💘 GOOD MORNING

Happy Friday, and happy Valentine’s Day! I can’t help but be a hopeless romantic when it comes to sports, and there’s plenty to take in this weekend. Temps are supposed to top out in the mid-70s, so get out there and enjoy our incredible Arizona weather while, well, it’s still enjoyable!

In case you need a joke to get you through today and into the weekend, here you go: To the person who stole my Microsoft Office, I’m going to find you. You have my Word.

Let’s run it back next week. On to the show!

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Sun Devils, Wildcats Kick Off Baseball Seasons

Arizona State and Arizona baseball are set to kick off their respective baseball seasons today, marking both schools’ inaugural Big 12 season. The conference features 14 teams, and Oklahoma State was picked to win the conference, receiving nine first-place votes. Both ASU and UA were picked to finish in the top half, though, and will likely have a big impact in their first-ever Big 12 year.

Wildcats Picked to Finish Second: Arizona received four first-place votes in the Big 12 preseason poll, and the Wildcats open their season at 2 pm today against Ole Miss in Arlington, Texas at the Shriners Children’s College Showdown. They’ll then face No. 15 Clemson at 10 am on Saturday before wrapping up opening weekend against Louisville at 9:30 am on Sunday. All games can be seen on FloCollege, but note a subscription is required.

• IF Mason White and OF Brendan Summerhill are preseason All-Big 12 and NCBWA All-America picks
• Summerhill is also on the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list, given to the top amateur baseball player.
• The Wildcats finished 36-23 last season, falling to GCU (9-4) and Dallas Baptist (7-0) in the Tucson NCAA Regional after winning the Pac-12 regular season and tournament.

Sun Devils Host Buckeyes: Arizona State was picked to finish sixth in the 14-team conference, and opens its season with a three-game set against Ohio State in Phoenix. All games will be broadcast on ESPN+ (6:30 pm Friday, 1 pm Saturday and 1 pm Sunday), in fact, ASU doesn’t play on the road until traveling to UCLA on Feb. 25.

• OF Kien Vu and LHP Ben Jacobs are preseason All-Big 12 pick and NCBWA All-America picks
• Jacobs and 2B Kyle Walker are on the Golden Spikes Award preseason watch list.
• ASU finished 32-26 last season, losing its last game of the season in the Pac-12 Tournament to Oregon State.

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Hat Tricks: 3 Local Hockey Stories to Watch

• The Roadrunners have won two of their last four games, but an extended slide into February has put them in a tough spot, ranking eighth in the Pacific Division at 21-21-2-1.
• ASU faces Minnesota Duluth in a two-game set this Saturday, a team they swept in Tempe earlier this year. A huge matchup against first place Western Michigan looms next weekend.
• Just how serious is this bid for the NHL’s return to Arizona? It’s early, but still fun to daydream. Leah Merrall and Steve Peters reunited on the PHNX Hockey Podcast to discuss the plan being put together by local politician Tom Galvin.

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Musings From Around (and Sometimes Beyond) The Valley

Suns and Stars: It’s the NBA’s All-Star weekend, so make sure to check out all of the festivities in San Francisco. Tonight features the Rising Stars Game (G-League) at 7 pm, Saturday marks the skills challenge at 6 pm, and Sunday’s All-Star Game is at 6 pm. All of these events can be viewed on TNT.

Battle of the Cats: The Wildcats host No. 6 Houston in a HUGE matchup tomorrow (12 pm, ESPN), as the Cougars lead the conference with a 12-1 record. It’s a golden opportunity to catch the Big 12 leaders, and UA has beaten its last five ranked opponents.

Now or Never: The Sun Devils host TCU at 6 pm on Saturday (ESPN+), and if ASU wants to even get a look for the NCAA Tourney, it will need to win its seven remaining games, and will also need to snag a few in the Big 12 Tourney.

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🧢 Tip of the Hat

ASU Athletic Director Graham Rossini set the record straight on Bobby Hurley’s status heading into tomorrow’s game.

Arizona State AD Graham Rossini sets the record straight on rumors that Bobby Hurley is on the hot seat. pic.twitter.com/bJPY3Ekly7

— PHNX Sun Devils (@PHNX_SunDevils) February 13, 2025