the team particularly analyzed extreme heat in three parts: heat mitigation, heat management and heat governance.

Mitigation deals with prevention through strategies such as green infrastructure and planting trees, while management includes cooling sensors and heat warning systems. Governance allows these measures to be enacted through policy.

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In Tucson, some of the most meaningful work the team has engaged in has been drafting the City of Tucson’s Heat Action Roadmap in 2024, which outlines goals to mitigate and mandate extreme heat and its impacts while prioritizing community voices.  

The goals of the roadmap include informing and educating citizens of Tucson on the adverse effects of extreme heat and cooling people’s homes and neighborhoods by incorporating heat risk in regional planning. These steps are essential to practicing heat management, especially as the city of Tucson grows. 

“I think the most interesting thing about being based in Tucson is that because the heat has been here for a long time, it’s like a laboratory in itself,” Boyer said. “We have all this research and all this collaboration happening with local actors because it’s a pressing issue in Arizona.”

As the annual heat summit recurs, new ideas and perspectives continue to be shared throughout the community. Boyer shared that this year, the Southern Arizona Heat Summit focused on the youth perspective, highlighting middle school and high school students and how heat impacts their everyday lives. Many students spoke about how heat shaped their lives at home, school and sports.

“That’s one of the goals, to have community members participate and give their input in how they wish the city will deal with the heat,” Boyer said. 

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Boyer and Kirsten Lake, a program coordinator for the SW-IFL team, also shared how the impacts of extreme heat impact some neighborhoods and communities in Tucson more than others, and that their research often evaluates these factors to determine where heat management efforts would make the greatest impact.

“Its important when you’re putting into effect some of these measures, that you make sure you put it where it’s going to make the biggest difference,” Lake said.

The work of the SW-IFL team is not just locally known. The Brookhaven National Lab based in New York deployed a specialized truck to Tucson to collect information on the atmosphere and rising temperatures. The SW-IFL team hosted the Brookhaven team.

Additionally, Keith’s work has led to a guidebook called “Planning for Urban Heat Resilience” which focuses on the adverse effects extreme heat poses to marginalized communities across the country. 

“It is so different from place to place and neighborhood to neighborhood because you have to take the whole context into account,” Boyer said. “They recommend first to document the heat impacts in your communities.”

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