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GOOD MORNING
Happy Thursday, aka Friday Eve! I hope your week is going well — the weekend is almost here! I’m taking a look at the Sun Devils and Wildcats’ spring practices below, but first, huge shoutout to Sun Devil volleyball head coach J.J. Van Niel, who signed a contract extension through 2029 yesterday.
Van Niel has been coach for two seasons, and has led the Sun Devils to a 58-10 record, two NCAA Tournament appearances and last year’s Big 12 title. Congrats, coach!
On to the show!
Spring Practice Topics To Watch For Wildcats, Sun Devils
Somehow, some way, we’re already talking about college football.
And that is A-O-K.
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Both the Sun Devils and Wildcats are well into their spring practices, both of which culminate with fan celebrations later this month. The Wildcats will host a Spring Showcase on April 19 at Arizona Stadium, a free event that features an on-field beer garden, skills competition, live music and (of course) inflatables for the kids, while the Sun Devils will host their Spring Football Fan Fest a week later at Mountain America Stadium on April 25, complete with a video game truck, football skills zone, inflatables (of course) and fireworks.
Whether you’re in Tempe or Tucson, it sure doesn’t sound like you could go wrong. But what should you be watching for out of each respective program’s spring practice?
Spring Practice Prepping Both Schools For 2025 Season
I mean, let’s be honest here — both teams came into the 2024 season with very different expectations, and none of those came to fruition. The Sun Devils were picked to finish last in the Big 12, and went on to win the conference and qualify for the College Football Playoff, earning the right for a first-round bye in the process. The Wildcats were supposed to capitalize on a 10-3 season, including an Alamo Bowl victory over No. 12 Oklahoma, but lost seven of their last eight games en route to a massively disappointing season.
Here are some CliffsNotes on three of the top storylines for both schools as they continue their spring practice programs.
Sun Devils
- Skatte-who? ASU immediately needs to turn the page from running back Cam Skattebo, who became a fan favorite last season for his powerful runs and never-go-down mentality. There’s no replacing him, but who can step up in his absence?
- Leavitt to Sam: Quarterback Sam Leavitt almost assuredly had some serious NIL offers out there from other schools, but the soon-to-be sophomore became an instant hero when he chose to stay in Tempe. He’s already a dark horse Heisman candidate, but can he live up to the hype?
- Take Your Best Shot: It’s not that the Sun Devils have anything to prove, but even Kenny Dillingham admitted they were “playing with house money” with nothing to lose heading into the CFP. Not anymore. ASU will have a target on its back every single week, so the road to maturity begins this spring.
Wildcats
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- Hot Seat Already? All eyes are on soon-to-be second-year coach Brent Brennan, who was expected to do good things, but fell flat instead. The Wildcats replaced both their offensive and defensive coordinators, and you have to think they need to take a step for Brennan’s job to remain secure.
- Noah-lot About Football: Quarterback Noah Fifita is back and adjusting to life in a new offense, but he’ll have to do so without legendary wideout Tetairoa “T-Mac” McMillan. Who will be his new go-to?
- Stop It: Can the defense take a step under coordinator Danny Gonzales, who was promoted this past offseason? UA allowed the fourth-most points (31.8) and yard per game (414.3) in the Big 12 last season.
My Take: First off, not to be a wet blanket, but here’s your gentle reminder that the transfer portal opens for a 10-day span in just a few weeks, as it will be active from April 16 – 25. I’m not saying to expect any big moves, but you never know. The Sun Devils are returning a huge number of their producers from their CFP team, and if that remains intact, there’s no reason to think they can’t make another run at it. As for the Wildcats, I’ve got to admit I was surprised at how abysmal they performed last season, so hopefully they can ride a little positive momentum from the spring into the summer and open some eyes next fall.
3 Days. 6 Picks. 100 Names.
It’s almost NFL Draft month!
What are the Cardinals going to do? Mock drafts have lacked consistency in terms of who the Cardinals may select, so the PHNX Cardinals team of Bo and Johnny, along with ALLCITY draft expert Fran Duffy, have made it their personal mission to keep you as well-informed as possible. Boy, did they ever come through.
- Check out the Top 100 prospects that can address the Cards’ needs.
- Don’t waste time cycling through mock drafts – it’s all in here!
- Impress your friends when comparing players like Kentucky’s Deone Walker to Jordan Phillips. Bo and Fran will let you take all the credit.
- Missing out? Become a Diehard today!
Catch Up:
- Bo and Johnny chat about the players ranked 51-100.
- Bo and Johnny chat about the Top 50 and the Cardinals’ Cam Skattebo conundrum.
- Bo and Johnny look at what the Arizona defense is capable of.
Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley
Jaded Jayden: ASU men’s basketball freshman phenom Jayden Quaintance underwent surgery for a torn ACL last month, and he also entered the transfer portal yesterday. Typical timelines would have Quaintance ready for action by September, well ahead of basketball season. He had previously committed to play for Kentucky, but flipped after John Calipari left for Arkansas. Look out for the Razorbacks!
Zac(K) Gallen: It seems like the only place D-backs pitcher Zac Gallen is missing a K is in his name. Gallen tied a career high with 13 strikeouts against the Yankees yesterday, as Arizona won 4-3 to improve to 4-2 on the season. Gallen did not allow a run while scattering three hits over 6.2 innings, as the Diamondbacks won their second straight against the Bronx Bombers. What torpedo bats?
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Mighty Marte: Second baseman Ketel Marte signed a massive contract extension yesterday, which will keep him in the desert through the 2030 season, plus a player option for 2031. The 31-year-old finished third overall in MVP voting last season after hitting .292 with 95 RBI in 136 games.
Runnin’ Out of Road: The Tucson Roadrunners suffered a damaging 4-3 loss to Calgary last night, and now lead Bakersfield for the final Pacific Division playoff spot by just one point. That’s especially bad news considering the Condors have two games in hand. All is not lost, though, as Tucson hosts a two-game set against Bakersfield this weekend.
Tip of the Hat
This is …. not good.
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