Michael Lev

Arizona men’s basketball — the bully of the Big 12 — is built for March | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Two years into Big 12 play, Arizona men’s basketball has proved to be as tough and physical as anybody. These Wildcats can win any type of game.

Toughness. Physicality. A defensive mindset. The ability to win any type of game.

This Arizona men's basketball team is built different. The Iowa State game provided further proof. My column from the conference clincher:

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‘Miracle baby’ Tony Lira overcomes obstacles to earn his spot with Arizona baseball Arizona baseball first baseman Tony Lira faced health challenges and bullying as a child. Those obstacles only strengthened his resolve. Now he’s one of the Wildcats’ most promising players.

A hearing disability. Multiple surgeries. Bullying. A decision. A return.

It was all part of God's plan for Tony Lira, who endured it all - and more - to become the starting first baseman for Arizona Baseball. Story here:

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Chip Hale emphasizes trust as struggling Arizona baseball seeks first win of '26 vs. UConn Arizona baseball notebook: On why some veteran Wildcats are struggling early in the season; the unexpected return and strong early performance of Matthew Martinez; and more.

2. The latest on Arizona baseball heading into a four-game series vs. UConn. It's been a rough start for the Wildcats, some of whom are clearly pressing.

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Arizona men’s basketball shows championship traits without pair of ‘starters’ | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Championship runs require role players and good fortune. Arizona showed it has the former during a win over BYU, and it continues to benefit from the latter.

Content drop!

1. My column from the UA-BYU game. Theme: You need role players and good fortune to win a title. The Wildcats check both boxes (so far).

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On UA men’s basketball’s challenges, Becky Burke’s decisions and more | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: News and views on Arizona’s men’s basketball finally facing some adversity; the method to Becky Burke’s rotation madness; McKale Center’s new name; and more.

If you're a diehard U of A sports fan, you won't want to miss the latest News and Views column. Topics include:

-Men's basketball dealing with adversity
-Becky Burke's lineup decisions
-McKale naming rights
-Brennan/Doege/Gonzales extensions

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5 takeaways from Arizona baseball’s season-opening series in Surprise | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Breaking down the Arizona baseball team’s performance over opening weekend, including big-picture thoughts, lineup concerns and early-season surprises.

The opening weekend for Arizona baseball didn't go the way the Wildcats had hoped. What are some areas of concern? Reasons to be optimistic? I break it all down here:

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New Arizona baseball pitching coach provides stability after offseason upheaval Arizona Wildcats baseball notebook: On the transition to new pitching coach Sean Kenny; TV dates; and personnel notes ahead of the Feb. 13 opener vs. Stanford.

ICYMI: I wrote an Arizona baseball notebook earlier this week that touched on some of the offseason upheaval at the pitching-coach position and how Sean Kenny has brought some needed stability to that spot. More to come on Kenny and UA baseball next week!

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SPOTIFY:

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The Wildcast, Episode 551: Arizona and Big 12 softball preview with ESPN analyst Kenzie Fowler Podcast Episode · The Wildcast · 02/05/2026 · 44m

APPLE:

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🚨PODCAST ALERT🚨

Softball season is here, and we're all over it at The Wildcast. This week's guest is the great
Kenzie Fowler, who helps me break down the 2026 Arizona Wildcats. We also look at the Big 12 race and assess the state of the UA program.

Ways to listen:

Ignore Wildcats’ record; Becky Burke has U of A women’s hoops on right track | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Arizona women’s basketball is 1-8 in Big 12 play halfway through the conference slate. But this year’s results are irrelevant. Becky Burke is just getting started.

2. Column on Arizona women's basketball and and Becky Burke. Theme: Don't put any stock in the Wildcats' current record. Coach Burke is laying the foundation for future success.

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Cats Stats: Taking a closer look at 15 of Arizona football’s transfer-portal pickups What do the advanced stats say about Arizona football’s 2026 transfer-portal class? We dive into Pro Football Focus data for 15 newcomers in an offseason edition of “Cats Stats.”

Quick catchup on some of my recent work ...

1. Annual "Cats Stats" analysis of Arizona football's transfer class. I dug into Pro Football Focus numbers for 15 of the transfers. Nuggets galore!

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The Wildcast: Comparing the 2025-26 Arizona men's basketball team to the 2013-14 squad The Star's Michael Lev and Bruce Pascoe talk all things Arizona men's basketball as the top-ranked Wildcats seek to extend their perfect start to the 2025-26 season.

VIDEO:

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The Wildcast, Episode 550: Comparing the 2025-26 Arizona men's basketball team to the 2013-14 squad

SPOTIFY:

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The Wildcast, Episode 550: Comparing the 2025-26 Arizona men's basketball team to the 2013-14 squad Podcast Episode · The Wildcast · 01/29/2026 · 1h 6m

APPLE: podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/t...

🚨PODCAST ALERT🚨

Episode 550 of The Wildcast is live! I'm joined this week by Bruce Pascoe to talk all things
Arizona men's basketball, from his piece comparing the two 21-0 squads to revisiting the BYU game to previewing ASU Part II. Links to follow ...

First round between UA’s Becky Burke, ASU’s Molly Miller worthy of Territorial Cup rivalry A record crowd in Tempe witnessed a back-and-forth battle between the Arizona and Arizona State women’s basketball teams. The Sun Devils emerged with a 68-61 victory.

Wild swings, physical play, countless players diving on the floor.

The first UA-ASU matchup between first-year coaches Becky Burke and Molly Miller delivered.

My dispatch from Tempe:

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5 takeaways from the Arizona men’s basketball team’s 86-83 victory at BYU | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Breaking down No. 1 Arizona’s win vs. No. 13 BYU, including the Wildcats’ issues down the stretch, Brayden Burries’ continuing ascent, Jaden Bradley’s home/away splits and more.

My latest for @tucson.com subscribers ... 5 Takeaways on @ArizonaMBB's great escape in Provo. Items include:

-What went wrong in the last minute-plus
-Why Jaden Bradley is more assertive away from McKale Center
-How the Wildcats defended AJ Dybantsa

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Becky Burke will let Arizona guard Kamryn Kitchen cook — if defense is part of the recipe Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On redshirt freshman Kamryn Kitchen’s learning curve and potential; Iowa State’s superstar (Audi Crooks); a familiar face in Ames (Jada Williams); and more.

3. Come for the headline, stay for the
Arizona women's basketball notebook, leading with Kamryn Kitchen's breakout performance vs. Kansas and what it'll take for her to stay on the court. (The Wildcats play at Iowa State this afternoon.)

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Indiana’s national title in football has given hope to all — including Arizona | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Can Indiana’s unprecedented run to the national championship in football be replicated? Probably not. But IU has given hope to every program, including fellow “basketball school” A...

2. If Indiana - INDIANA!?! - can win a national title in football, why can't Arizona? I make the case for the Wildcats - and against anyone replicating what the Hoosiers just did.

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Can Arizona men’s basketball win it all without elite 3-point shooting? | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: The top-ranked Arizona men’s basketball team has rolled to a 19-0 start. But the Wildcats aren’t a great 3-point shooting team. Could that be their eventual downfall?

Some pregame reading for you:

1. From earlier in the week: Will 3-point shooting be the ultimate undoing of
Arizona men's basketball in 2025-26? Or is it a nothing-burger?

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Foul trouble leads to loss for Arizona women’s basketball, leaves Becky Burke frustrated Whether it was poor fundamentals or questionable calls, the Arizona women’s basketball team sent Kansas to the foul line far too often in an 80-69 setback at McKale Center.

2. It was unclear whether Becky Burke was more upset about her team fouling too much or how the game was officiated. Probably both. How that issue derailed Arizona women's basketball vs. Kansas:

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Can Arizona men’s basketball win it all without elite 3-point shooting? | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: The top-ranked Arizona men’s basketball team has rolled to a 19-0 start. But the Wildcats aren’t a great 3-point shooting team. Could that be their eventual downfall?

Let's get caught up on some of my recent work, shall we?

1. The 3-point problem - or not - for
Arizona men's basketball. Will it be the UA's eventual downfall? Or will it not end up mattering? Column for @tucson.com subscribers, w/ some recent historical context:

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Sumayah Sugapong stays ‘locked in,’ delivers in clutch for Arizona women’s basketball Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On guard Sumayah Sugapong’s surprising breakout vs. BYU; the on-court connection between Noelani Cornfield and Nora Francois; rebounding woes; and more.

2. Arizona women's basketball notebook, leading with the clutch play of Sumayah Sugapong vs. BYU, plus items on the Noelani Cornfield-Nora Francois connection and how the Wildcats can be better on the boards.

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Opting out shouldn’t tarnish legacies of Wildcats' Stukes, Johnson, Smith | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: When three defensive stars opted out of the Holiday Bowl, it rankled many Arizona football fans. They should focus instead on the previous choices those players made.

Couple new ones from me:

1. Column: Making the case that any vitriol directed at Treydan Stukes, Dalton Johnson and Genesis Smith - the DBs who opted out of the Holiday Bowl - is misplaced.

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5 takeaways from UA men’s basketball’s 101-76 win over Kansas State | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Breaking down the Arizona men's basketball team's win over Kansas State, including Brayden Burries' continued ascent; Motiejus Krivas' burgeoning paint presence; and more.

New from me: 5 Takeaways from Arizona men's basketball's Big 12 home opener. Topics include:

-Brayden Burries resetting expectations
-Mo Krivas' paint presence
-Is 3-point shooting a fatal flaw? Not that big a deal?

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Nora Francois’ hedge work gives Arizona women’s basketball the edge in win over BYU The Arizona women’s basketball team forced 27 turnovers — including a career-high-tying five steals by Nora Francois — to defeat BYU and give Becky Burke her first Big 12 win.

How did Arizona women's basketball fend off BYU to earn the first Big 12 victory of the Becky Burke era? Inside the game-planning, strategy and execution that helped the Wildcats get it done:

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2. Final report card of the 2025-26 season. No subscription of any kind needed to access it. I'm sure you'll all agree with my coaching grade.

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5 takeaways from Arizona football’s 24-19 loss to SMU in the Holiday Bowl | Michael Lev Michael Lev column: Breaking down Arizona’s loss to SMU in the Holiday Bowl, including the impact of the opt-outs; what the second-half rally represents; why the offense struggled; and more.

The season has ended, the portal is open and the content flow continues. Two more for ya from San Diego:

1. Five Takeaways. Delving into the opt-outs, the second-half rally, the offensive issues and more.

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Breaking down the Holiday Bowl between Arizona and SMU, other Big 12 news | Michael Lev Quick hits, key themes, snarky commentary and more on Arizona football’s Holiday Bowl matchup vs. SMU and other happenings around the Big 12 Conference.

Pregame reading: The final Lev it on the Field column of 2025-26! Topics include:

-Does it matter if Arizona wins the Holiday Bowl?
-Rise of the Cougars (x2)
-A solution to opt-outs

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