Neighborhood Briefs

Marana

Wildcats quietly hopeful

LOS ANGELES - The Arizona Wildcats have matched up unusually well with USC over the last two years, losing by a touchdown both times against teams that went on to Rose Bowl victories.

Miller high on idea of defending cleanly

Buried underneath the disappointment of a double-overtime homecourt loss Wednesday was a statistic Arizona coach Sean Miller could be proud of.

PAC-10 FOOTBALL THIS WEEK

THURSDAY

AD Livengood mum about future at Arizona

While Arizona State athletic director Lisa Love's contract renewal figures to be approved at this week's Arizona Board of Regents meeting, Jim Livengood's future with the Arizona Wildcats remains cloudy.

Balance, maturity top aspects of '09 team

No Arizona Wildcats made the Pac-10 all-conference first team in volleyball.

Making both ends meet

Arizona Wildcats junior defensive end Ricky Elmore has registered 10 1/2 sacks this season, most in the Pac-10. Elmore will take on the Pac-10's other star defensive end Saturday, when the Wildcats travel to Los Angeles to meet No. 20 USC in the teams' regular-season finale.

UNLV showing newfound swagger

On the same afternoon that UNLV players traded high-fives with elated student fans after upsetting Louisville, the Arizona Wildcats trotted into their first practice since the Maui Invitational.

ARIZONA SCOUTING REPORT

SIDELINES

Jim Livengood

UA athletic director Jim Livengood, left, has a résumé that includes the hiring of basketball coach Sean Miller, right, in April 2009.

A boot and a kick

Orlando Vargas (38), with Kyle Day and Apaiata Tuihalamaka, celebrates his touchdown off a punt he blocked then recovered before halftime.

A boot and a kick

Arizona's William "Bug" Wright is forced out of bounds by Arizona State punter Trevor Hankins in the first half. Wright returned three punts for 51 yards in the win over the Sun Devils.

A boot and a kick

TEMPE - The Arizona Wildcats have lost games this season on kicked balls, illegal forward passes and improbable interceptions.

A boot and a kick

Juron Criner runs past a trio of ASU defenders in the fourth quarter at Sun Devil Stadium. Criner had three catches for 12 yards.

PAC-10 FOOTBALL THIS WEEK

Saturday

A boot and a kick

UA receiver Terrell Turner bursts away from ASU's Vontaze Burfict for a first down in the fourth quarter of the Wildcats' victory.

In the end, it was only natural for a Zendejas to win it

TEMPE

UA's Turner in right place at right time

TEMPE - Maybe because he missed all of last season, Mike Turner didn't necessarily have a spot in his home picked out for the game ball he received after Saturday's rivalry game.

December slate will challenge Wildcats

After a red-eye trip home from Maui early Thursday, the Arizona Wildcats were treated to Thanksgiving dinner at coach Sean Miller's home, then took Friday completely off.