CHINA

Last week I wrote to you as I was traveling from Vietnam to China on my trip with fellow AD's that Nike sponsored. I won't go into as great of detail as last week, but I can tell you that there was a dramatic difference in the infrastructure between Vietnam and China. The roads and technology in the Chinese communities were much more advanced. The amount of ongoing development and air pollution was much more significant as well. 

We visited shoe, golf and apparel factories and were able to watch the entire manufacturing process of each product. The golf club process was especially fascinating. Here is a picture of club heads cooling during the molding process as well as one of a golf driver before it goes through its painting and shaft installation. 



We found good work environments in the factories and my knowledge of the countries and labor environments dramatically improved through this trip. The last day in Beijing we were able to visit the Great Wall of China….incredible. 



200 WINS FOR SEAN MILLER

Today after practice I presented Coach Miller a commemorative basketball recognizing his 200^th win as a head coach. He accomplished this against the University of Miami when we were in Hawaii for the Diamond Head Classic. I look forward to presenting him with many more of these in the future. 



Speaking of Coach Miller…please vote for Coach Miller's charity, the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona, as part of the Infiniti Coaches' Charity Challenge. Coach Miller is in a tight battle with Stanford's Johnny Dawkins in the west region. Vote for Coach Miller every day to help him raise money for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern Arizona. The coach's charity with the most votes will win $100,000. Click here to vote!    

BASKETBALL BOUNCES BACK

I arrived in Tucson on Saturday just in time to make it to McKale for the men's basketball victory over USC. It was good to see the team respond well after a disappointing loss to UCLA. Thank you to all of our fans who continue to fill up the arena. Saturday's game was our fourth consecutive sellout and our fifth in the past six games. Looking ahead, the general public tickets are sold out for the following home games; Feb. 10 vs. Cal, Feb. 23 vs. Washington State and March 9 vs. our rivals. Remember to check with the McKale Ticket Office on the Tuesday before a scheduled home game to see if visiting teams and/or the ZonaZoo have returned tickets.

MCKALE 40^TH ANNIVERSARY AND COLOR-OUT

Once again our fans didn't disappoint with the third annual whiteout game. The arena looked awesome on TV! We're asking you to do something different for our next home game vs. Stanford as part of our McKale Center 40^th anniversary celebration. This one requires a little more coordination as fans are to "Wear Your Color," which will be either red, white or blue based on your seat location. See the map below to determine what color you should be wearing. The UA Bookstore is selling special red, white and blue t-shirts for this game, available in their store locations and online. 



Fans can also vote for the top moments to occur in the McKale Center since it opened in 1973. The top-ten moments will be revealed next week, moments 6-10 on ArizonaWildcats.com and moments 1-5 will be revealed at halftime of the game. For more information on this special event visitwww.ArizonaWildcats.com/McKale40. 

PARDON OUR DUST; CONSTRUCTION AROUND HILLENBRAND STADIUM

If you've been around the east side of campus you know there is major construction on the roads and walkways near Hillenbrand Stadium. Unfortunately this is going to impact the game day softball experience. Click here to view a Hillenbrand construction map and make your plans for an alternative route into the stadium for this year's softball season. 

Softball's home opener is Friday, Feb. 15 as part of the Hillenbrand Invitational. Season tickets are still available. Single-game tickets go on sale this Friday. Call 520-621-CATS (2287) or click here to buy.

MEET THE BASEBALL TEAM

Andy Lopez and the baseball team hosted media day at Hi Corbett Field on Monday. The biggest news to come out of the event was the respect the Wildcats are receiving in the national polls.  All five of the major polls have the Wildcats ranked, anywhere from No. 10 to No. 24. Your first chance to see the 2013 team is this Saturday as they host a Meet the Team event at Hi Corbett Field. Doors open at 10 a.m., the team will scrimmage starting at noon and after the scrimmage will be an autograph session on the field. Ticket sales staff be on hand to assist those looking to purchase season tickets and/or mini-plans. There is no charge for parking or admission. Concession stands will be open, so make plans to grab lunch at the ballpark and get a sneak peek at this year's baseball team.   

Opening Day is a little under four weeks away (Feb. 15 vs. Coppin State). It's going to be a special day with members of the 2012 championship team returning to participate in a series of events designed to celebrate "owning Omaha." The first 3,000 fans will receive a commemorative national champion rally towel and stick around after the game for a special firework show. Single game tickets go on sale this Friday. Click here for more information on baseball tickets or call 520-621-CATS (2287).

30 PRIZES IN 30 DAYS STARTS FRIDAY

Wildcat Club gift (including football and men's basketball tax-deductible priority amounts) and football season ticket renewal notices were e-mailed this past weekend. Thank you to everyone who has already renewed for 2013! Our 30 Prizes in 30 Days contest begins this Friday. From February 1 through March 2 we will be giving away a prize each day to a fan who renewed his or her season tickets online. We have a great list of prizes and two so-so prizes (lunch with me and a Twitter tutoring session with me). The full list of prizes will be released tomorrow on ArizonaWildcats.com. Get those renewals in. The earlier you renew, the more chances you'll have to win! Click here to renew or buy new season tickets online.



PAC-12 MEN'S BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT HOTEL ACCOMMODATIONS

After processing all of our requests for all-session tickets to the Pac-12 men's basketball tournament, we sold just a tad under 2,000 tickets. I've heard from fans that went through the MGM Grand Garden or other schools to obtain tickets. I'm fairly confident the MGM Grand will be taken over with the red and blue all throughout the facility. Thank you to everyone who has made plans to join us in Las Vegas. If you haven't made accommodation plans yet, there is still time to book a hotel package through Bon Voyage Travel. Click here to get more information or call 520-797-CATS.

A-CLUB LETTERWINNERS UPDATE

Special thanks to our men's and women's tennis alumni for returning to campus for this year's A-Club Tennis Reunion. The reunion was a success, bringing back some of Arizona's best tennis players and coaches who wore the cardinal red and navy blue since the 1960's. Those in attendance illustrated their commitment to Arizona Athletics and the men's and women's Tennis programs. In addition, collectively many tennis alumni letterwinners made a tax-deductible gift to the tennis programs of more than $4,200. Throughout the weekend our alumni shared the pride they feel in wearing the "A."  The A-Club truly means family forever; yesterday, today and tomorrow.



WEEKLY SCHEDULE

**Men's basketball renews their rivalry with the Washington Huskies Thursday night in Seattle. The game will tip at 7 p.m. MT and will be televised live on ESPN2. Then the team travels to Pullman to take on Washington State on Saturday. That game starts at 8 p.m. MT time and will be televised on the Pac-12 Networks. 
**Gymnastics will also be in Seattle this weekend. The Gymcats will compete against Washington. The meet starts at 8 p.m. MT.
**Men's and women's tennis are hosting several home matches this week. On Friday, the men's team will play Saint Mary's at 10 a.m. and the women will take on Sacramento State. Then on Saturday, the men play Saint Mary's again at 9 a.m. and the women will host Texas Tech at noon. All matches will be played on campus at the LaNelle Robson Tennis Center. There is no charge for admission.
**Women's basketball is back in McKale this weekend for a Friday/Sunday home stand against the Washington schools. The Wildcats host Washington Friday night at 7 p.m. and Washington State on Sunday at 2 p.m. For tickets call 520-621-CATS (2287) or click here.
**Men's and women's swimming and diving will both be in Austin for a two-day event with the University of Texas. Friday's meet starts at 4 p.m. MT. Saturday's meet starts at 10 a.m. MT.
**Select members of the indoor track and field team will be in the Land of Enchantment for the New Mexico Classic. 

WEAR THE COLORS 

Below, the new Mr. and Mrs. Troy Pearson were married last month and celebrated their love for each other (and for the Wildcats) with an Arizona Wildcats themed wedding. Guests were asked to wear something UA, even the dogs were wearing the colors. At bottom, Lt. Colonel Denise Mull (Garcia), UA alum of the Eller MIS program. She is currently serving in Afghanistan. Fitting that her call sign is "Wildcat 6."





Continue to do what you can to help Arizona Athletics and:
 

1. Join the Wildcat Movement
2. Buy Season Tickets
3. Wear the Colors (Especially on Friday)
4. Get Others to Do the Same

Bear Down with Pride,

Greg Byrne
Vice President for Athletics
University of Arizona

uofaad@arizona.edu