After beating three ranked opponents in its first five games, something no college basketball team had done in more than 35 years, Arizona soared to No. 2 in the Associated Press Top 25. Getting to the top spot would require some help.
Arizona
Arizona Diamondbacks game report: Ketel Marte flyout clears the bases — with some help
Corbin Burnes explains perfect start in his Diamondbacks spring debut
Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Corbin Burnes explains what went down in his perfect Diamondbacks spring training debut.
Final score: Rockies 9, Diamondbacks 3
What stood out on Saturday at Salt River Fields:
The Diamondbacks cleared the bases on a sacrifice fly: With the bases loaded in the fifth, DH Ketel Marte hit a drive to the warning track, where it was caught by Rockies CF Sam Hilliard. Not only was it deep enough for SS Jordan Lawlar to tag from third, but 2B Blaze Alexander raced all the way home from second, taking advantage of Hilliard’s apparent lack of urgency in getting the ball back to the infield. Alexander and CF Jorge Barrosa, who started at first, both scored easily when Rockies SS Ezequiel Tovar uncorked a wild throw home.
“Those are the little things that we talk about,” manager Torey Lovullo said. “That’s what we do here. That’s DBacks baseball. To say I’m surprised? No. It was a lot of fun to watch.”
LHP Jose Castillo is hurt again: For the second time in as many springs, Castillo came off the mound with an injury during a Cactus League game. A year ago, Castillo was positioning himself for a spot on the Opening Day roster with a solid performance in the Cactus League before a line drive off the pitching hand ended his bid. On Saturday, he threw just five pitches in relief before exiting with left adductor tightness.
Castillo, 29, has pitched parts of four seasons in the majors, all with the San Diego Padres. In camp on a minor league deal, he is competing for a chance to be the third lefty in the bullpen behind LHPs A.J. Puk and Joe Mantiply.
Next game, Sunday, Feb. 23: Diamondbacks LHP Tommy Henry vs. Mariners RHP Emerson Hancock, 1:10 p.m., Peoria Sports Complex.
Arizona
Arizona men’s basketball crushes No. 20 Auburn for 4th win over ranked opponent
That assistance came in the form of fellow Big 12 school Iowa State winning handily at No. 1 Purdue on Saturday afternoon. All the Wildcats had to do was pick up a fourth ranked win, particularly in impressive fashion, and it could rise to first on Monday when the next poll came out.
Arizona made its case for No. 1 with a 97-68 over No. 20 Auburn. It’s the fifth-largest margin of victory for the Wildcats over a ranked opponent in school history and largest since beating No. 19 Western Kentucky by 39 in 2002.
Koa Peat had 18 points on 8-of-11 shooting while Jaden Bradley and Brayden Burries had 16 points each and Ivan Kharchenkov had 12 points, five rebounds and eight assists for the Wildcats (8-0), who shot 61.2 percent overall and 63.6 percent in the second half.
The 61.2 percent was Arizona’s best field goal rate against a ranked opponent since 2016.
Auburn (7-3) shot 33.3 percent, 28.6 percent in the second half, and its 15 turnovers were converted into 21 points for Arizona. Tahad Pettiford had a career-high 30 points on 10-of-19 shooting for the Tigers, while the rest of the team was 11 of 44.
Arizona led 44-32 at halftime and by the first media timeout of the 2nd half the edge was 26. The Wildcats outscored Auburn 18-2 coming out of the locker room, keeping the Tigers without a field goal for the first 5-plus minutes.
The only player Arizona couldn’t stop was Pettiford, who had nine straight points for Auburn at one point including a 4-point play to get within 69-45 with 12:41 left.
The Wildcats didn’t miss consecutive shots after halftime until midway through the second half, starting 11 of 12. Auburn, on the other hand, started 0 for 7 and went almost six minutes without a field goal yet kept the margin from getting much bigger because of an abundance of fouls called.
After a relatively foul-free first half, with Arizona only attempting one free throws, the second half saw the officials get much more involved. The teams combined for 25 fouls and 32 foul shots, compared to 29 field goals.
Arizona’s first 10 points were in the paint, either on drives, dump offs or dunks, for an early 4-point lead. Auburn followed with nine in a row to go up 15-10, taking advantage of four UA turnovers, only to see the Wildcats capitalize on four Tigers giveaways en route to a 12-0 run and a 7-point advantage.
Auburn missed nine straight shots while Arizona went on a 15-0 run to lead 39-21 with 3:43 left before halftime. The lead got to 20 before the Tigers finished the first half on an 8-0 run.
Arizona heads east for its next game, taking on No. 12 Alabama in Birmingham next Saturday. The Wildcats beat the Crimson Tide in Phoenix during the the 2023-24 season.
Arizona
Things Arizona Must Watch Closely Against Auburn
The 2025–26 Auburn team comes built with several players who pose serious threats. Here are a handful of the standouts Arizona needs to game-plan around.
Keyshawn Hall — Forward / Go-to Scorer
Hall transferred to Auburn after a standout season elsewhere, and in 2025–26, he’s already seen as the Tigers’ primary offensive weapon.
Hall’s 21.8 points per game is currently 10th in the nation according to ESPN, and his 9.1 rebounds per game ranks tied for 34th.
The most dangerous scorer on the team and a senior leader who can do a lot with his game will have to be Arizona’s top priority in limiting.
Hall’s combination of size ( 6’7”, 240 lbs), scoring instinct, and inside-outside game makes him a dual threat: he can punish you inside the paint or step out for perimeter looks.
Hall’s all-around ability in rebounding, rim presence and scoring means he could dominate the paint and stretch the defense. Containing him will require disciplined defense and physicality.
Tahaad Pettiford — Playmaking Guard & Offensive Catalyst
Pettiford is Auburn’s returning guard who drew major notice last season and has improved to start this season as well.
According to Sports-reference.com, in 2024–25, he averaged 11.6 points per game. To start this season, he is already averaging 14.1 points per game and 2.8 assists.
As a pick-and-roll creator or primary ball-handler, Pettiford gives Auburn pace and playmaking which is something that could test Arizona’s perimeter defense and transition discipline.
Even when not the highest-volume scorer, his ability to create offense, whether scoring or facilitating, means Arizona’s guards and help defenders have to find a way to contain him and limit his mobility.
Pettiford can push tempo, drive, and disorganize already aggressive defenses. If he gets to the paint, it could open up scoring lanes for others on Auburn.
KeShawn Murphy — Threat in Paint, Rebounder & Rim-Threat
Murphy, a transfer from Mississippi State, has been an impact player immediately for the Tigers.
According to ESPN, Last season he averaged 11.7 points and 7.4 rebounds per game, showing reliable scoring and board-control skills. This season, early on, the point production is similar at 10.6 points per game, but the rebounding is down to 6.4, possibly due to fewer minutes.
As a big man with mobility and ability to finish near the rim or operate in pick-and-rolls, expect Murphy to challenge Arizona’s interior defense and rebounding, especially if Auburn crashes the glass hard as they have for years.
A physical, smart big man like Murphy can dominate second-chance points and clog the lane, forcing perimeter to beat him tough if Auburn builds momentum.
Why Auburn’s Mix Presents a Potential Problem for Arizona
Balanced weapons: With Hall (scoring inside/out), Pettiford (guard-driven playmaking), and Murphy (rebounding & paint presence), Auburn boasts threats at all three levels — perimeter, mid-range, and inside. That makes defensive assignments difficult.
New but dangerous roster: The 2025–26 Auburn roster is heavily revamped with many newcomers and transfers, but that doesn’t mean they are inexperienced. Several incoming players, like Hall, Murphy, and guard rotation pieces, have high-level production from prior stops.
Versatility, pace, and adaptability: Auburn’s coaching staff seems to prefer a flexible, versatile scheme with motion, pick-and-roll, and shooting. That style, if executed, could stress Arizona’s defense and force mismatches or breakdowns.
What Arizona Should Focus On to Contain Auburn
- Physicality on the interior & limit second-chance points: Contain Murphy and Hall on the boards; challenge every rebound.
- Switch-heavy and disciplined perimeter defense: Pettiford and Hall could expose mismatches while rotating quickly and denying penetration will be key.
- Limit transition opportunities and guard the pace: Don’t let Auburn push early offense; force half-court sets where Arizona can better control matchups.
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Arizona
Attempted assault suspect allegedly leads northern Arizona deputies on pursuit
CAMP VERDE, AZ (AZFamily) — A man is facing multiple charges after allegedly trying to hurt a woman who had an order of protection against him and then leading officers on a chase in northern Arizona.
On Wednesday, Camp Verde Marshal’s Office deputies responded to an apartment where they say Jose Ramirez allegedly tried to break in and assault a woman inside. Officials say the woman has an active order of protection against Ramirez.
Initially, they could not find Ramirez at the complex, but later that day, deputies say they found him using drugs in a car. When they tried to approach Ramirez, he drove off.
The following day, deputies say they saw Ramirez driving through the Camp Verde area and began following him in their unmarked patrol vehicles. Ramirez stopped for gas in Munds Park, where deputies say he saw them following him. That’s when he got back onto Interstate 17 and took off. During the chase, Ramirez was allegedly driving over 120 mph.
The Arizona Department of Public Safety joined the pursuit and tried to stop him. Officials say Ramirez got off the freeway and drove through a barbed-wire fence, then got stuck in the forest.
Ramirez got out of his car and ran off, but deputies were able to catch up to him and arrest him.
Ramirez is facing multiple charges, including failure to comply with a court order, aggravated harassment, reckless driving, fleeing a pursuing law enforcement vehicle, resisting arrest, assault, stalking, burglary, possession of a narcotic drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and weapons misconduct for being a prohibited possessor.
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