Here’s what went down Friday on G&A

Blazed Over - The Suns lost a tough one last night in Portland as Phoenix had no answer for Brandon Roy who exploded for a career-high 52 points.  Terry Porter’s squad had no answer for Roy, Steve Blake and LaMarcus Aldridge.  G&A agree the Suns are still searching for their identity at both ends of the floor.  Gambo feels teams are directing their offense towards the defensive short-comings of Shaq and Amare Stoudemire on the pick-and-roll and, as a result, the Suns haven’t been able to get defensive stops when needed in recent losses.  Ash thinks the Suns are still tinkering at both ends of the floor, but loves the up-tempo style they are reverting back to.  G&A agree the Suns have turned the corner.  Shaq doesn’t want to set picks and simply wants the coaches to “let me be me.”  Can the Suns’ offense run through O’Neal?  We took calls.

Cyclone Stoops? - Ash is reporting that Iowa State will contact UA asking for permission to speak (regarding their coaching vacancy) following tomorrow’s Las Vegas Bowl showdown against BYU.  Ash thinks the Cyclones will make a serious run at Stoops who played at Iowa and coached previously in the Big 12 at Kansas State and Oklahoma.  G&A think this would be a wise move - especially if Arizona AD Jim Livengood doesn’t extend his contract as is expected.  Iowa State will reportedly offer Stoops a lucrative deal which Arizona could not match.  Callers were split on whether Coach Stoops should bolt The Old Pueblo.

Minnesota Golden Gophers head football coach Tim Brewster joined the show to discuss their season and preview their Insight Bowl match-up with Kansas on New Year’s Eve at Sun Devil Stadium.  The Gophers are 7-5, after going 1-11 last year, and open their new open-air TCF Bank Stadium on-campus next season.

World-renowned sports handicapper Brandon Lang joined the show to take your calls and share his thoughts on all the big NFL and college bowl match-ups around the country this weekend.  He likes UA tomorrow and the Cowboys and Bucs to “cover the number.”

Our ESPN NFL analyst Mark Schlereth checked in for his weekly segment to discuss the slumping Cards trip to chilly Foxboro to take on the Patriots, the surging Colts come-from-behind win over the Jags last night in Jacksonville, and the Red Birds five Pro-Bowl choices-including starters Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin.

 

 Tim Brewster [9:57m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (167)

 

 Mark Schlereth [15:40m]: Play Now | Play in Popup | Download (173)