aztecpress@pima.edu

Let’s face it: sports games, especially basketball games, are just not as fun as watching sports. They are usually one game and done.

But the new NBA Jam, already out for Wii and coming soon to Playstation 3 and Xbox 360, is so addicting that I have to watch the clock while playing to make sure two hours haven’t evaporated.

This is the classic 2.5D two-on-two full court arcade-style basketball that dominated the coin-op scene and then consoles in the 1990s.

There are no personal fouls and play is over the top. You can play as everyone from the Beastie Boys to former NBA players to Obama and the Clintons (or, for equal time, as Bush, McCain and Palin.)

If you make three baskets in a row, you are literally on fire, complete with a flaming ball and improved skills. The game has appeal for everyone from casual gamers to hardcore basketball fans who actually watch the NBA before Christmas.

Unlike the original NBA Jam, which lacked Michael Jordan, this one has all the best NBA players, appeasing Team LeBron and Team Kobe.

In Classic Campaign, you play five teams and then face a “Legends Battle” for each division, like Karl Malone and John Stockton, complete with the nut-hugger shorts.

The graphics, 3D-rendered bodies with photos of the players as their heads, look great and work well together. I was skeptical, but they look natural.

The “Remix” modes are great complements to the standard modes, featuring ones like 21, one-on-one-on-one and boss battles.

The best remix mode is Backboard Smash. Instead of scoring points, the goal is to be the first to break the backboard. The basket has a life bar and even flashes red like a video game boss.

Boss battles let you face bosses like Magic Johnson, who literally uses magic against you, or a Dr. J, who can dunk from the three-point line.

The A.I. is superb, not too smart and not too dumb. The A.I. in EA Sports games is usually so stupid that the computer calls timeouts in football when the clock has already stopped.

The old ‘90s NBA Jam announcer is back. Unlike most sports games, where the announcer is a weakness, he is one of Jam’s strengths. After about 100 games, I am still hearing new one-liners. My favorite is “uncool dude, you shot blocked me!”

The music is so good, I would buy some of the tracks if they had them in the iTunes Store.

The real question with NBA Jam 2010 is what version to get. The only difference between the Wii and the HD versions is supposed to be that PS3 and 360 will have online play and the Wii has motion controls.

The lack of online for Wii is inexcusable and is really the game’s only weak spot but the motion controls are well done. They are just for shooting and blocking the ball, and it is more satisfying to actually jam it than to mash a button.

Still, it is hard to pick the Wii version over the HD versions, which tip off Nov. 17 and cost $50 instead of the standard $60 price point.

Whichever version you pick, you will have fun.

Grade: A

In his second year as the University of Arizona men’s basketball head coach, Sean Miller faces the daunting task of returning the Wildcats to the NCAA tournament during another down year for the Pacific-10 Conference.

Miller finished his first Wildcat season with a 16-15 overall record. That’s impressive, given the unpleasant circumstances he inherited.

Last season will mostly be remembered as the year UA failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament, breaking the school’s remarkable 25-year streak started by legendary coach Lute Olson.

Miller had just one returning senior, point guard Nic Wise, and sometimes played five freshmen on the court last year. Nevertheless, his team provided some big-time play.

Notable wins: beating UCLA twice, beating Arizona State University by 19 in Tempe and beating the University of California at home when Cal was ranked in the Top 25.

Year Two seems much more promising, as UA returns a very good group. Many fans believe Miller has succeeded in quickly turning the Wildcats around.

Team play will be lead by sophomore forward Derrick Williams, the leading candidate for Pac-10 Player of the Year.

The key question is how much the other Wildcats improved during the offseason. For the team to excel, every player to step it up.

Additional questions surround this young team.

Who can step in at point guard to replace Wise? Early indications show the Wildcats should be fine with sophomore Lamont “MoMo” Jones running the point, and freshman Jordin Mayes spelling him.

What about the post game? Yes, the Wildcats excelled last year with Williams playing at center, but they need other big bodies.

Expectations are high for sophomore center Kyryl Natyazkho, who spent the summer in Croatia playing for the Ukraine national team. Natyazkho led Ukraine to an eighth-place finish at the Under-20 European championships.

Natyazkho, who averaged 17.2 points and 8.4 rebounds in Croatia, finished in the tournament top 5 in nearly every major statistical category. Many hope his improved play and confidence translate well at UA.

It’s uncertain whether the Wildcats will return to the “Big Dance” this year, but some things seem assured. Talent and experience levels are higher, and returning players have had a full year in Miller’s system. The team should gel better this year.

Looking ahead, the 2011 recruiting class features three Top-100 recruits in Josiah Turner, Nick Johnson and Sidiki Johnson.

Miller has the program heading in the right direction, and fast.

Record prediction: 22-11. UA opens the season Nov. 14 at 3 p.m. when they host Idaho State University.

UA basketball schedule

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Justin Chambers drives towards the basket. Photo by Ed Adams

Facing a 0-3 start to the season, the Pima Community College men’s basketball team rebounded in its final Thunderbird Classic game and didn’t leave the Land of Enchantment empty-handed.

The Aztecs (1-2) bested Pulaski (Ark.) Technical College, 102-95, on Nov. 3 in Hobbs, New Mexico at the Thunderbird Classic.

“All in all, I thought we did well,” head coach Roderick Gary said. “We played four competitive halves in three games. Again, we had two halves where we let it get away from us.”

Sophomore guard Daniel Conorque picked up the Aztecs’ first double-double of the season, scoring 24 points and grabbing 17 rebounds. Sophomore forward Chazaray Hampton added 21 points, sophomore forward Justin Chambers scored 19 and sophomore guard Brian Hill scored 18 to go along with eight rebounds.

“I think, for the most part, we played Pima basketball,” freshman guard Austin Rousch said. “I know our record up there showed 1-2 but it does not show how hard we fought during those games.”

In their second game in the Thunderbird Classic on Nov. 2, Pima lost 64-52 to New Mexico Junior College, the host of the round robin tournament.

Rousch said the Aztecs have already shown they have fight and will “never give up.”

“Although we lost our second game against one of the top junior colleges in the nation and the hosting team, we were down by 28 points and fought back to cut their lead to eight points before we ran out of time,” Rousch said.

The Aztecs started the season with a 77-58 loss to New Mexico Military Institute on Nov. 1 to open the Thunderbird Classic. Conorque was a bright spot for Pima against the Broncos, as he scored 16 points.

The Aztecs stay on the road, going south to Douglas for the Cochise College Classic on Nov. 12. PCC will have a chance to avenge its loss to New Mexico Military, this time in the Aztecs’ home state.

Gary said the road trips are a chance for the new team to bond.

“The thing about getting on the road is you have a chance to be together and get to know each other and you get a chance to understand who you are as a team,” Gary said.

PCC has been playing short-handed though, with only 10 guys on the roster.

“My only regret is really beyond our control and that is that we got a few guys that are ineligible and those guys don’t travel,” Gary said.

Gary expects to add three players when the semester ends. “Nice Christmas present, huh?” he said.

Pima plays its home opener on Nov. 20 at 7:30 p.m. against Scottsdale Community College.

Ricky Gonzales contributed to this report.

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Patricia Ramos deftly evades a defender in a scrimmage against Tucson Sol on Oct. 29 at the West Campus. Photo by Ed Adams

The Pima Community College women’s basketball team traveled more than 500 miles from home, to Cedar City, Utah, to open its season and a tough non-conference slate with much anticipation.

Previous successes aside, Pima (1-1) had to find a new identity and did so after the road trip to the Southern Utah Tournament. The No. 10 Aztecs started the season ranked in the top 10 largely because of back-to-back Nationals appearances.

“We’re a new team,” sophomore forward Deanna Daniels said. “We’re still figuring each other out, but I think we have every piece.”

On Nov. 5, Pima opened play against a tough No. 26 Salt Lake City Community College team, and raced to keep up with the fast-paced Bruins. The Aztecs had to rally from a 24-point halftime deficit.

They were led by the play of Daniels and sophomore guard Sara Nicholson, who scored 18 and 17 points respectively.

“We had a horrible first half to start” head coach Todd Holthaus said. “We made some adjustments at the half and ended up winning the second half.”

However, Pima’s efforts were not good enough as the Aztecs fell to the Bruins 103-86.

“Overall we didn’t play well, but we’re still learning and it’s still a process,” Holthaus said. “We’re figuring things out and I like our toughness. We’re definitely seeing improvement day-to-day.”

The day after the loss, the Aztecs played College of Eastern Utah.

“We’re very tough minded,” Holthaus said. “Against Eastern Utah, we shot free throws and the three very well.”

Down by as many as 13 in the first half, the Aztecs rallied, desperate to get their first win of the season. Using smothering defense and a slew of offense, the Aztecs had just enough to top the Golden Eagles 64-58.

Daniels again led the Aztecs in scoring with 21 points, and pulled down 10 rebounds. Nicholson added 12 points.

“We continue to grow as a team,” Daniels said. “We just need to continue to communicate better.”

The Aztecs stand at .500 on the young season and look to build on their overall record.

They play Muskegon (Mich.) Community College and Cisco College (Texas) when they travel to Yuma on Nov. 11 and 12 for the AWC Desert Classic.

Pima will have its first home game on Nov. 20, when the Aztecs host conference foe Scottsdale Community College.

“It’s a good test for us early playing these teams,” Holthaus said. “We have an away conference game against Gilbert-Chandler before we play at home, and I think it builds towards our excitement.”

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As the regular season opener approaches, the Pima Community College women’s basketball team is hoping to build on recent successes, including back-to-back Region titles and consecutive appearances at Nationals.

Head coach Todd Holthaus enters his fourth season with the Aztecs, this time as a full-time coach. Selected as No. 10 in the preseason rankings, the Aztecs are expected to be good again.

“We want to carry on the tradition that we’ve started here,” Holthaus said.

Last spring, Holthaus was named Pima’s second full-time coach, after football head coach Patrick Nugent in 2009.

His players will have their work cut out for them this year after losing sophomore talents like Tia Morrison, Abyee Maracigan, LeAndra Lucas and Jessica Jones.

Morrison was the 15th player ever to be named first team All-American during both of her two years at Pima. Maracigan was a third team All-American for two years, and Jones was Most Valuable Player of the National Junior College Athletic Association Region 1 Tournament.

“We lost some players,” Holthaus said. “But, we’ll be all right. We just want to always play hard and get our freshmen to where they need to be.”

PCC return a solid core of players, and are bringing in talent via college transfers. They expect to contend for another region title.

“We’re a different team this year,” sophomore guard Sara Nicholson said. “We are a lot bigger and a lot faster.”

The Aztecs will still have to play good basketball in a very competitive conference in order to advance. No. 2 Central Arizona College, No. 8 Mesa Community College and No. 25 Arizona Western College are other Arizona Community College Athletic Conference teams ranked in the preseason polls.

“This is a very smart and hard working group,” Holthaus said. “They’re physically tough and they won’t back down.”

Gaby Ayon and Shaysea Alba

The season starts for PCC on Nov. 5, when they travel to Cedar City, Utah, to take on Salt Lake City Community College and the College of Eastern Utah in the Southern Utah University Invitational.

“That’s when the real test begins,” Holthaus said.

On Dec. 4 at 2 p.m., the Aztecs host Central, the ACCAC’s dominant team. On Feb. 9 at 5:30 p.m., Pima hosts rival Mesa.

Nicholson has expectations of her own. “We want to do something productive this year,” she said. “We want to get back to the tournament and do better.”

Pima has 10 freshmen on the roster and three sophomores who didn’t play for PCC last year.

“We’re still a work in progress,” Holthaus said. “I think we’re deeper than we’ve ever been. The team speed overall is much better and the potential to be good is there.”

Last year the Aztecs finished fifth at Nationals after Maracigan injured her knee at the Big Dance. Maracigan tore her ACL at the beginning of the tourney.

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The Pima Community College men’s basketball team starts from scratch, welcoming newly hired head coach Roderick Gary.

Fresh off their first-ever appearance at Nationals, everything seems new for the Aztecs. In addition to a new coach, the team has a slew of new players.

Daniel Conorque

Former head coach Karl Pieroway led Pima to seventh place at the National Junior College Association tournament last spring. After the tournament, Pieroway resigned, then agreed to come back, then resigned again.

Gary declined comment about Pieroway, but complimented the previous staff’s recruiting.

“The previous coaches did a nice job of finding kids that wanted to play,” he said.

The Aztecs roster currently has 21, including eight freshmen.

Central Arizona College transfer C.J. Crockom, a small forward and shooting guard, has also joined the team.

“I was recruited by Pima out of high school,” Crockom said. “I’m excited to play here this season.”

The Aztecs have lost lots of talent, headlined by former national player of the week Travares Peterson. The forward is a preseason all-conference selection for his new school, Eastern Oregon University.

Other key departures include guards Warren Baker and Coree Aten, who were both top Arizona Community College Athletic Conference three-point shooters, and point guards JaMier Morris and Jeremy Harden.

Peterson, Baker, Morris and Harden ran out of eligibility while Aten left for personal reasons.

Aten is a “a great guy, a shooter,” Gary said. “We could really light it up with him on the wing, which is our loss.”

Aztec recruiting was nearly non-existent because Gary was hired two months after Pieroway left in May. However, the coach has a recruiting plan.

“We want this program to be about Pima County,” Gary said. “We want it to be about Arizona athletes.”

Pima will wrap up the exhibition season Oct. 30 by hosting Westwind Preparatory Academy at 4 p.m. in the West Campus gym. Admission is free.

The Aztecs may also add a scrimmage against a team put together by Pieroway, but Gary said it might be “a distraction.” Follow Twitter.com/AztecSports for updates on Pima sports news and scores.

PCC will open the season in a tournament in New Mexico.

Pima’s first home game will be Nov. 20 against Scottsdale Community College.

Other key dates include Jan. 5, when the Aztecs host preseason No. 13 Cochise College.

On Jan. 29 at 4 p.m. they’ll host revenge-minded No. 6 Phoenix College, the team that Pima beat in Phoenix’s gym to advance to Nationals. On Jan. 19 at 7:30 p.m., the Aztecs host No. 16 Arizona Western College.

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Last spring was the best of times for Pima Community College men’s basketball and then the worst of times.

After nearly winning a national championship, the program was sucker-punched by its own head coach when Karl Pieroway unexpectedly quit. Pieroway then returned, but quit again.

Pieroway went from school hero to lower than the scary liquid that always seems to be on the floors of West Campus men’s rooms even though they are constantly cleaning it.

Now, Pieroway is a nice guy but his actions were atrocious.

People hate basketball superstar LeBron James, but James didn’t leave after calling the Cleveland Cavaliers to tell them he was coming back.

Pieroway did.

Nick Saban is the poster boy for coaching disloyalty in college and pro sports, but not even Saban didn’t leave after Louisiana State University and the Miami Dolphins fired people to get more money for his salary.

Pieroway did.

There may have been more people fired that they didn’t mention in a press release, but at least assistant athletic director Jerry Stitt was fired and athletic director Edgar Soto had to resign as baseball coach.

We don’t know for sure that the athletic department’s extreme makeover was to get more money for Pieroway. Coaches weren’t allowed to talk to us. One, who a few weeks earlier said he owed me a favor, wouldn’t even call me back on it in May.

But, it is pretty obvious. Sure the baseball team slumped the last couple of years, but why would Soto fire himself?

There may have been issues with the administration but, because Pieroway declined a chance to tell his story, I just have to assume the worst.

Speaking of Pima’s administration, they just plain mishandled the coaching search.

Never mind that the obvious choice, former University of Arizona and PCC assistant basketball coach Jim Rosborough wasn’t hired. The process used to hire new head coach Roderick Gary is what really grinds my gears.

In lots of ways, Gary seems like a great fit. He used to be an assistant coach for the Aztecs and still works at PCC. He wants Pima to be the county’s basketball team.

That clearly makes him a “Pima man,” especially important after Pima’s last coach went all runaway bride on the school.

Sounds great, but why did it take so long to hire him? Remember when the University of Arizona took maybe two weeks to hire Sean Miller and everyone freaked? Didn’t it take the University of Kentucky about a day to hire John Calipari?

Both the chancellor and Gary work in Pima’s district office complex. So then why was it so hard to find him?

Gary wasn’t hired until two months after Pieroway quit for the second time, losing precious recruiting time and momentum from the Aztecs’ great playoff run. That was in the summer too.

Worse yet, nobody told the players or kept them remotely in the loop. Even the college coaches with the least integrity tell their players they are leaving.

Players didn’t know when Pieroway was coming or going. One player asked me in July, “Um, what’s going on, do we have a coach yet?”

I had no idea, but sent him a published story that said Rosborough was interested in the job. We both assumed Rosborough would be hired.

Gary could very well return Pima to Nationals, maybe even this year, but it’s unfair to essentially make him start the game with a couple of fouls.

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28-7, 18-4 ACCAC

National Junior College Athletic Association National Runner-up
National Junior College Athletic Association Division II Region I champions
National Junior College Athletic Association Division II District A champions

2011 Nationals

Fri. Nov. 5 Southern Utah Tournament (Cedar City, UT) Salt Lake City Community College L 103-86
Sat. Nov. 6 Southern Utah Tournament (Cedar City, UT) Utah State University – College of Eastern Utah W 64-58
Thurs. Nov. 11 AWC Desert Classic (Yuma, Ariz.) vs. Muskegon CC W 77-41
Fri. Nov. 12 AWC Desert Classic (Yuma, Ariz.) vs. Cisco College W 68-61
Wed. Nov. 17 @ *Chandler-Gilbert CC W 82-44
Sat. NOV. 20 *SCOTTSDALE CC W 87-62
Wed. Dec. 1 @ *Phoenix College W 75-57
Sat. DEC. 4 *CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE 2 p.m. L 76-72
Wed. Dec. 8 @ *Yavapai College W 76-74
Sat. Dec. 11 @ *Mesa CC W 65-52
Tues. DEC. 28 Country Financial Classic (Pima) vs. PARKLAND COLLEGE W 72-61
Wed. DEC. 29 Country Financial Classic (Pima) vs. COLLEGE OF EASTERN UTAH W 66-49
Thurs. DEC. 30 Country Financial Classic (Pima) vs. WESTERN TEXAS COLLEGE L 58-53
Tues. JAN. 4 SOUTH PLAINS COLLEGE W 72-65 OT
Wed. JAN. 5 *COCHISE COLLEGE W 88-63
Sat. JAN. 8 *SOUTH MOUNTAIN CC W 82-70
Wed. Jan. 12 @ *Eastern Arizona College W 92-78
Sat. Jan. 15 @ *Glendale CC W 68-44
Wed. JAN. 19 *ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE L 80-78
Sat. JAN. 22 *CHANDLER-GILBERT CC W 118-54
Wed. Jan. 26 @ *Scottsdale CC W 68-44
Sat. JAN. 29 *PHOENIX COLLEGE W 95-64
Wed. Feb. 2 @ *Central Arizona College L 75-65
Sat. FEB. 5 *YAVAPAI COLLEGE W 75-62
Wed. FEB. 9 *MESA CC W 67-52
Sat. Feb. 12 @ *Cochise College W 64-61
Wed. Feb. 16 @ *South Mountain CC W 81-66
Sat. FEB. 19 *EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE W 65-57
Tues. FEB. 22 *GLENDALE CC W 77-52
Fri. Feb. 25 @ *Arizona Western College 5:30 p.m.
Tues. Mar. 1 NJCAA Region I Tournament Semifinals vs. Phoenix College W 83-60
Thurs. Mar. 3 NJCAA Region I Tournament Championship vs. Mesa CC W 61-37
Tues. Mar. 15 NJCAA National Championship Tournament (East Peoria, Ill.) First Round vs. Genesee CC W 77-65
Thurs. Mar. 17 NJCAA National Championship Tournament (East Peoria, Ill.) Quarterfinals vs. Harcum College W 74-66
Fri. Mar. 18 NJCAA National Championship Tournament (East Peoria, Ill.) Semifinals vs. Iowa Central CC W 69-68
Sat. Mar. 19 NJCAA National Championship Tournament (East Peoria, Ill.) Championship vs. Monroe CC L 78-74

Home games in BOLD
*ACCAC Conference Game

Patricia Ramos

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5-23, 2-20 ACCAC

Mon. Nov. 1 Thunderbird Classic (Hobbs, NM) vs. New Mexico Military Institute L 77-56
Tues. Nov. 2 Thunderbird Classic (Hobbs, NM) vs. New Mexico Junior College L 64-52
Wed. Nov. 3 Thunderbird Classic (Hobbs, NM) vs. Pulaski Technical College W 102-95
Fri. Nov. 12 Cochise College Classic (Douglas, AZ) vs. Odessa College 88-57
Sat. Nov. 13 Cochise College Classic (Douglas, AZ) vs. New Mexico Military Institute W 96-87
Wed. Nov. 17 @ *Chandler-Gilbert CC L 72-68
Sat. NOV. 20 *SCOTTSDALE CC L 90-69
Wed. Dec. 1 @ *Phoenix College L 80-46
Sat. DEC. 4 *CENTRAL ARIZONA COLLEGE W 87-82
Wed. Dec. 8 @ *Yavapai College L 103-95 OT
Sat. Dec. 11 @ *Mesa CC W 73-63
Sat. DEC. 18 ARIZONA COLLEGE PREP W 116-95
Wed. JAN. 5 *COCHISE COLLEGE L 114-66
Sat. JAN. 8 *SOUTH MOUNTAIN CC L 100-63
Wed. Jan. 12 @ *Eastern Arizona College L 94-75
Sat. Jan. 15 @ *Glendale CC L 111-80
Wed. JAN. 19 *ARIZONA WESTERN COLLEGE L 82-75
Sat. JAN. 22 *CHANDLER-GILBERT CC L 99-75
Wed. Jan. 26 @ *Scottsdale CC L 114-75
Sat. JAN. 29 *PHOENIX COLLEGE L 100-70
Wed. Feb. 2 @ *Central Arizona College L 78-69
Sat. FEB. 5 *YAVAPAI COLLEGE L 80-75
Wed. FEB. 9 *MESA CC L 91-56
Sat. Feb. 12 @ *Cochise College L 105-75
Wed. Feb. 16 @ *South Mountain CC L 94-64
Sat. FEB. 19 *EASTERN ARIZONA COLLEGE L 86-82
Tues. FEB. 22 *GLENDALE CC L 104-82
Fri. Feb. 25 @ *Arizona Western College L 116-57

Justin Chambers

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Former Pima, USA Baseball and Foothills coach Jason Hisey named head baseball coach