College basketball weekly: ASU-UA rematch Wednesday; GCU tries to end skid
It's getting closer to conference tournament time and March Madness. Arizona's college basketball teams are trying to put their best foot forward to make a final regular-season impact. This becomes a pivotal week to find out where these teams are headed down the stretch.
ASU-UA men meet again Wednesday in Tempe
No. 6 Arizona comes to Tempe on Wednesday after coming off a split of the Washington schools last week. The Wildcats (21-6, 12-4) have a half-game lead in the Pac-12 over No. 19 Washington State, a team that Arizona State beat on Saturday 73-61 in one of its best efforts of the season. This is an 8 p.m. start and will air on the Pac-12 Network.
The Sun Devils (14-14, 8-9 good for seventh in the conference) are led by Adam Miller, Frankie Collins, Jamiya Neal, Jose Perez and Shawn Phillips Jr., and look to be more competitive since losing in Tucson 105-60 on Feb. 17. In that game, ASU shot 36% and UA 57%, as the Wildcats had six player score in double figures, led by Jaden Bradley's 21 points in 21 minutes off the bench.
This is ASU's only game this week. UA returns home Saturday to play third-place Oregon (18-9, 10-6) at McKale Center in a game that will be televised nationally at noon on ESPN.
ASU, UA women face LA schools
It's the final week of the regular season, and the ASU women's team (11-17, 3-13) plays host this week to UCLA (21-5, 10-5) on Thursday night at 7, then USC (21-5, 11-5) in town at noon Saturday at Desert Financial Arena. Up next will be the Pac-12 Tournament, starting March 6 in Las Vegas. The Sun Devils are one game ahead of Oregon in the struggle to stay out of last place. Their last win came in four overtimes against Washington, 73-66, on Feb. 16.
UA (16-12, 8-8), which has won four straight games, plays host to USC on Thursday and UCLA on Saturday. Both games are at 6 p.m. Esmery Martinez had 20 points, nine rebounds and seven assists for UA in Saturday's 87-68 win at California.
GCU tries to end 2-game skid
A week ago, Grand Canyon was alone at the top with the nation's best record at 24-2. Now, after getting swept in Texas in close losses to Tarleton State and Abilene Christian, the Lopes (24-4, 14-3) have their first two-game losing streak in more than a year.
They'll try to get back on track this week with home games Thursday night at 7 against UT Rio Grande Valley (6-21, 2-14) and Saturday night at 8 against Stephen F. Austin (14-13, 7-9) in a game that will be televised nationally on ESPNU. UT Rio Grande Valley is 1-12 on the road and has lost its last 10 games. SFA is 4-7 on the road. GCU had to pull out a 53-51 win at SFA on Jan. 25, a game in which GCU shot just 31%.
GCU struggled to close out its last two games. The Lopes blew a 15-point lead in the second half in a 77-74 loss at Tarleton State and couldn't make any stops in the final minute of Saturday's 79-73 loss at Abilene Christian. The Lopes are only a half-game ahead of Tarleton State for first place in the WAC. They have played one more game than Tarleton State, which is tied with GCU in the WAC loss column at 3.
More college hoops: GCU men's basketball ends seven-game win streak
GCU women have most wins in Division I era
The Grand Canyon women's team won its 23rd game of the season Saturday, beating Abilene Christian 66-55 for the most wins in a season in the Division I era. They are in Texas this week to face UT Rio Grande Valley (6-19, 5-11) on Thursday at 5:30 p.m. and Stephen F. Austin (18-9, 12-4) on Saturday at 1 p.m. GCU at 15-2 in the WAC, is in first place by a half-game over California Baptist, which they close against next week.
Two years ago, GCU won 22 games in coach Molly Miller's second year. That was a D-I record for wins in a season for the school.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert at richard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter: @azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: ASU-Arizona basketball meet again; GCU tries to end 2-game skid
