University of Arizona

The No. 22 Arizona men's basketball team has shown a lot through its first seven regular-season games, from heart-wrenching losses (see then-No. 4 Kansas on Nov. 25) to fist-pumping triumphs (then-No. 9 Texas A&M on Sunday).

The Wildcats (5-2) are comfortable with a freshman and a sophomore in Jerryd Bayless and Chase Budinger, respectively, running the offensive show, while senior Jawann McClellan has taken on a new role as a defensive stopper.

First impressions don't mean a thing; just look at the Pacific 10 Conference.

Before the beginning of this year's college football season, it was all about the Southeastern Conference, but if any other conference was going to give it a run for its money, it was going to be the Pac-10.

As the holiday season approaches, most Arizona athletes look forward to spending time with their families.

At the Ibekwe household, however, late December unites the family not around the dinner table, but on the basketball court.

Arizona (2-4) opens up its Pacific 10 Conference play by hosting the two Los Angeles schools, featuring a game on Dec.

M-HOOPS No. 22 Arizona vs. Illinois Dec. 8 10 a.m. ESPN NCAAF Rose Bowl: No. 6 USC vs. No. 13 Illinois Jan. 1 2:30 p.m. FOX NCAAF BCS Championship: No. 1 Ohio St. vs. No. 2 LSU Jan. 7 6 p.m. FOX

We haven't seen every movie this year, but collectively we've seen a few, er, at least 10. The following movies we considered our top 10 movies of the year after rigorous trials and extensive research. Well, that's a lie. We simply tried to base our decision on whether or not the movies were innovative, well-directed, thought-provoking but most of all whether or not they were entertaining.

1. Kanye West featuring T-Pain, “The Good Life,” from Graduation

2. M.I.A., “Jimmy,” from Kala

3. Carrie Underwood, “Before He Cheats,” from Some Hearts

4. Radiohead, “House of Cards,” from In Rainbows

5. Timbaland with Nelly Furtado and Justin Timber

Lindsey Quigley can't wait to take what she has learned the past four years in the UA dance department and make dreams come true for young dancers as a teacher.

Quigley plans to help hearing impaired dancers at the Arizona School for the Deaf and Blind in Tucson.

1. Halo 3 (Xbox 360)

No contest here. One of the best first-person shooters ever made, “Halo 3″ tops this year's best games. The gameplay is so immersive that even months after its release players are still discovering new strategies and Easter-eggs. With the release of a new multiplayer map pack in December, most Halo addicts will be needing an intervention come January.

Your time spent in college will most likely make or break you in life. Whether or not you party it away or realize the importance of paving the way of your future, college years are pivotal in just about

anyone's life. Some will drop out, some will fail out, and some will go unnoticed, but there are those who will have a memorable impact on the world after they accept their

diploma.

Contrary to the claims of most, I won't actually be fossilizing my limbs by cutting them off and burying them in topsoil so they can survive through the ages, enabling me to essentially live forever.

I wanted to quash the rumor because it's been tarnishing my reputation as of late, and quite frankly, it's for the most

part untrue.

A whole lotta Zin - Club Congress will be having a wine tasting with five different Zinfandels, hosted by local wine entrepreneur Kenny Stewart. The catch is, it's only $5, so you can go in still wondering how large the glasses will be. 5 p.m. to 7 p.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Or Hanukkah. Or any other holiday you celebrate during the month of December - With the holidays quickly approaching, it can only mean one thing - holiday parties and dinners.

This week, Fashion Facts took a trip to Divaz Boutique, 922 E.

Here at Catnip our year ends early (specifically, today) so for your reading pleasure and/or horror we have teamed with the Heritage Foundation to create the first-ever Catnip awards. We call them the Nippys. Following in the tradition of the Oscars and Emmys, we have ignored all public opinion and logic to generate this unique list of award-winners from scratch.

At a time when most art students can be found cruising their bikes down Fourth Avenue, smoking a cigarette outside a coffee shop or watching a local hipster band, Yumiko Omata is locked away in the studio creating a masterpiece.

Omata works late hours alone several nights a week, pouring her international experiences with culture, the subconscious and the spirit onto the canvas.

Some of Tucson's best choral groups will gather for the annual “Holiday Card to Tucson” concert Sunday night. For Rebecca Bloomfield, it will be her fourth and final performance in the traditional show.

The music senior is excited about the show that will kick off a big month in her life.