Hoops down under

Charles C. Labenz Arizona Daily Wildcat Miles Simon's role with the Wildcats since his return from academic suspension has changed and the team has yet to establish a consistent line-up.

The Wildcats were just granted a waiver to travel to Australia this summer, competing against the Aussies' 23-and-under basketball championship team. The last time Arizona traveled to the land down-under was four years ago, the same year they reached the NCAA Tournament semifinals. Ironically, the only other team to make the trip, Florida, was also a Final Four team that season.

"We made these arrangements a couple years ago, and it's nice to see that the waiver was approved," UA coach Lute Olson said. "We will make the trip right after finals on May 15, and return the night of Saturday, June 7."

The NCAA had stated that a collegiate team could not make a foreign trip prior to any trip to Hawaii, Puerto Rico or other remote locations. So, with Arizona's participation in the Maui Classic last season, the Wildcats needed to request a waiver from the NCAA. The only drawback will be that the two redshirt players, Quinn Tebbs and Justin Wessel, will not be allowed to make the trip with the team due to NCAA restrictions.

The trip will involve Arizona traveling to the Aboriginal area of Australia, making the Wildcats the first team from the United States to play in that region.

"With the unique situation of our visit, the Australian government was involved in the decision," Olson said. "We plan to play some games there, but also conduct some clinics for the youth teams and coaches."

One final positive for the Wildcats is that the trip will cost them virtually no money. It will be financed by the Australian Basketball Federation and Nike Australia, so the university will only have to cover the plane fare.

The Wildcats will be putting a 22-game winning streak on the line against Washington State when they face the Cougars in Pullman, Wash., on Thursday night. The last time Arizona lost to WSU was in an overtime game in 1986, and even that loss should have an asterisk next to it.

"Even in that loss, we had a much better team than them," Olson said. "The problem was in the travel arrangements. We left Tucson in the afternoon, but didn't arrive in Pullman until 3:30 a.m., so when the game came around we played like a bunch of zombies."

With Olson owning a 12-1 record in Pullman, the Wildcats might as well play every game at Friel Court.

"I think that it is becoming a confidence factor," UA junior guard Miles Simon said. "I don't think that they feel they can pull it out in a close game."

The return of Arizona guard Miles Simon has thrown the Wildcat starting lineup a bit of a curve. With Simon starting once and coming off the bench three times since his return, Arizona has yet to find the optimal lineup.

"We will take the starting lineup situation as it comes," Olson said. "I don't think it is a big deal to the guys as to who starts. Some guys just don't come off the bench well, and others don't start the game well on the court."

While Simon is not listed in the starting lineup for Thursday, he is comfortable in the team's current rotation.

"I don't have a problem with coming in off the bench," Simon said. "As long as we are winning, I don't think it matters with any of the guys."