THE FRONT ROW: Sign up for Senior Games

DEADLINE TOMORROW: Wow, where does the time go?

When the Green Valley Senior Games registration period opened up on Jan. 2, it seemed as if locals who wanted to compete in the 25th edition of these games had ages to sign up before the deadline passed.

Well, that deadline is here.

Everyone interested in taking part in Green Valley’s largest athletics competition has until tomorrow at 3 p.m. to register. No late registrations will be accepted.

Head over to www.gvrec.org or pick up an entry form at any Green Valley Recreation office to ensure your spot in the competition.

Last year, more than 700 athletes took part in the festivites. This year, event coordinator Karen Rans hopes to see that number top 800.

For more information, give Rans a call at 625-3440.

A ‘WISE’ MAN: Nic Wise’s tenure at “Point Guard U” has been anything but predictable.

He committed to Lute Olson seemingly in middle school, but the junior has seen three head coaches screaming from the sidelines. His first year here, Mustafa Shakur held down the point-guard duties. As a sophomore, Wise took a backseat to Jerryd Bayless.

This year, hot-shot phenom Brandon Jennings was supposed to usurp Wise’s spot as the lead guard, but Jennings is currently averaging eight points per game for Lottomatica Virtus Roma in Italy.

Wise hasn’t let any of these potential distractions derail what has turned into a special junior season. He’s handling the point guard position essentially on his own, and his outstanding play of late has turned the Arizona Wildcats (18-8, 8-5 Pac-10) into the Pac-10’s most feared team.

Wise was named this week’s Pac-10 Player of the Week, thanks to his remarkable efforts against the Los Angeles schools in Tucson.

In wins over USC and UCLA, Wise averaged 26.5 points per game and made more clutch threes and twisting lay-ups than one could count.

At 5-foot-8, Wise is often the shortest player on the floor, but lately, he’s playing like he’s the biggest guy out there. Can he keep this going when UA heads to Phoenix to battle arch-rivals Arizona State on Sunday (8 p.m., FSN)?

Check Sunday’s Green Valley News for a full preview of UA/ASU.

GOOD RIDDANCE: Now, I’m sure Terry Porter is a great guy.

I don’t take any joy in seeing anybody lose employment, but when that guy is running the Phoenix Suns into the ground, it means he needs to find a different line of work.

Shortly after the All-Star Game, the Suns mercifully let Porter go and turned the head coaching duties over to Alvin Gentry, who promises a return to the fan-friendly, run-and-gun style of those popular and successful Suns’ teams.

It might also help put a smile on Steve Nash’s face, who struggled mightily with Porter’s half-court mindset.

The coaching change has also led Phoenix to rethink the intelligence of moving Amare Stoudemire for pennies on the dollar prior to tomorrow’s trade deadline, but with the frugal Robert Sarver calling the shots, I wouldn’t feel too comfortable until after the deadline has passed.

Now, will Gentry turn the Suns into a title contender overnight? Of course not. But for the first time in months, Suns fans have a reason to feel at least somewhat optimistic, sort of.

TIGER WATCH: He certainly knows how to build up the drama, doesn’t he?

The Accenture Match Play Championship returns to Marana on Monday, and there’s still no set-in-stone indication whether or not Tiger Woods will be in attendance.

Woods has been sidelined with knee surgery since his miraculous-even-for-Tiger win at the U.S Open — forcing him to miss two other majors and the Ryder Cup. In the meantime, Woods also became a father for the second time, when his wife Elin gave birth to Charlie Axel Woods on Feb. 8.

Still, there has been plenty of talk that Tiger will make his grand return to defend his Match Play title.

The deadline to accept an invitation is Friday, with the finalized brackets set to be released on Sunday.

Woods’ involvement would obviously provide a huge boost to the tournament, which will take place at the brand-new Ritz-Carlton Golf Club in Marana.

Check Sunday’s Green Valley News for everything you need to know about the Accenture Match Play Tournament.

nprevenas@gvnews.com | 547-9747