Tag: NCAA

ASU women learn love of hoops runs deep on Navajo Reservation

by Bob Young
  • Slug: Sports-ASU Rez Ball, 1,681 words
  • Photos available

By SAM FICARRO
Cronkite News

FORT DEFIANCE – For many on the Navajo Reservation, basketball means everything.

The houses in this small northeast Arizona community on the New Mexico border feature a diversity of basketball hoops. White. Black. Gray. Some have rims with no net, others have rims with only part of a net hanging from them. Many are attached above garages, like anywhere else in the country. Some simply protrude from the top of a black metal bar.

All are well-worn. They are symbols of hope for the Navajo people.

“I was told if there’s a basketball hoop, you can just basically play anywhere, and that’s how it is on the Rez,” said Payton Charley, a junior on the girls team at Window Rock High School. “There’s dirt, they still play. If it’s like really muddy, and it’s uneven, they still play. We just have so much love for the game here.”

Continue reading “ASU women learn love of hoops runs deep on Navajo Reservation”

Sun Devils seek third straight win, bowl eligibility against UCLA

by Bob Young

By HARLEY YEAROUT
Cronkite News

TEMPE – Two weeks can change everything for a college football team.

Just ask the Arizona State Sun Devils, who came off a second consecutive 7-point loss October 18 against Stanford. The hope of ASU even attaining six victories to become eligible for a postseason bowl game was in question. After the loss to the Cardinal, ASU quarterback Manny Wilkins entered the post-game press conference visibly emotional, tears in his eyes after completing a checkdown pass inbounds that allowed time to expire to end the game.

Fast-forward to today. After a successful trip to Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where ASU beat Southern California, and an upset win over then-15th ranked Utah at Sun Devil Stadium, ASU now is just one-win shy of bowl eligibility.

Continue reading “Sun Devils seek third straight win, bowl eligibility against UCLA”

Grand Canyon hopes tough schedule pays off in final stretch of season

by Adnan Alam

Slug: Sports-GCU Basketball, 570
Photo available (thumbnail, caption below)

By CHRISTOPHER WHITCOMB
Cronkite News

PHOENIX – The Grand Canyon University men’s basketball team has played a schedule loaded with tough opponents this season, and it is by design.

Their non-conference schedule included games against some of the best programs in college basketball, coached by some of the biggest names in coaching such as Mike Krzyzewski at Duke, Louisville and Rick Pitino, San Diego State and Steve Fisher, Arizona and Sean Miller and Penn State, coached by Pat Chambers.

Those coaches have combined for 75 NCAA Tournament appearances, 18 trips to the Final Four and eight national championships. 

Continue reading “Grand Canyon hopes tough schedule pays off in final stretch of season”

Arizona State women await return of forward Kelsey Moos

by Adnan Alam
  • Slug: Sports-ASU’s Moos,409

By KATIE WOO
Cronkite News

TEMPE – With five weeks remaining in the regular season, Arizona State’s women’s basketball team isn’t sure yet whether senior forward Kelsey Moos will return from a foot injury in time for postseason play.

She suffered an injury to the plantar fascia, a band of muscle and ligaments  that supports the arch, during the final minute of ASU’s double-overtime victory against California on New Year’s Day.

Moos has not played since, and the Sun Devils have missed her toughness and leadership.  

“It’s a week-by-week thing right now,” Moos said. “When I come back, hopefully we can be playing some of our best basketball as we head into March.” Continue reading “Arizona State women await return of forward Kelsey Moos”