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TUCSON, Ariz. DeAngelo Williams Womens Jersey . -- Arizona coach Sean Miller rose from his seat every time Roberto Nelson touched the ball and yelled "Shooter!" He could have been talking about his own team, too. Playing with confidence at both ends, No. 2 Arizona found its shooting touch and hounded Nelson, the Pac-12s leading scorer, into a rough night to race past Oregon State 76-54 on Sunday. "Overall, it was a very good team performance," Miller said. "We did it at both ends." Arizona looked hesitant against Oregon on Thursday night, its first game since forward Brandon Ashley went out for the season with a right foot injury. The Wildcats (23-1, 10-1 Pac-12) had no such trouble against Oregon State, finding answers for their shooting woes while dominating in nearly every aspect. Arizona shot 50 per cent for the first time in six games, had a 40-12 advantage in the paint and 15 assists with eight turnovers. The Wildcats also outrebounded the Beavers 39-24, including a 15-4 advantage on the offensive glass that led to 13 points. Aaron Gordon led Arizona with 17 points and fellow freshman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson provided his usual hustling spark while scoring 16. T.J. McConnell added 11 points, six rebounds and six assists for the Wildcats, who bounced back from their grinding victory over the Ducks with a terrific all-around effort for their 30th win in the last 31 games against the Beavers at McKale Center. "We played well tonight," McConnell said. "We were clicking on offence and I felt like we were playing well on defence." They sure were, particularly against Nelson. The Beavers (13-10, 5-6) rallied in the second half against Arizona State in their previous game behind Nelson, but had little chance against the athletic Wildcats, unable to spring him or chip away at Arizonas 10-point halftime lead. The nations 10th-leading scorer, Nelson was held to 10 points -- 12 below his average -- on 3-of-12 shooting. The rest of the Beavers did little to pick up the slack, shooting 8 of 24 in the second half and 39 per cent overall. Angus Brandt led the Beavers with 14 points. "Its disappointing that we didnt play better, especially since we have been playing better," Oregon State coach Craig Robinson said. "I dont think we came out with our best effort and I want to take the blame for that." Shooting has been Arizonas problem in recent weeks. The Wildcats shot 37 per cent over the past four games and hit 18 of 70 (25 per cent) from 3-point range. Arizona won four of those five games behind its defence, particularly with big stops late. The Wildcats did it against Oregon in their last game as they struggled offensively without Ashley, shutting down the Ducks in the final 3 minutes to win 67-65 on Thursday after trailing most of the second half. Arizona had some shooting woes early against Oregon State, but rallied quickly behind Gordon and Hollis-Jefferson. Gordon scored in a variety of ways, getting a tip-in, a coast-to-coast drive after a steal and dropping in his first 3-pointer since Dec. 19, a no-hesitation shot from the corner. He had 11 points at the half. Hollis-Jefferson scored on a turnaround in the post to open the game and scored nine points by halftime behind his always-on-the-gas style. Arizona closed the first half on a 12-3 run and hit 16 of 29 shots to lead 37-27. Gordon opened the second half with an ill-advised toss that went off the top of the backboard in an attempt to dunk that sent Miller sprawling back in his seat in disgust. Gordon followed with the kind of move that has him projected as one of the top NBA draft picks when he leaves Tucson: a behind-the-back dribble through the lane that left his defender flatfooted and led to an easy layup. The rest of the Wildcats kept rolling, too, stretching the lead while showcasing what they can do even without Ashley in the lineup. "Today, we couldnt stop them," Robinson said. "This is a good team. Its fun to watch when you arent getting beat by them." Oregon State rallied behind Nelson against Arizona State on Thursday night before losing in overtime. The Beavers had no comeback in them this time, and Nelson struggled all night He scored 24 of his 26 points in the second half against Arizona State, but had a hard time finding room to shoot against Arizona. Hounded by Johnson and McConnell, who got plenty of help on screen switches, Nelson had four points on 2-of-8 shooting in the first half. He continued to labour against Arizonas pressure, going more than 10 minutes of the second half before getting off his first shot attempt. He missed all three of his 3-point tries in the game. "It was a team effort on Nelson and we did a great job on him," McConnell said. And just about everyone else. Cam Newton Youth White Jersey . Now its going to cost him -- four games and four paychecks. The Colts career sacks leader was suspended Friday by the NFL after violating the leagues ban on performance-enhancing substances. Jerricho Cotchery T-Shirts . The World Group first round series will now continue Monday with Spain leading 1-0. Earlier Sunday, Czech Klara Zakopalova led the second singles match against Maria Torro-Flor 6-3, 2-0.TORONTO - After auditioning roughly 60 prospects, including nine Canadians, in 11 sessions spanning over nine workout days this spring, the Toronto Raptors are putting the finishing touches on their wish list heading into Thursdays NBA Draft. For most of the last week, Masai Ujiri and his scouting staff have been mulling over 10 targets they anticipate will be available with the 20th overall pick, their first of three selections, hoping to narrow that list down to five by Tuesday. With three days to go, does he have someone in mind? "Hes around like the back here," said the former scout, gesturing to the back of his head just before the Raptors concluded their final pre-draft workout Monday afternoon. "But he hasnt made it to the front yet. Hes working his way." No, Ujiri wont tip his hand, not with so many variables at play. Fourteen teams occupy the 19 slots that precede the Raptors and will determine who is available to them. They have a list of about 13 players that are expected to be off the board by the time Toronto is on the clock. The pick will be Ujiris first as Torontos primary decision maker - the Raptors did not have a selection in last years draft - and should immediately put his keen eye for talent to the test. Since Ujiri took control of the Raptors, a franchise that has mostly been accustomed to selecting in the lottery, he has emphasized the importance of drafting well regardless of where youre situated in both the first and second rounds. For only the third time in franchise history, and first in 12 years, the Raptors are positioned outside the top 19 in the drafts opening round. Although its not an advantageous spot to find cant miss, NBA-ready talent, history has shown it can be done. In 2000, with the 20th overall pick - the teams lowest ever first-round selection - they found one of their best and most reliable contributors in long-time Raptor Morris Peterson. In 2011, then with the Nuggets, Ujiri used the 22nd pick to snag emerging forward Kenneth Faried. As Ujiri knows, the key is preparation aided by a little bit of luck and the subsequent development that is required to turn a late first-round pick into an impact player at the games highest level. "Its a huge bonus," Ujiri said of finding a diamond in the rough on draft night. "You look at the programs that have done well in the NBA, they just strike with picks like that. Its takes constant study, and really knowing players, believing in players and a system." "I think a big thing is you kind of have to be realistic on the expectations of the players," added Dan Tolzman, Torontos director of scouting, who was also a member of Ujiris front office staff in Denver. "I think everyone wants to find those diamonds and the guys that will be all-stars and MVPs and this and that but those guys are pretty hard to find outside of the lottery and the top-five even." "So I think the idea is if you can find guys at 20 or 37 or wherever that have careers," he continued, "that are eight-year players and theyre role players on your team and theyre doing good things to help you win, thats a successful draft pick. You might get lucky and hit a guy thats going to be a big time contributor and hes pushing for all-stars and that kind of thing, but thats not really what youre looking for when youre outside of the top-five or the top-10. DeAngelo Williams T-Shirts. " Over the last four weeks, the Raptors brass have seen around a dozen players that figure to be selected in the latter half of the first round, or early in the second. According to team sources, there are roughly five prospects of interest that were either unable or unwilling to come in for a workout. While the workouts are not the be all and end all - the team has scouted them all in live action - they can go a long way in getting the coaching staff and trainers on board with a potential pick. Should a player fall to them unexpectedly, Ujiri will keep his options open and hasnt ruled out the possibility of trading up, if the price is right. Still, the focus is on making their make at 20. "Those trades and talks, people dont understand," said the Raptors GM. "We talk about like maybe 100 trades and then two happen. Thats the nature of our business. We will be aggressive but our energy is focused on 20, rather than wasting our time on [something else]." In addition to their first-round pick, the Raptors also own a pair of second rounders, 37 and 59 - the second to last pick in the draft. Regardless of whether or not theyre able to address their needs in the draft, Ujiri has prioritized his offseason to-do list. "We need a big wing at the three position," he said. "We [also] need some kind of shot blocking big. We have good, skilled bigs, we have a shooting big, we have a big down low, but we want to figure out how we can protect the rim a little bit. That may come now, it may come later but its something we know we need on our roster. So those two positions look like something we need." His top priority has not changed. "Were going full force after Kyle Lowry," Ujiri said, speaking of the teams coveted free agent point guard. "And if theres a talented point guard in the draft we know that its going to be tough to come and contribute to where our team is off the bat, but well go for talent in the draft. But Kyle Lowry is our target and well try to get that done." In just over a week, the Raptors - and other teams for that matter - can begin negotiating with Lowry, unable to officially sign him or announce a deal until the moratorium period ends on July 10. Until then the focus will be on the draft, one of the most chaotic events on the basketball calendar and an invaluable opportunity to add young talent, provided youre well prepared for it. The Raptors have done their homework. "I was walking into the conference room where our guys were meeting and I was like okay, no news that will throw me off right now," Ujiri joked. "Because you know its going to keep coming. There will be something tonight and something else tomorrow morning. Thats just the nature of the draft. I heard something yesterday that threw us off a little bit. But it will keep coming and coming and coming until that last minute. Thats the joy of it, I mean you love it. Thats why we do it. There is always action. As long as we come out on top, then were fine." ' ' ' |
