Wildcat Wrap: Arizona men’s and women’s basketball trending in opposite directions

It’s Monday, which means it’s time to catch up on everything that happened regarding the Arizona Wildcats last week.

Let us know in the comment section if we missed anything!

Softball

• Stacy Iveson was named head softball coach of Team Israel on Thursday. Iveson, who is currently Arizona softball’s director of recruiting operations, will oversee the team as it chases a chance to play in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. She will not be the lone Wildcat on the team, though, as former players Debby Day and Lisa Bernstein are also on staff.Plus two current UA players, senior Tamara “T” Statman and freshman Vanessa Foreman, were among those to be named to the first half of the Israel roster. Players must have one Jewish parent or grandparent and travel to the country to get dual citizenship in order to play for the team.
• Iveson’s team is set to play in the European Championships this upcoming summer in hopes of qualifying for the Olympics. Should the team achieve that, it would be the first time since 1968 a team from the country has qualified.
• In Pac-12 news, Oregon ace Megan Kleist transferred to Louisiana-Lafayette. The Ducks lost their other elite starter, Miranda Elish, to transfer earlier in the offseason.

Volleyball

• Senior Kendra Dahlke and junior Devyn Cross were named as AVCA All-American Honorable mentions on Wednesday. It’s the first time in either of their careers they’ve received All-American honors; it’s the first time since 2016 the program has had players earn All-American status. Penina Snuka and Kalei Mau earned that honors that year.
• Keeping with the All-American theme, 2019 commit Kamaile Hiapo played in the Under Armour All-American game on Friday night in Minneapolis on team West. Hiapo and the West won 3-0.

Soccer

• Our Ryan Kelapire caught up with head coach Tony Amato to talk about UA’s 2019 recruiting class and then a host of other topics, including facility upgrades, what’s next for the team, and so on.
• Midfielder Emily Knous made TopDrawerSoccer’s Freshman Best XI.

Women’s Basketball

• After more than a week off, the women return to action Monday night against UTEP then Friday against NAU to wrap up non-conference play.
• At 8-1, there is a lot to like about the way Arizona is playing, but it has also had an extremely soft schedule, which could pose problems once Pac-12 play starts. We talked to Adia Barnes about that, and she revealed why she is not worried about it.
• Pac-12 play begins Dec. 30 against No. 17 Arizona State.

Men’s Basketball

• In case you missed (you’re lucky if you did) Arizona lost to Baylor 58-49 thanks to a 51-19 rebounding margin and a stifling zone defense. All our coverage from the debacle can be read in our basketball section.
• UA finishes its non-conference schedule this week with two home games. Montana makes its way to town on Wednesday and UC Davis on Saturday.
• Derrick Williams was named EuroLeague MVP of the week. It’s the first time he has been named it. He had 27 points, a EuroLeague career-high, and seven rebounds against Zalgiris Kaunas. Williams signed with Bayern in October.
• The Savage Life has made its way to the Windy City, as Rawle Alkins was called up from the G League to the Bulls’ active roster. Alkins signed a two-way contract with the Bulls after going undrafted, and has spent his season with the G-League Windy City Bulls, averaging 15.1 points and 6.1 rebounds.
• He joins former UA teammate Lauri Markkanen. Alkins didn’t see any minutes in the Bulls’ 98-93 win over the Spurs on Saturday, but Markkanen had 23 points.
• Allonzo Trier had a nice week, signing a two-year $6.9 million deal with the New York Knicks. He is averaging 11.7 points per game with the team.

Football

• Well, it finally happened. Coach Kevin Sumlin got a 5-star recruit to come play for Arizona Football. Sort of. His name is Cameron Weinberg and he’s a punter. Weinberg hails for Mesa and will be a preferred walk-on.
• Nick Foles started again for the Eagles, with Carson Wentz out with a fractured vertebra, and the former Wildcat led Philadelphia to a stunning win over the Rams.
• From one UA legend to the next, Scooby Wright is once again playing football. Wright signed with the Arizona Hotshots of the Alliance of American Football League, which begins in February.
• Our Gabe Encinas looks at how the offensive line and cornerbacks will look in 2019.
• Nathan Eldridge announced he is transferring from Arizona. He was the starting center from 2016-2017, but a preseason injury caused him to miss the 2018 season and allowed walk-on Josh McCauley to take his spot.
• J.J. Taylor was named an AP Third Team All-American, but as an all-purpose player rather than running back.