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Classical match: First in '07 may be similar to last of '05

Brandon Roy and Hassan Adams won't be around tonight, but their spirits undoubtedly will be. In an Arizona-Washington series characterized by close, fast-paced games over the past four seasons, the two then-seniors sparked a game that topped them all. On New Year's Eve day last season, Arizona took away a classic double-overtime game at Hec Edmundson Pavilion when Kirk Walters finally put it away with a pair of late free throws.

"It was definitely a thriller," Washington coach Lorenzo Romar said. "You saw two great performances by Hassan and Brandon. The games we've had with Arizona have all been great games."

Roy, last season's Pac-10 player of the year, had 35 points on 13-for-29 shooting, with 4 of 6 three-pointers and four assists. Adams finished with 32 points on 13-for-24 shooting, including 5 for 7 from three-point range.

"It was probably the highlight of Hassan's career," UA associate head coach Jim Rosborough said. "He and Brandon went back and forth. It was one of the most exciting games I've seen."

While Adams was more demonstrative, putting his jersey right into the face of an FSN camera and gracing the court with unmistakable body language throughout the game, Roy had a particular flair for the dramatic shot. He hit three-pointers to tie the game at the end of regulation and the end of the first overtime.

They weren't the only ones elevating their games, either. UA forward Marcus Williams, then a freshman playing his first college game before family and friends in his hometown, came through with 16 points on 6-for-13 shooting, nine rebounds, one steal, one block and only one turnover.

"It's one of the biggest games I've ever played in," Williams said. "But I don't look back at it too much because it's in the books."

History suggests another thriller could hit the books tonight. Arizona has lost six of eight games in the series, and nine of the past 10 games have been decided by nine points or fewer. Both teams are nationally ranked this time, too.

"I think it's going to be that type of game," UA coach Lute Olson said. "It'll be very closely contested."

Cougar's dad part of Wisconsin lore

Bloodlines made Tony Bennett's first WSU recruit an easy call. The father of Cougar guard Kyle Weaver, below, is famous throughout Wisconsin for banking in a 55-footer to tie the 1969 state championship game at the buzzer of regulation. He then hit two free throws to help Neenah High win the game in double overtime.

In 1999, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel ranked LaMont Weaver's bomb No. 19 on its list of top state sports moments in the 20th century, ahead of Warren Spahn's 300th victory, and 1958 and 1982 World Series appearances by the Braves and Brewers.

"I still have a tape of the game," LaMont Weaver told the Seattle Times. "Oh, the kids, they would look at it and laugh. I had an Afro at that time, these really short shorts — old-school stuff. It was just always something we could have a good laugh about."

Washington schools have ties to UA team

A pair of family ties will be tested this week during Arizona's trip through Washington.

Not only is Washington freshman wing Quincy Pondexter the son of a former Long Beach State player coached by Lute Olson — and a recruit the Wildcats wanted — but also Washington State freshman guard Nikola Koprivica is the younger brother of one of Ivan Radenovic's close friends in Serbia.

The Cougars found Koprivica from what WSU coach Tony Bennett called a "friend in the business,'' much like Olson unearthed Radenovic nearly four years ago. The move is paying off. Koprivica already has made three starts and scored 12 points at top-ranked UCLA last week.

"We're delighted to have him," Bennett said. "He has a nice feel for the game and moved well without the ball. I like that he's picked up the American game quickly."

Cougars coach needed 'pajamas' for late-night tip-off last month

ESPN isn't the only force out there creating late-night basketball. On Dec. 9, Washington State beat Idaho 66-54 before 1,981 fans in neighboring Moscow, Idaho, after tipping off at 9:54 p.m., thanks to graduation ceremonies and a women's game.

"We should have worn our pajamas tonight," WSU coach Tony Bennett told reporters afterward. "Call it Coaches Versus Narcolepsy."

UA's Seattle native has little time for reunions this year

Marcus Williams didn't go home for Christmas, and this trip will barely qualify as a homecoming for the Seattle native.

Because the UW game is being played on Thursday, Williams won't have the option of staying over and spending extra time with family and friends. He flew into town Wednesday afternoon with the Wildcats, had team obligations most of Wednesday and today, then will play tonight's game — and wake up early Friday for a flight to Spokane.

Oh well.

"I get to spend some time with them in my hotel room, do little things," Williams said. "I'll make sure I do something. But it's a business trip."

WSU's Bennett hears rival coach sing a lot of praises

Maybe he's trying to make his team's 58-55 loss to the Cougars on Saturday look a little better, but USC coach Tim Floyd is now one of Wazzu's biggest admirers. He said Tony Bennett, below, and his father, Dick, who retired after last season, have done well by turning second-tier recruits into solid Division I team players.

"They have recruited high-character guys that may not appear to be at the level they're aspiring to play at, but through coaching, they're determined young guys who've gotten better and better," Floyd said. "These men have matured at a system they're very comfortable in. They don't foul you. They don't turn it over. They don't beat themselves.

"They're just exceptionally well-coached and a legit Top 25 team. They're going to give everybody fits on their home court, and they're going to win their share on the road, because they're going to hang around like they did here and at UCLA."

Of the 37-year-old Bennett, the youngest coach in the Pac-10, Floyd added, "it's refreshing to see a young guy hired who's going to be around for a long time."