Part II - Arizona versus Wisconsin

START OF THE SECOND HALF

I can hear Arizona’s band in the background. I like it.

Arizona loses the ball out of bounds. The announcer said it was a bad call. What a shocker!
Wisconsin’s big man, Butch, just drew his third foul with 19 minutes left to play. Mustafa’s going to the line.

Arizona 47 Wisconsin 34

Kirk Walters was just whistled for his third foul. No surprise here. These officials are so predictable…almost as predictable as how bad CBS’s coverage of the tournament was going to be.

What on earth…Radenovic was just called for his third foul. “Let them play, let them play, let them play.”

Arizona 51 Wisconsin 34

Adams just hit a driving lay up.

CBS is showing more commercials. The best one of the day has been the Sonic Burgers commercial where the driver attempts to pop a tater tot into his mouth while the passenger swats the driver’s hand away.

“Rejected…don’t you bring that weak tater action in here! You go strong to the hole or you don’t go at all.” Great line…great commercial…I just don’t need to see it again in five minutes. Hey, CBS, let’s get back to the games shall we.

By the way, Ohio State leads Davidson 49-46 with less than 8 minutes to play.

Arizona 59 Wisconsin 38

TV timeout…Wisconsin ball when we return.

Wisconsin drains a three right out of the timeout.

I just realized the radio announcers are total Arizona homers as the color analyst just through a hissy-fit on a call that went against the Cats. Also, he just used the term “we” three time in covering the game’s most recent action.

Another three by Wisconsin. Dear God.

Arizona 62 Wisconsin 44

“That is not a foul. I’m perplexed right now.” I love this color analyst. He’s not even trying to hide the fact that he’s rooting for Arizona. Walters was blown for his fourth foul Not good.

Arizona 62 Wisconsin 48

I know fourteen points sounds like a lot but this is the same Arizona team that blew a 15-point lead against Illinois with 3:30 on the clock in last year’s Elite Eight game.

Foul on Hassan Adams. That’s three.

Arizona 67 Wisconsin 48

Timeout Wisconsin as Arizona scores five straight.

By the way, Ohio State is pulling away from Davidson right now 64-53 with only 2 minutes to play. Is CBS going to change the game to something more competitive…I think not!

Oops, the Damned just switched us to the Bucknell/Arkansas game with Bucknell leading 40-36. There just might be hope yet for CBS.

Hassan is 7 of 8 from the field for the game. Another foul on Arizona. I swear the color analyst just sighed. Priceless! Wisconsin’s best player, Tucker, has 12 free throw attempts in the game. Arizona’s entire team has attempted a grand total of 13.

Mr. Announcer just said, “I don’t want to sound too one-sided here, but…” Seriously, you can’t make this stuff up.

Arizona 71 Wisconsin 54

Make that 73-54 on another Mustafa assist. Another foul on Arizona…wow!
I’m starting to get nervous. We’re under the 10 minute mark. It sounds like Wisconsin is being more aggressive than Arizona right now. Per my keys to the game notes above this is probably the reason why Wisconsin is getting all the calls.

Arizona 77 Wisconsin 58

The homer announcers finally referred to Hassan by his nickname, “Hot Sauce.” Great nickname, but not Arizona’s greatest. That distinction is reserved for one of Arizona’s most lovable and dominant big men in the Olson Era, Sean Rooks, affectionately known as “The Wookie.”

(an amusing side note about the Wookie…my buddy Jeff and I were at the pier in Hermosa Beach at night a few years back when we spotted The Wookie. He was playing for the Lakers at the time. We made a sprinting beeline toward the 6’11, 275 lb. monster and simultaneously leaped into him from opposite directions. The Wookie was laughing because Jeff and I are your typical Wildcat fanatics, plus we were apologizing profusely, but the local cops weren’t as pleased. They rushed over and started to attempt to separate the three of us. Luckily, we were drunk and probably said something funny to defuse the situation. Or, and more likely, the lovable Wookie told the cops that everything was cool).

Anyway, back to the game.

Arizona 80 Wisconsin 65

We’re heading toward the 5 minute mark. Mustafa’s at the line for two free throws. He missed the first (1 of 3 at the line today, very unusual). He makes the second.

Arizona 83 Wisconsin 65

Iowa is up five on Northwestern State with 3:35 on the clock. Bucknell leads Arkansas by five as well. Adams just made another driving lay up. He has 17 points. He averages 17 points a game. Man, my keys to the game appear to be dead on. Do you think CBS will hire me? Maybe they’re looking for someone to help them iron out their tournament game programming deficiencies….as I say this, I’m watching a commercial of two turtles atop a kitchen counter talking. Riveting, I mean absolutely riveting, CBS. Thanks for the excellent broadcast. I can’t wait to see what you have next in store for us viewers who are dying to watch the 63 basketball games you promised us in your pre-tournament advertising.

There’s a timeout by the way.

Arizona 87 Wisconsin 71

2:59 on the clock. We’re now in that dreaded under three minute mark that plagued Arizona in last year’s Elite Eight. Dillon just made two free throws, making it 89-71. I feel a little better. Arizona just got the ball back and Hot Sauce Adams made a three pointer for his 20th point. I feel much better now.

Arizona 92 Wisconsin 73

Arizona is clearing its bench. Onto the other games.

Let the Madness begin. Iowa is up 61-59 with 52 seconds on the clock against 14th seeded Northwestern State. I need to watch this…back in a few…

It’s still a one point game. Holy moly, Bucknell is up by two against Arkansas. This game is also in its final minute. Let’s see how CBS screws up this one!

FINAL SCORE

Arizona 94 Wisconsin 75

CBS is totally botching the Iowa/Northestern State/Bucknell/Arkansas situation.

Here we go…Iowa up by two, NW State bringing the ball up the flour…20 seconds and ticking.

Three point attempt…brick…loose ball…ohHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Get yourself to a highlight show and watch the end of the Iowa game. NW State hustled for the lose ball in the corner, threw up a prayer and it was answered with 0.5 seconds on the clock. NW State 64 Iowa 63. Biggest upset of the tournament thus far and when the first round completely plays itself out will most likely be the biggest bracket buster of all.

Bucknell also earned a victory, edging Arkansas 59-55 on two made free throws to seal it in the final seconds. Things were a bit cozier for Ohio State who bested Davidson by eight.

Whew…what a wild last few minutes. I need a drink. See you at the pub.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

I hope you enjoyed reliving UA’s last basketball victory of the 2005/2006 basketball season. Tune in next week for more of the Weekly Wildcat. Until then, Bear Down!