xpressing interest in Okafor.We always pay attention to whatever is out there,

TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona will face a new in-state rival when the 19th-ranked Wildcats take on Grand Canyon University and one of the nations top scorers Wednesday (11 p.m. ET, ESPNU) at McKale Center.The teams havent played since Dec. 30, 1980, which marked the end of a four-season series between the schools. It was recently, though, that the Antelopes made a name for themselves nationally, hiring NBA veteran Dan Majerle as coach in 2013 and beginning the transition to Division I that year as a member of the Western Athletic Conference.We respect them a great deal, Arizona coach Sean Miller said. We look at Grand Canyon as a really good team, a postseason team, and were going to have to be ready to go, for sure. ... Theyre more than capable of coming in here and beating us.Arizona (8-2) is still expected to have a razor-thin margin of error with only seven available scholarship players, unless guard Allonzo Trier plays. He has been held out so far this season because of an unexplained eligibility issue. Miller, again, had no comment about Trier on Monday.The Wildcats had eight players until starting point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright sustained a high ankle sprain four games ago. He is expected to be out until late January. One player who stepping up his production is freshman wing Rawle Alkins.Alkins is averaging 16.3 points and 7.7 rebounds in the past three games, making 7 of 14 3-point shots.Rawles unselfish by nature, and as hes really learned to take good threes, Miller said. Hes put in a lot of work.Arizonas top three scorers are freshmen -- 7-foot power forward Lauri Markkanen (16.8 points per game), Alkins (12.5) and guard Kobi Simmons (12.1).The player to watch Wednesday, though, might be Grand Canyon guard DeWayne Russell, who is averaging 25.4 points per game. He poured in 42 in a 79-70 home loss to Louisville in Phoenix on Dec. 3. The Antelopes (5-4) opened the season with a loss at Duke, and they have a home win over San Diego State.I think Duke is probably one of the toughest places to play in the country, Russell told ABC-15 in Phoenix. Having that confidence we played there gives us confidence that we can play anywhere.Russell played at McKale Center as a freshman with Northern Arizona in the 2012-13 season, scoring 14 points. He transferred to Grand Canyon after that season.He was very good at that time, Miller said. Hes a more mature player now. I watched what he did to Louisville. That speaks for itself. If you get 40 or more points against them, youre a great, great offensive player.Grand Canyon is expected to be without guard Joshua Braun, who has a knee injury. Braun, averaging 14.5 points, was the preseason WAC Player of the Year.Arizona will have a significant size advantage with two 7-footers in the starting lineup. The Antelopes frontcourt players, including USC graduate transfer Darion Clark, go 6-6 and 6-7.Were not intimidated by anybody ... any environment, Majerle told ABC-15. We always like to play Top 20 teams because, like I said, eventually thats what we want to be. We want to be a Top 25 team. Nike Air Huarache Drift Premium .Y. - Rob Manfred was promoted Monday to Major League Baseballs chief operating officer, which may make him a candidate to succeed Bud Selig as commissioner. Cheap Air Max 97 Womens . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. http://www.cheapairmax270.us.com/cheap-nike-air-max-95-wholesale.html . "I wrote 36 on my sheet at the beginning of the game," the Cincinnati coach said, referring the yard line the ball would need to be snapped from. Vapormax 97 Gold Bullet . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Sean Wotherspoon Air Max 97 1 . On Saturday night, the normally free throw-challenged centre did just that. Howard scored 18 of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, including 13 of 19 free throws in a 2 1/2-minute stretch, and the Houston Rockets beat the Denver Nuggets 122-111. Emeka Okafor, the former No. 2 overall pick who has been out of the NBA for three seasons, has decided to attempt a comeback with an eye toward joining a contending team in December or January.Okafors agent, Jeff Schwartz, confirmed that Okafor, who last played for the Washington Wizards in 2012-13 before suffering a herniated disc in his neck, is in the gym training and working on his conditioning.Hes probably five or six months away, Schwartz said. Hes been working hard rehabbing. For some guys that means one thing. To Emeka, who understands his body as well or better than some trainers that have worked with him, it means something else. Hes healthy. He feels great, but hes a perfectionist, and he wants everything to be right.In his final season in Washington, Okafor averaged 9.7 points, 8.8 rebounds and 26 minutes a game. He was a formidable shot-blocker and a defensive presence, helping the Wizards finish eighth in the league in points allowed per possession in 2012-13.But Okafor, who had back surgery in college, struggled with neck pain, and when doctors discovered he had herniated the C4 cervical disc, the injury forced him to step away from the game. In October 2013, Okafor and his expiring $14.5 million contract were dealt to?Phoenix?in a five-player?swap that netted the Wizards center Marcin Gortat. Okafor never played a game for the Suns.His best years were with the?Charlotte Bobcats, the team that drafted him as the second pick after Dwight Howard in the 2004 draft. Okafor averaged 15.1 points, 10.9 rebounds and 1.7 blocks as a rookie and posted double-double averages in all five of his seasons in Charlotte.Retired University of Connecticut coach Jim Calhoun said he spoke with Okafor last week. According to Calhoun, his former player, who helped UConn win a national championship in 2004 (while leading the nation in blocks), is really excited about getting back.Hes in great shape, Calhoun said. He had offers last season from teams for $6-7 million to play just a portion of the season, but you have to know Emeka. Hes only coming back when he feels the time is right.Hes not going to make a decision based on money. He doesnt need it. This is a kid who graduated with a 3.9 GPA. He wants to play a couple morre years then go to business school at Harvard.dddddddddddd. Hes only going to play for a contending team.Okafor turns 34 in September. League sources said last season he spoke with Cleveland, Miami and Golden State before deciding to delay his return. His decision to skip the grueling regiment of training camp and instead join a team a couple of months into the season is reminiscent of former major league pitcher Roger Clemens, who came out of retirement in 2006 to join his hometown?Houston Astros?two months into the baseball season.Warriors general manager Bob Myers, whose club lost big men Andrew Bogut, Festus Ezeli and Marreese Speights in the purge to make room for free agent Kevin Durant, said he had a conversation with Okafor a couple of months ago and will monitor the big mans progress.In the meantime, the Warriors have signed veterans David West and Zaza Pachulia to fill the void.We have 14 players right now, but you learn every year that someone you didnt expect to be available becomes an option, Myers said. Ideally, you try to have the flexibility to keep a spot open in case that happens.The biggest hurdle for Okafor will be to prove to teams hes both healthy and durable. Aside from his back and neck injuries, Okafor missed a chunk of 2005-06 with an ankle injury and part of 2011-12 with a knee injury.San Antonio?lost center Tim Duncan to retirement after 19 seasons and is likely in the market for big man insurance, but general manager R.C. Buford stopped short of expressing interest in Okafor.We always pay attention to whatever is out there, Buford said. But Emeka is three years removed from a time when his body was letting him down.Its just hard to get enough information to evaluate a player like that, who wont be in training camp, who hasnt had game action for a prolonged period of time.Calhoun said the long layoff has not only rejuvenated Okafor physically, but also mentally.He misses the game, Calhoun said. Hey, hes 6-10 and was a double-double guy in the NBA. Hes also the greatest guy you can find in the locker room. Hell have plenty of teams lining up to talk to him. 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