Arizona

WBIT: Arizona falls apart in the final seconds, drops 2nd game of the year to NAU

Published

12 months ago

March 21, 2025

WBIT: Arizona falls apart in the final seconds, drops 2nd game of the year to NAU

The game had a different feel this time. Arizona was in it throughout, but once again fell to an in-state mid-major. The Wildcats lost to NAU 71-69 in the first round of the WBIT. It was their second loss to the Lumberjacks this season.

“They play hard,” said Arizona guard Skylar Jones. “I gotta give it to them. Their big’s good. Their guards know how to get open areas. Yeah, they all that. And I would say not all of us came out with that same intensity.”

The Wildcats were down two with under seven seconds to go in the game. NAU had three fouls to give. The Lumberjacks gave one. Arizona inbounded again. The ball eventually ended up in the hands of leading scorer Jones, but it was still there when the buzzer went off.

It was an unfortunate end to the game. Barnes said that the ball was supposed to go either to Beh at the rim or a guard up top. However, she did not want to put the blame on Jones, who ended up with it.

“It was going to be a quick shot for a double stagger,” Barnes said. “We knew Isis would be open for a right-handed layup and, if not, the guard at the top would be open. It’s hard in the moment to recognize, but Sky was open and she’s a really good 3-point shooter, but I think she felt there wasn’t time up top…My philosophy as a coach is that it never comes down to the last play. If you look at it, it’s never the last play that defines winning and losing, because if we would have made a shot, it’s a very hard shot. I think it comes down to the toughness and the lack of communication from the beginning of the game. It comes down to the 13 offensive rebounds in the first half. It comes down to the lack of sprinting back and transition defense. It comes down to those little things that they accumulate. And when you dig yourself a hole and make it really hard to win.”

Arizona wouldn’t have been in a position to tie or win at the end without Jones, anyway. She had 21 points on 9-of-17 shooting. She barely missed a double-double with nine rebounds. She also had a block.

“I told y’all at the other press conference I was in pain,” Jones said. “I didn’t really want to play, but I still was like, if I’m gonna play, I’m going hard, I’m at least trying. And I feel like I did that. I feel like (Isis Beh and Breya Cunningham) did that too. I’m not gonna discount nobody else’s effort, but the three people up here, we tried.”

NAU beat Arizona in Flagstaff off 30 points from the 3-point line on 10-for-32 shooting and 22 from the free-throw line. Getting Breya Cunningham to foul out in 14 minutes was part of their 29 trips to the charity stripe.

The Wildcats avoided those issues this time out. The Lumberjacks jacked up a lot of 3s, they just didn’t make them. NAU went 5 for 24 from distance. Cunningham played 35 minutes and had a double-double. Her stat line was spectacular with 19 points, 11 rebounds, 2 assists, 5 blocks, and 1 steal. She was whistled for just three fouls.

It was the kind of stat line that would have helped Arizona win a lot more games this season and not end up in the WBIT to begin with, but it came too late. Besides, Arizona still couldn’t get it done this time.

Beh led the team with six assists. She also had six points, five rebounds, one block, and four steals.

In addition to Jones and Cunningham, freshman Lauryn Swann scored in double figures. The guard had 13 points. She was only 3 for 11 from the field but she went 4 for 4 from the line. She added five rebounds, two assists, and two steals.

Arizona went into the game without Jada Williams, Montaya Dew, and Jorynn Ross. Dew had surgery last week, but both Williams and Ross opted out of playing due to injuries they’ve been dealing with all season. The Wildcats weren’t as shorthanded as they could have been, though.

Sahnya Jah checked in with 2:07 to go in the first quarter. It was her first time on the court since Jan. 25. Although she was with the team in Kansas City, she did not warm up ahead of their quarterfinal loss to Colorado. She only played seven minutes.

Barnes said it was difficult not to have another true point guard, but it wasn’t why they lost.

“I think that despite all of those things, you can control your effort,” she said. “You can control boxing out. You can control transition defense because that’s an effort thing. So those are effort things. Those are controllables. It doesn’t take skill, it doesn’t take height, it doesn’t take athleticism. It takes want, and I think that there were a lot of times they wanted it more. They out-hustled us for 50-50 balls. And those things are unacceptable, and you’re not going to win games like that.”

The Wildcats have been strong in first and third quarters most of the year, primarily struggling in the second and fourth. That was partially true on Thursday.

The second quarter did not start well for Arizona. At the media timeout, the Wildcats were 1 for 9 from the field and had only scored four points. They had three turnovers.

Arizona shot 60 percent in the first quarter but took a nosedive to 23.5 percent in the second. Their issues continued as they came out of the locker room.

The Wildcats ended up going 7 for 16 from the floor in the third quarter, but they had difficulty stopping NAU. The Lumberjacks went on a 9-0 run over about 90 seconds early in the period. A seven-point Arizona lead became a two-point NAU advantage. It very much felt like it was the Lumberjacks’ game at that point.

There was more of that in the fourth. The teams both shot poorly, but NAU was just slightly better. The Lumberjacks hit 28.6 percent of their shots while Arizona connected on 26.3 percent.

The end of the game felt like the end of this team. While there was a lot of talk about what “we” will have to do better next year, there was also implications that the team would be different.

Barnes talked about what she will do with future teams. It largely came down to going after the best transfers she can get and not playing younger players unless they’re better than what she can get from the portal.

“We needed more experience, and we needed some players that were preparing to go play pro and that love basketball this year, and that would help us,” Barnes said. “That’s a mentality, and it’s hard because for me coming from the first 13 years and coaching the Kelsey Plums and a lot of different All-Americans, it’s like they really want it, and they breathe it every day. And I think most of the kids, they say they love basketball because it sounds good, but they really don’t. They don’t want to do skill work, they don’t want to be in a gym. They don’t want to put their all into it, and it’s a different mentality than we had. And so that’s the reality. So you have to get the players that you want to coach. They are going to be a mirror what you are, and I think we’re going to do that.”

After making choices to try to keep her young core by not bringing in players who might take playing time and cause them to transfer, she said she won’t do that going forward. In many ways, it would be a return to what Barnes did when she first became a head coach. Not only was the program more successful when it relied heavily on transfers, but she doesn’t think it pays off to protect playing time for young players, especially under the new model that focuses so heavily on money and movement.

“They transfer anyway,” she said.

Beh finished out her college career in front of 2,706 fans who paid $26 to $46 each to watch her play. That was about 500 fewer than the first game of the 2019 WNIT. She said she doesn’t know what she’ll do next besides going to bed and not setting an alarm, but there are things she will miss.

“I’ll remember the fans most,” Beh said. “They show a lot of love. A few of my teammates, I’m going to miss…I’m not going to sit up here and lie…I will miss the coaches.”

Barnes hopes the other players took something from it.

“I think that this is a life lesson for them, because there’s gonna be things in life like your when you’re gonna have to do what you don’t want to do,” she said. “You may not want to go to work, you may be on a pro team…but you don’t play. There’s different things that happen, but you still compete and you give it your all, shift your mentality. I think that it’s not easy, because everybody wants to go the NCAA tournament. That’s where we should be, but we didn’t take care of business at certain times, and we’re here. But this is a really competitive tournament. It’s run first class, and we had an opportunity to get revenge on a team, but we didn’t show up. And as a coach, that’s hard. I mean, I want to be in the NCAA tournament too. I never thought that I would be talking my ninth year somewhere, that we wouldn’t be in the tournament. That wasn’t something I ever envisioned in my career. It will be the last time.”

NAU will travel to Nashville, Tenn. to play Belmont in the second round. The Bruins beat Middle Tennessee State on Thursday.

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Arizona

Ryan Waldschmidt among Diamondbacks sent to minors camp – Arizona Sports

Published

12 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

Ryan Waldschmidt among Diamondbacks sent to minors camp – Arizona Sports

Several of the Arizona Diamondbacks’ standout young hitters in spring training are heading back to minor league camp, a list that includes outfielder Ryan Waldschmidt and infielders Jose Fernandez and Tommy Troy.

The Diamondbacks announced a series of roster moves on Sunday to shrink the major league camp roster to 47 players with Opening Day less than three weeks away on March 26.

Arizona will have to get down to 26 players by then, and Sunday’s announcement provides more clarity of what the team will look like at Dodger Stadium.

Optioned to Triple-A Reno:

LHP Mitch Bratt
RHP Juan Burgos
LHP Kohl Drake
RHP Grant Holman
INF Jose Fernandez

Reassigned to minor league camp:

RHP Gerardo Carrillo
RHP Hayden Durke
RHP Junior Fernandez
LHP Spencer Giesting
RHP Taylor Rashi
INF LuJames Groover
INF Cristofer Torin
INF Tommy Troy
OF A.J. Vukovich
OF Ryan Waldschmidt

That does not mean these players are done playing in Cactus League games, they will continue getting opportunities to compete ahead of the minor league season. Waldschmidt, Troy and Groover will start Sunday’s game, for instance.

There had been plenty of speculation that Waldschmidt, Arizona’s top prospect could start the year in the major leagues based on his advanced approach at the plate, dominant second half last season in Double-A and big moments he’s had this spring, including a three-hit game and several balls smoked over 100 mph off the bat.

Waldschmidt, 23, has not played in Triple-A, and while it is not unheard of to make the jump from Double-A to the major leagues, that is the less common route than going through all the steps of the minor league ladder. Waldschmidt has three doubles, a home run and nine strikeouts in 25 at-bats this spring.

Jose Fernandez, 22, is another player who has yet to play for Triple-A Reno but turned heads this spring.

He was under the radar entering camp, not ranked highly on many national prospect lists like Waldschmidt, but he has struck the baseball hard consistently this spring and can play multiple infield positions. He leads the D-backs with three home runs this spring.

Troy, 24, has been a hits machine this spring at 12-for-24 after getting his feet wet in Triple-A last season.

That potential Reno Aces lineup, which should include Groover and Vukovich, is primed to be one to watch this spring with players who are knocking at the major league door.

Bratt and Drake have had their ups and downs this spring but will represent Arizona’s starting pitching depth entering the season after they came over at the trade deadline from Texas for Merrill Kelly.

Arizona’s list of non-roster invitees has dwindled with notable remaining names including reliever Jonathan Loaisiga, first baseman Luken Baker and infielder Ildemaro Vargas.

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Arizona

What Tommy Lloyd said after Arizona’s win over Colorado

Published

24 hours ago

March 8, 2026

Press Room

What Tommy Lloyd said after Arizona’s win over Colorado

After clinching the Big 12 Conference regular season title outright with a win over Iowa State on Monday night, Tommy Lloyd gave his team a few days off from practice. The break was well earned, but when the team returned they didn’t look like the group that had just romped through the Big 12.

“It’s been a long season. Thursday, we came back and practiced, I didn’t even recognize the team,” Lloyd said after Arizona’s 89-79 win over Colorado. “That’s to be expected.”

Arizona showed signs of a conference championship hangover on Saturday night, falling behind by 11 points to the Buffaloes in the first half. The Wildcats closed the half on a run, and eventually put themselves in position for a program-record 29th regular season win.

Whether it was the altitude, the extended break from practice, or the 9 p.m. start time, Arizona didn’t quite like right … until it did.

”You could probably try to find lots of reasons,“ Lloyd said. ”But I know this: human nature is tough to beat. Human nature is almost undefeated, So a lot of these seasons is just figuring out how to endure the ups and downs, and the emotions that go with the season.“

Our recap of the game can be found here. Below is what Lloyd said postgame.

Lloyd on Arizona overcoming a sluggish start: “I knew it was going to be a tough game down here. As you guys know, I have a lot of respect for Tad and their coaching staff and the program. They play spirited. It was a great test for our guys. I had been bouncing around a few plans to change our rotation, play more guys, and then when I saw the way we came out, a little bit flat, not great energy, I thought it was more important that we figured out how to dig back in the game and be able to draw on that rather than then maybe play some other guys. We’ve rode hard with these eight guys. They’re really good players. I think our energy is good right now, once we got to got it figured out in that game, we were pretty good. But I think it’s important for us to understand, as you head into the postseason that, you’re going to have games like that where you’re playing against a team that’s playing their ass off and playing really good, and maybe your energy’s not quite where you want it to be, but you got to be able to dig deep and respond. I was really proud of our guys’ effort. Hopefully this was a lesson learned, you know, because obviously it’d be great if we could continue to play for a long time.”

On the significance of the team’s late first half run: “Well, obviously it’s a massive benefit getting closer. Then basically you get in a neck in neck game right away, and then we can kind of set up our next run, is what you’re hoping. We were down 11, I think we just told our guys, like, ‘Hey, it’s one of these situations. Let’s just climb our way back in this game, possession by possession. See if we cut into this lead a little bit and put ourselves in and position in the second half to make it a ball game.‘ I think that’s a great skill to learn how to do, to kind of figure out how to not let the let the game get away from you too early. And I thought our guys did a great job with a nice little run there towards the end of the first half.”

On what may have contributed to Arizona’s first half play: “I don’t know. You’ll have to ask our guys. I don’t know, altitude. I know we played obviously Monday night against Iowa State. And you know, there’s a lot of emotions in the game, and a lot of pats on the back so to speak. And then we took Tuesday off. We took Wednesday off. It’s been a long season. Thursday, we came back and practiced, I didn’t even recognize the team. That’s to be expected. And then Friday we were a little bit better. I thought we had a good practice. I was hoping we’d come out and play really well from the start today, but we didn’t. And the ability to figure it out, it’s really important. And I thought the guys really showed some resolve, and I’m proud of them.”

On the fan support in Boulder: “Oh for sure. Our fans are a force. Our fans are the backbone of our program. Arizona’s had a long, strong basketball tradition way before I was even born. So we wanted to tap into that, and we love coming on the road and hearing the U of A chants and all of our fans out there. It just reminds us how special it is for us to be representing University of Arizona basketball.”

On facing Colorado’s backcourt: “Two good players. I felt like we weren’t on it defensively for long stretches in the game today. And let’s give Colorado a lot of credit on offense, I mean they’re a good offensive team. Their offensive numbers, they show that. Those two guards are good, and those guys were important parts of the scout, but their bigs also hit a few jump shots that maybe you’re not you’re not counting on. It was kind of a collective effort by them. I thought we made a lot of defensive mistakes, and I don’t want to take any credit away from Colorado, but we got to be a little more disciplined in some situations with our coverages and our recoveries and things of that nature. We’ve been a really, really good defensive team at times this season. We’re at our best defensively when we’re limiting our mistakes.”

On facing Isaiah Johnson: “He’s a really good player. Obviously the most I’ve ever watched him was this week, and obviously on the court today. I mean, everything he did impressed me. He’s got a great handle, he’s a lefty, and he knows how to get right, to get back left, consistently. And then he’s got a knack for getting fouled, which is a great skill to have.”

On Brayden Burries and Koa Peat’s performances: “I thought Brayden obviously didn’t have a good start to the game. I thought I looked down there. and I don’t know what he was like 1-6 or something like that. We just don’t really have to challenge him. He’s a competitor, and he kind of figured it out on his own and got himself going a little bit. I didn’t realize he had 31 points, but for him to do that was great. And then obviously let’s mention Koa. Koa goes 12 for 15, 25 points. I think he had about 19 in the first half. When your team’s not playing good, it’s great to have a guy like that step up and kind of keep your team in the game. Koa did a great job of that in the first half.”

On what spurred Peat’s 19-point first half: “I think Koa is just a really good basketball player. I think he got to his spots, he made a few shots, he finished with force at the rim. He’s just a really good player. I don’t think it was anything in particular, but he got a good rhythm going and he had a great game.”

On Bangot Dak’s play: “His length impacts the game around the rim, and I think he made those three (field goals), I didn’t realize he was only 3-8, but he made them all in a row, and in the second half, we were trying to kind of pull away a little bit, and he kept them in the game. Just a good player. He’s just a good player and it has been fun to watch him, kind of from afar, develop. He’s obviously gotten better over the course of three years. But I got a lot of respect for him.”

On playing a late Saturday night game and whether that contributed to the slow start: “You could probably try to find lots of reasons. But I know this: human nature is tough to beat. Human nature is almost undefeated, So a lot of these seasons is just figuring out how to endure the ups and downs, and the emotions that go with the season. The fatigue that comes with the season. I can’t give you like one thing in particular. But again, in closing, I want to give a lot of credit to Colorado. I thought they came out with great energy, and they kind of got us on our heels a little bit. And then I want to give our guys credit for being able to respond to an adverse situation and a tough road environment, just a tough situation.”

On the adjustment of playing later in the day: “It is what it is. I love Saturday afternoon games and you know that. We got a Saturday night game, you know? And you know what? I do know this, it’s great to be on national TV a lot. And if you want to be on national TV a lot, you’re going to have, especially on the West Coast, you’re going to get some of these hops, some of these 9 pm games. So no complaints for me. Just want to get on the bus, get on the plane, get home and get rested up.”

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Arizona

Arizona’s 8 Best Retirement Towns Ranked

Published

2 days ago

March 7, 2026

Press Room

Arizona’s 8 Best Retirement Towns Ranked

If your idea of retirement includes near year-round sunshine and easy trips to bucket-list parks like Grand Canyon National Park and Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona has a lot going for it. Green Valley is a peaceful, retiree-friendly community where you can relax at Desert Meadows Park and play a round at San Ignacio Golf Club. For a completely different setting, Sedona turns even routine errands into a scenic drive, with red-rock views and quick access to places like Slide Rock State Park and the trail-filled stretches of Coconino National Forest. Below are eight of the best places to retire in the state.

Green Valley

Green Valley, Arizona

About 30 minutes south of Tucson, Green Valley is a quiet, welcoming community of roughly 21,000 residents. It is known for its laid-back atmosphere, strong sense of safety, and easy access to trails, parks, and classic Arizona mountain views. You can catch a performance at the CPAC Community Performance & Art Center, unwind at Desert Meadows Park, or spend an afternoon on the greens at nearby San Ignacio Golf Club.

Green Valley is also one of the most retirement-friendly communities in Arizona. The median age is in the low 70s, so it is easy to connect with people in the same stage of life. It is also relatively affordable, with a median home sale price around $277,833. For healthcare, residents are close to larger hospitals in Tucson, while Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita can usually handle everyday medical needs.

Fountain Hills

Fountain Hills has a true small-town feel, but it is close enough to the Phoenix metro area that big-city conveniences are never far away. Downtown Scottsdale is only about 25 minutes away, and the town itself has plenty to offer. You can see a show at Fountain Hills Theater, spend a relaxing afternoon at Fountain Park with its lake and walking paths, or bring your dog to Desert Vista Dog Park for a little sunshine and social time.

It is not the cheapest option on this list—median home prices are around $666,325—but many retirees feel the setting and convenience are worth the higher cost. Healthcare is another big plus, with highly regarded facilities nearby in Scottsdale and Phoenix, including HonorHealth Scottsdale Shea Medical Center and Mayo Clinic Hospital. The median age is around 60, so there are plenty of fellow retirees and empty nesters in the area.

Oro Valley

Tucked into the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Oro Valley is a scenic suburb just north of Tucson. If staying active is part of your retirement plan, it is an excellent fit. Catalina State Park offers more than 5,000 acres for hiking and exploring, while Naranja Park has everything from a splash pad and skate park to a dog park and plenty of places to sit and enjoy the scenery. Honey Bee Canyon Park is another local favorite, especially for its rocky desert views and peaceful trails.

Homes here sell for a median price around $472,333, and residents also benefit from access to Oro Valley Hospital, which has earned recognition for outpatient joint replacement care. With a median age in the mid-50s, the town feels social and active without coming across as a retirement-only community.

Fortuna Foothills

If you like the idea of a desert retirement with a Palm Springs feel—but at a lower cost—Fortuna Foothills is worth considering. The community is close to the Colorado River, Cibola National Wildlife Refuge, and places like Fortuna Lake, where fishing is a popular pastime. Home prices in the Yuma area, where Fortuna Foothills is located, hover around a median of $306,333, making it one of the more affordable retirement options in Arizona.

The median age is about 62, so the area already has the feel of a natural retirement community. For healthcare, Yuma Regional Medical Center is nearby and has earned recognition for orthopedic surgery.

Sahuarita

Sahuarita is a strong choice if you want safe neighborhoods, well-maintained walking and biking paths, and an overall slower pace of life without giving up easy access to city conveniences. Tucson is less than 30 minutes to the north, so shopping, dining, and additional healthcare are all close by. In town, Northwest Medical Center Sahuarita is a major asset, and Banner University Medical Center in Tucson is another excellent option.

For fun, residents can visit the Titan Missile Museum for a fascinating look at Cold War history, tee off at San Ignacio Golf Club, or walk the paved trails at Parque Los Arroyos. Median home prices are around $360,800, which is relatively affordable for the region. Because the median age here is lower than in many retirement towns, Sahuarita tends to feel a little more energetic and mixed-age.

Wickenburg

Wickenburg is a great fit if you want a small-town atmosphere, a slower pace, and a strong sense of community without being too far removed from the Phoenix area. Phoenix is about an hour away, so you can still reach major amenities when needed. Locals spend time golfing at Wickenburg Ranch, birdwatching at the Hassayampa River Preserve, and attending events at the Everett Bowman Rodeo Arena.

Wickenburg Community Hospital is right in town and has served local residents for generations. The median age is around 64, making it easy to find a built-in network of people in the same stage of life. Zillow does not list a median sale price for homes here, but the median listing price is around $602,167—higher than some towns on this list, but not unusual for a desirable Arizona destination.

Sedona

If you want to retire surrounded by jaw-dropping scenery, Sedona is hard to beat. This artsy town in northern Arizona’s Verde Valley is famous for its red-rock landscapes, especially at sunrise and sunset, and it is packed with outdoor adventures. Coconino National Forest is right nearby, while Walnut Canyon National Monument offers ancient cliff dwellings and Slide Rock State Park is perfect for a more playful day outdoors.

For healthcare, Verde Valley Medical Center in Cottonwood has served the area since 1971. Sedona’s median age is around 59, so retirees fit in naturally. Just be prepared for the cost: the median home sale price is about $956,125, making Sedona the most expensive town on this list.

Apache Junction

Apache Junction offers a true best-of-both-worlds setup. Downtown Phoenix is about 30 minutes away, and Mesa, Arizona’s third-largest city, is even closer. That gives residents a quieter and more affordable home base while still keeping major shopping, dining, and healthcare within easy reach.

Outdoor recreation is a big part of the appeal here, thanks to Lost Dutchman State Park and its rugged desert trails. Golfers also have excellent options nearby, including Gold Canyon Golf Course and Superstition Mountain Golf & Country Club, both known for their dramatic scenery. Banner Goldfield Medical Center is right in town, and Mesa offers even more hospitals and specialists. The median age is around 54, and the median home price is about $369,083, which makes Apache Junction an appealing value for the greater Phoenix area.

Where to Retire in Arizona?

Arizona is one of the best states in the country for an active retirement, especially if you love spending time outdoors. The key is finding a town that gives you both easy access to trails and scenery, along with the practical essentials like hospitals, grocery stores, and shopping.

If you want a retirement-focused community that is still relatively affordable, Green Valley is a strong place to start. If you prefer small-town charm with quick access to Scottsdale and Phoenix, Fountain Hills deserves a look. And if parks, mountain views, and quality healthcare matter most, Oro Valley is tough to beat. Any of the eight towns on this list could be a great fit—it all comes down to the lifestyle and budget that suit you best.

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