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#arizonawildcats say T.J. McConnell put on Cousy Award (top PG) watch list. 50 players on it but official list is not updated.
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) October 22, 2013
T.J. McConnell, Arizona's newest point guard where p guards have been key to success. Can he revitalize the position? http://t.co/6RXtShd91j
— Steve Rivera (@SteveRivera95) October 17, 2013
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T.J. McConnell’s name is on the Bob Cousy Award Watch list but he has yet to play a game for the Wildcats
Arizona junior point guard T.J. McConnell will attempt to earn what his esteemed predecessors at Point Guard U. could not: Win the Bob Cousy Award for the best point guard in the nation.
Steve Kerr, Kenny Lofton, Matt Othick, Damon Stoudamire, Reggie Geary, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry and Jason Gardner took home plenty of honors in their careers but not the Cousy award.
McConnell has long odds as a transfer from Duquesne who did not play last year per NCAA transfer rules. Oklahoma State’s Marcus Smart and ASU’s Jahii Carson are the clear frontrunners for the award.
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Other Pac-12 players listed: Kyle Anderson of UCLA, Justin Cobbs of Cal, Spencer Dinwiddie of Colorado, Dominic Artis of Oregon and Nigel Williams-Goss of Washington.
Reporter and author Steve Rivera, who writes for FoxSportsArizona.com, has seen his share of UA games as a Tucson Citizen beat reporter for almost 20 years. He wrote recently that McConnell is the “truest point guard Arizona has had since Jason Gardner a decade ago.”
“He brings intensity at each end; for example, Arizona will be able to attack more in both the full-court and half-court because of McConnell’s tenacity and zeal for the game,” Rivera writes.
Mustafa Shakur, Nic Wise, Lamont “MoMo” Jones, Josiah Turner and Mark Lyons followed Gardner.
Shakur may have not lived up to his five-star billing entering the UA, but he is a class act who has played professionally overseas and in the NBA D-League the last six years. Wise, an All-Pac-10 selections as a senior, was beset first by weight issues and then later knee problems but he persevered. He will play in Turkey this season.
Jones, Turner and Lyons played out of position mostly because of Arizona’s needs.
POINT GUARD U.: WHERE ARE THEY NOW?
Steve Kerr: Announcer for NBA telecasts on TBS and college basketball on CBS.
Kenny Lofton: Analyst for Dodger pre- and post-game shows on Fox Sports.
Matt Othick: Owner of Crust Pizzeria in Carlsbad, Calif.
Damon Stoudamire: First year as an assistant Arizona after playing 13 years in the NBA and serving as an assistant with the Memphis Grizzlies and Memphis Tigers (under former UA reserve guard and assistant Josh Pastner).
Reggie Geary: In his third year as a head coach in the Japanese professional league. His team won the title last year.
Mike Bibby: The 14-year NBA veteran is volunteering at his alma mater Phoenix Shadow Mountain coaching his son, a sophomore there.
Jason Terry: In his 15th season in the NBA, playing for the Brooklyn Nets.
Jason Gardner: In his first season as an assistant at Memphis with Pastner after serving on the staff at Loyola (Chicago) last season.
Mustafa Shakur: He is currently not signed after playing in Europe and with Rio Grande and Erie of the D-League last year.
Nic Wise: In his first season playing professionally in Turkey after playing the last three years in Poland, Italy, France and Germany.
MoMo Jones: In his first season playing professionally in Japan after completing his collegiate career at Iona last season.
Josiah Turner: Unsigned at this point after playing professionally for two teams in Canada last year.
Mark Lyons: In his first season playing professionally in France.
Countdown to Tip-off Blogs:
— ASU’s Jahii Carson Arizona Wildcats’ top opposing player this season
— Mike Bibby, Tedy Bruschi spend day with Arizona Wildcats
— Arizona Wildcats guard Jordin Mayes sets sight on successful senior season with 20-20 vision
— Unsung players wore No. 21 proudly for Arizona Wildcats
— Jason Gardner’s No. 22 is retired but Coniel Norman and Ray Owes also wore number admirably for Arizona Wildcats
— Arizona Wildcats No. 23 players historic in different ways
— No. 24 in Arizona Wildcats history one for the statistical record books
— Steeeeeeeeve Kerrrrrrrr!!!!
— A look at the greatest takeaways from Arizona Wildcats’ Red-Blue Scrimmage
— A look at past, future today with Arizona Wildcats’ Red-Blue Scrimmage
— Arizona Wildcats’ Aaron Gordon vying to become third freshman to win Pac-12 player of year
— Ernie McCray did more than score for Arizona Wildcats
— Arizona Wildcats’ No. 31 not retired with Jason Terry’s name but should be
— No. 32 most storied jersey number in Arizona Wildcats history
— No. 33 in Arizona Wildcats history symbolic of hard work ethic, ideal role players
— Simon says: No. 34 special with two of Arizona Wildcats’ greatest wearing jersey number
— If Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski has field-goal percentage like Jud Buechler, UA will be fine
— Arizona Wildcats legend Sean Elliott scored career-high 36 points opposing Sean Miller
— Nick Johnson looks to improve perimeter shooting, limit turnovers
— Jordin Mayes hoping to return to shooting form earlier in Arizona Wildcats career
— 39 days and counting toward Arizona Wildcats’ season
— Joe Skaisgir best Arizona Wildcats basketball player you’ve never heard of
— Nick Johnson looks to improve FG percentage while Arizona Wildcats limit opponents
— Chris Mills, A.J. Bramlett reached Arizona Wildcats stardom via different paths, roles
— Jordan Hill climbed hill for notoriety while Ed Nymeyer lived up to hype with Arizona Wildcats
— Fantastic Four who wore No. 44: Jersey special for Arizona Wildcats program
— Two of Arizona Wildcats’ best centers — Sean Rooks and Channing Frye — donned No. 45
— Arizona Wildcats great Ernie McCray reminisces about his record-setting 46-point performance
— Arizona Wildcats star recruit should not be compared to Blake Griffin
— Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller on fast track to Pac-12 success
— Things you may not know about Arizona Wildcats point guard T.J. McConnell
— Arizona Wildcats will benefit from presence of Joseph Blair in practice
— Arizona Wildcats preparing for what could be memorable 2013-14 season
WILDABOUTAZCATS.net publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report, Lindy’s College Sports and TucsonCitizen.com.
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