Michael Lev
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Michael Lev
@michaeljlev.bsky.social
2.3K followers 84 following 250 posts
He/him. Senior writer/columnist for the Arizona Daily Star. Also: husband, father, softball pitcher, Gulf of Mexico stan. Got a story idea? Email me: mlev@tucson.com 🇨🇦🇲🇽🇺🇦
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🚨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 ...
January 30, 2026 at 4:35 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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:

tucson.com/sports/colle...
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.
tucson.com
January 29, 2026 at 8:26 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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.
tucson.com
January 27, 2026 at 7:28 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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?

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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?
tucson.com
January 24, 2026 at 6:27 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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:

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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?
tucson.com
January 22, 2026 at 5:08 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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.

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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.
tucson.com
January 10, 2026 at 6:06 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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?

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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.
tucson.com
January 8, 2026 at 9:01 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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:

tucson.com/sports/colle...
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.
tucson.com
January 7, 2026 at 5:21 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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.

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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.
tucson.com
January 3, 2026 at 8:26 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
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

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
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.
tucson.com
January 2, 2026 at 11:16 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
I won't be at the UA women's basketball Big 12 opener today (football duty calls), but if you want a snapshot of the Wildcats entering conference play, this story is for you:

tucson.com/sports/colle...
Big 12 play has arrived; is Arizona women’s basketball ready for the ‘real’ season?
Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On the Wildcats’ preparation for Big 12 play; what the nonconference slate revealed about Becky Burke’s team; a Montaya Dew update; and more.
tucson.com
December 22, 2025 at 5:14 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
The soon-to-be-screaming kids have occupied the ZonaZoo area for the Arizona women's basketball "Field Trip Game" tipping in about 20 minutes.

Here's a fresh notebook focusing on lineups and lingering issues for Becky Burke's squad:

tucson.com/sports/arizo...
Becky Burke continues to tinker with lineup as Arizona seeks return to win column
Arizona women’s basketball notebook: On the impetus for the Wildcats’ lineup and rotation changes; rebounding and free-throw issues vs. New Mexico; and Eastern Kentucky’s résumé.
tucson.com
December 10, 2025 at 5:38 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
My latest for @tucson.com subscribers: A behind-the-scenes look at how the Snoop Dogg Arizona Bowl matchup came together. Per usual, it was anything but stress-free.

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Uncertainty, relief mark final moments as Arizona Bowl secures 2025 foes | Michael Lev
Michael Lev column: Arizona Bowl officials wanted Fresno State and Miami (Ohio) all along. Then college football threw them a curveball. This is the story of how they handled it.
tucson.com
December 8, 2025 at 9:03 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
Two new pieces from me dropping this morning:

1. For @tucson.com subscribers, how Mica Mountain football climbed the mountain again, overcoming adversity during the season and early in the 4A state championship game:

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Thunderbolts strike twice: How Mica Mountain became a back-to-back state champ | Michael Lev
Michael Lev column: Mica Mountain overcame adversity during the season and the state title game to become the first Tucson-area football program to win consecutive championships in nearly 50 years.
tucson.com
December 6, 2025 at 4:46 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
Recruits are literally signing documents to receive money from schools now. But for Brent Brennan and Arizona football, recruiting is still about people and relationships. And that approach is working for the Wildcats. My latest:

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Revenue-sharing is here, but recruiting is still about people for UA football | Michael Lev
Michael Lev column: Although revenue-sharing is officially part of the package now, recruiting remains a relationship-driven endeavor for Brent Brennan and the Arizona football program.
tucson.com
December 4, 2025 at 5:50 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
Want to relive the Territorial Cup? Of course you do! My contributions:

1. Five Takeaways from Tempe, including a breakdown of the brilliant fourth-and-1 call that put the game away

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
5 takeaways from Arizona football’s 23-7 Territorial Cup victory over ASU | Michael Lev
Michael Lev column: Breaking down Arizona’s win over ASU in the Territorial Cup, including another dominant defensive performance; a better-late-than-never breakthrough for the run game; and more.
tucson.com
November 30, 2025 at 5:39 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
Football content incoming!

1. Five Takeaways from Arizona 41, Baylor 17, including the vibe in the building (pretty good and enhanced by the shirtless bros in the upper deck)

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
5 takeaways from Arizona football’s 41-17 victory over Baylor | Michael Lev
Michael Lev column: Breaking down Arizona’s resounding win over Baylor, including the Wildcats’ vastly improved depth; another defensive masterpiece; a new weapon wearing No. 4; and more.
tucson.com
November 23, 2025 at 5:30 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
The latest "Lev it on the Field" column is online and available for your consumption! Topics include:

-Changing what "This is Arizona football" means
-Noah Fifita's assault on the UA record book
-Brent Brennan's "On to Cincinnati" moment

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Breaking down Arizona football’s game at Cincinnati, other Big 12 happenings | Michael Lev
Quick hits, key themes, snarky commentary and more on Arizona football’s Week 12 game against Cincinnati and other happenings around the Big 12 Conference.
tucson.com
November 14, 2025 at 9:28 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
Should Arizona run the ball more? You're not the only one thinking that.

But "balance" is in the eye of the beholder.

I examine what I call the Wildcats' "true" running rate and where they stack up against their Big 12 peers in the latest Cats Stats.

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Cats Stats: Seth Doege believes Arizona’s offense is balanced; what do the numbers say?
As Arizona football treks to Cincinnati, the latest “Cats Stats” tackles a question on many UA fans’ minds: Do the Wildcats run the ball as much as they should?
tucson.com
November 13, 2025 at 5:16 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
The latest @ArizonaFBall report card is LIVE. No subscription required to read/participate.

Sneak preview:

QB: B-minus
OL: C-minus
DB: ????
Coaching B-plus

speedway.tucson.com/reportcard/...
Report Card
speedway.tucson.com
November 9, 2025 at 7:47 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
A little pregame reading for ya ... Lev it on the Field! Topics include:

-Can Arizona becomes something more than a basketball school?
-Evidence of real improvement
-The maturation of Bobby Wade

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
November 8, 2025 at 6:54 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
New from me: It's the latest Cats Stats!

In this one, I examine how the passing game was different vs. Houston - more bubble screens, quick game, intermediate routes - and how that could be a formula for success for Noah Fifita & Co.

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Cats Stats: Short, quick passes offer path to prosperity for QB Fifita, Arizona offense
Arizona’s offensive approach vs. Houston allowed quarterback Noah Fifita to flourish. The Wildcats would be wise to replicate it vs. Colorado and beyond, as we explain in “Cats Stats.”
tucson.com
October 31, 2025 at 1:52 AM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
New one from me for @tucson.com subscribers on Brent Brennan and the overall state of affairs with Arizona football. This piece goes in some unexpected directions.

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
On Brent Brennan, the state of Arizona football and a lasting 1st impression | Michael Lev
Michael Lev column: Brent Brennan has Arizona football pointed in the right direction. But he’s reached point where close losses aren’t good enough. The Wildcats have to start winning.
tucson.com
October 25, 2025 at 4:50 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
My good friend @pjbrown024.bsky.social recently launched a Substack about women's sports. I can think of no better person to tell those stories than PJ.

If you're into women's sports (or know someone who is), please check it out. Here's a sample:

theundercovered.substack.com/p/spend-a-fe...
Spend a few good minutes with ... former Arizona and pro basketball player Sam Thomas
Thomas on her life after playing basketball
theundercovered.substack.com
October 23, 2025 at 5:16 PM
michaeljlev.bsky.social
Good morning! Here's some pregame reading for @tucson.com subscribers. Topics in this week's "Lev it on the Field" column include:

-Why the Houston game is so important for Brent Brennan
-Texas Tech's tortilla trouble
-ASU's throwbacks
-"19 seconds"

tucson.com/sports/subsc...
Breaking down Arizona’s game vs. Houston, other happenings in the Big 12 | Michael Lev
Quick hits, key themes, snarky commentary and more on Arizona’s Week 8 game against Houston and other happenings around the Big 12 Conference.
tucson.com
October 18, 2025 at 3:29 PM