Arizona
Arizona, Virginia add to reputations for March sadness
Arizona and Virginia rightfully lay declare to proud school basketball traditions, whether or not you’re speaking concerning the Wildcats profitable the nationwide championship in 1997, the Cavaliers doing it 22 years later or the numerous stars the packages have despatched to the NBA and abroad.
In addition they have growing reputations for NCAA Event disappointments.
The gorgeous loss by second-seeded Arizona to No. 15 seed Princeton on Thursday, and fourth-seeded Virginia’s collapse within the closing seconds in opposition to Furman, had been merely the most recent examples of their humiliating March heartbreaks.
The Wildcats have been bounced by groups seeded worse than them in 5 consecutive NCAA tourney journeys, whereas the Cavaliers had been bumped by a No. 13 seed for the second straight 12 months and 5 years to the day since changing into the one No. 1 seed to lose to a 16-seed.
“It doesn’t take away from what these guys have completed and what we’ve skilled over time, however you wished it if you felt such as you had it, and that was a troublesome one,” Cavs coach Tony Bennett acknowledged after the 68-67 loss to the Paladins, who basically gained by cashing in a turnover with a deep 3-pointer with 2.2 seconds left on the clock.
Bennett is aware of in addition to anybody that agonizing notoriety is simple to earn and brutally tough to beat.
Doesn’t matter that the names and faces change from 12 months to 12 months.
The Cavaliers had been Last 4 favorites after they arrived in Charlotte, North Carolina, for his or her first-round recreation in opposition to UMBC in 2018. Forty painful minutes later, they had been saddled with a lopsided 74-54 loss and the ignominity of changing into the primary males’s group — after 135 wins by a No. 1 seed — to lose to one of many 4 lowest-seeded groups within the event.
Most hoops followers keep in mind the upset vividly, maybe greater than the nationwide title the Cavs gained a 12 months later.
“I’d simply say everyone at this degree is nice,” Virginia guard Isaac McKneely supplied by means of clarification. “I do know there’s the seeding and all that, however everyone can beat everyone, as clearly you’ve seen.”
If distress loves firm, the Wildcats can relate.
Since shedding within the regional last to Wisconsin in 2015, Arizona has been knocked out of the opening spherical thrice regardless of being seeded sixth or higher every time — the primary two with Sean Miller on the sideline and the latest, a 59-55 defeat on Thursday during which No. 15 seed Princeton scored the ultimate 9 factors, with Tommy Lloyd working the present.
The run of disappointments started with a loss to No. 11 seed Wichita State in 2016. It continued in opposition to No. 11 seed Xavier in a regional semifinal the following 12 months. The fourth-seeded Wildcats misplaced to No. 13 seed Buffalo in 2018 and, as a stylish title choose as a No. 1 seed final 12 months, fell to fifth-seeded Houston in one other regional semifinal.
Simply how straightforward can the stink of an upset loss choose even the bluest of bluebloods? Simply ask Kansas.
Two years after enjoying for the 2003 nationwide championship, the Jayhawks had been dumped by No. 14 seed Bucknell and No. 13 seed Bradley in consecutive years. Their still-new coach, Invoice Self, got here to rue the “Killer B’s,” and never even a run to the Elite Eight might shake the questions on whether or not he might get it completed in Lawrence.
He might, after all. The Jayhawks gained the 2008 title and are the defending nationwide champions.
Successful a nationwide title is about the one factor lacking from the resume of Gonzaga coach Mark Few, but it surely may take one for the Bulldogs to shake an uneasy March popularity for underachievement. They’ve been a No. 1 seed on 5 occassions, and twice reached the title recreation, however have develop into often called a lot for his or her losses as their wins.
“We’ve been in sufficient of these 1-16 video games and also you’re like, ‘Holy smokes,’” stated Few, whose group performs Grand Canyon on Friday night time. “Final 12 months, I walked out for the tip and Georgia State, I feel they had been larger than us at dang-near each place. And I’m like, ‘It is a 16-seed?’ I feel that’s type of the place we’re proper now.”
Loads of colleges have constructive reputations come March.
Princeton has been often called an enormous killer ever since its backdoor-cutting, first-round upset of UCLA below Pete Carril in 1996, when present coach Mitch Henderson was enjoying for the Tigers. And whereas they beat UNLV as a No. 5 seed two years later, the Tigers had failed to achieve the second spherical for an additional 25 years — till Thursday’s win over Arizona.
“There’s going to be some comparisons from a few of you, I’m positive, to Coach Carril. I need to be actually clear that this group did this,” Henderson stated. “That was a very very long time in the past. This group did one thing particular for its college, for the followers, for the previous gamers and for each other. Very related means that you simply see within the event, they simply got here collectively and did it.”
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AP March Insanity protection: https://apnews.com/hub/march-madness and bracket: https://apnews.com/hub/ncaa-mens-bracket and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-basketball-poll and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25
Arizona
How former Arizona Wildcats fared in Week 11 of NFL season
Another week of the NFL season is in the books. Here’s how former Arizona Wildcats fared around the league in Week 11.
Nick Folk, K, Tennessee Titans
Folk made a pair of field goals, including a long of 43 yards, in Tennessee’s 23-13 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. Folk has 396 career field goals, one shy of 15th all-time.
Christian Roland-Wallace, ST, Kansas City Chiefs
Roland-Wallace played 13 snaps on special teams in Kansas City’s 30-21 loss to the Buffalo Bills. Roland-Wallace earned a 66.7 grade, second-best on the Chiefs special teams unit.
Demetrius Flannigan-Fowles, ST, San Francisco 49ers
Flannigan-Fowles played 14 special teams snaps for San Francisco in its 20-17 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Flannigan-Fowles’ 63.6 grade on PFF was fourth-best on the 49ers special teams unit.
Jacob Cowing, WR/ST, San Francisco 49ers
Cowing played one offensive snap and two special teams snaps in San Francisco’s loss.
Jordan Morgan, OT, Green Bay Packers
Morgan was placed on the injured reserve on Saturday, meaning he’ll miss at least the next four weeks. Morgan reportedly reaggravated a shoulder injury during practice.
Arizona
Democratic Arizona governor says she'll work with Trump on border security if it won't harm families
PHOENIX (AP) — Democratic Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said Monday she is willing to work with President-elect Donald Trump’s new administration on border security issues like stopping fentanyl trafficking, but not in areas that she said could harm Arizona families such as mass deportation.
Hobbs traveled to the Arizona-Mexico border on Monday to trumpet her state’s National Guard work helping crack down on smuggling of the deadly synthetic opioid into the U.S. through Nogales, Arizona. More than half of all border seizures of the drug are made in Nogales.
“Border security was a core issue of the Trump campaign,” Hobbs told reporters as vehicles moved behind her. “I look forward to having conversations with the incoming president about Arizona’s needs, including border security and the work we’ve done here to build these partnerships that are actually producing results and how we can continue those partnerships under his administration.”
But, she added, there are Arizona families who “are worried about threats from the Trump administration as well.”
“I will not tolerate actions that harm Arizonans, that harm our communities and quite honestly, divert resources from providing real security at our border,” Hobbs said.
Trump has promised to conduct the largest deportation operation in American history, something that would upend the lives of the 11 million people living in the United States without authorization, many of whom have family members who are U.S. citizens.
“I will stand up to protect Arizonans from harm by the federal government, from anyone,” Hobbs said, but “I’m not going to comment on hypotheticals. We don’t know what a mass deportation plan will look like, what resources it will involve.”
Hobbs also touted Operation Secure, her initiative deploying the National Guard to assist local and federal enforcement in Arizona’s border communities like Nogales. The governor said 170 Arizona National Guard members are assigned to counterdrug efforts statewide, including 40 at the border in Nogales.
The governor’s border visit comes less than two weeks after Democrats suffered blistering losses at the polls in Arizona, with Trump defeating Vice President Kamala Harris by a margin of about 185,000 votes statewide and beefing up the Republican majority in the Arizona Legislature.
Hobbs said Monday that border security is not a “Republican or Democratic issue” and she will work with “anyone” to keep the border safe.
Troy Miller, acting head of U.S. Customs and Border Protection, also spoke at the news conference and called National Guard members “a critical force multiplier” for his agency’s operations at the Nogales port.
“The scope of this problem is too large and the stakes are too high for us to do this work alone,” Miller said. “That’s why I’m so proud of the partnerships we have built, especially the ones right here in Arizona.”
Arizona
$100,000 reward in Arizona wolf killing mystery
A protected Mexican gray wolf named Hope was found dead on November 7 near Flagstaff, Arizona, prompting a significant reward for information leading to a conviction over her killing.
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and Arizona Game and Fish Department announced a combined reward of $103,500 for details about her death.
Her killing has sparked outrage among wildlife advocates who see her as a critical messenger for Mexican gray wolf recovery efforts.
Mexican gray wolves are protected under the Endangered Species Act. Killing a Mexican wolf is a serious federal offense that can result in substantial fines and potential imprisonment.
So far, details of the animal’s death have not been publicly released and an investigation is underway.
Newsweek contacted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service via its website for comment.
Having dispersed from the Tu Dil Hil pack in the Mexican Wolf Experimental Population Area, Hope had carved out a territory north of Interstate 40, an area outside the official wolf recovery zone. She had been seen traveling with another Mexican wolf in the area, according to a Fish and Wildlife Service statement.
Conservation experts viewed her presence as evidence that suitable wolf habitat extends beyond current designated regions.
“Hope was a sentient individual being and a messenger of the changes needed in the Mexican gray wolf recovery program,” Claire Musser, executive director at Grand Canyon Wolf Recovery Project, said in a statement.
Her territory challenged existing conservation boundaries and demonstrated the potential for wolf populations to naturally expand.
Wildlife advocates have questioned how the death could have occurred, as the animal would have been instantly recognizable as a wolf.
Cyndi Tuell from Western Watersheds Project said in a statement that Hope’s tracking collar was clearly visible, making it impossible for a shooter to mistake her for a coyote or claim an accidental killing.
“If someone killed Hope, the full weight of the federal and state law should be brought to bear against the person or persons who took her away from our human community which found inspiration and joy in her existence, and from the nonhuman community that depends upon top predators to bring balance to the landscape,” Tuell said.
Hope’s presence had garnered significant public support. In 2021, Flagstaff passed a resolution supporting Mexican gray wolf recovery, recognizing both the ecological importance and potential economic benefits of wolf-related tourism.
Scientists have recommended expanding wolf recovery plans to include additional subpopulations, particularly in the Grand Canyon ecoregion and southern Rockies. Hope’s journey represented an example of this potential.
Sandy Bahr from the Sierra Club’s Grand Canyon Chapter demanded accountability. “If the investigation into Hope’s death reveals that a person killed her, we expect the Arizona Game and Fish Department to advocate for justice for Hope,” she said in a statement.
Taylor McKinnon of the Center for Biological Diversity added: “Hope embodied the dreams of many in Flagstaff, including the school children who named her. Her death is not just a loss for wildlife, but for our entire community.”
The fate of the other wolf, named as Mystery, which was traveling with Hope remains unknown, according to the Center for Biological Diversity.
Anyone with information about Hope’s death is urged to contact U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service special agents in Pinetop, Arizona at (346) 254-0515.
Do you have a tip on a science story that Newsweek should be covering? Do you have a question about gray wolves? Let us know via science@newsweek.com.
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