Men's Basketball: Yavapai at Arizona Western preview
Tipoff: 7:30 p.m. today.
Media: Radio: 560 AM (KBLU) Internet: www.azwestern.edu/athletics
Last game: AWC beat Howard (Texas) 80-64 in the Desert Classic '09. Yavapai defeated Anoka Ramsey 79-69 Friday at the Classic for its first win of the season. Yavapai lost 77-55 to Odessa (Texas) in the Odessa Tournament on Nov. 7.
Records: AWC (2-1 overall, 0-0 Arizona Community College Athletic Conference); Yavapai (0-3, 0-0 ACCAC)
Player to watch: Matador redshirt freshman Chris Solomon had 20 points in Friday's win, including a 5-of-6 night from 3-point range. ... Roughrider guard Ali Sabra has scored in double figures in all three losses.
AWC coach Kelly Green's comments: "Everybody got a chance to get some minutes in (during Desert Classic), but I'm more concerned about putting the team on the floor that's got the best chance to be successful. I'm not caught up on our starting lineup, and one game doesn't move you in or take you out. It's about finding the best combinations that work together."
The lowdown: After starting the first two games as the Matador point guard, Solomon's breakout performance on Friday came in a substitute role at the shooting guard spot. "That's what he's best at," Green said. "We've tried to do move him around, but he is a two. He's not as comfortable elsewhere." ... Green said AWC freshman Robbie Souza will redshirt this season. He was the only player yet to see time on the court. ... AWC fell out of the rankings in Tuesday's poll and but are among the "other schools receiving votes." ...Yavapai has had 10 days to prepare for AWC after a rough time at the Odessa Tournament, where they nearly upset No. 3 Midland (Texas) in the season opener and lost the next game to Western Texas in overtime. ...Sophomores Jaron Kirk and Daniel Duran were both starters for the Roughriders last season in both meetings against AWC, and Duran will likely share the responsibility of guarding Andre Almeida again. The Matadors won both contests easily. ...AWC will not play at home after tonight until Dec. 2 against Scottsdale.
