Wildcats receive high marks at halfway point

Ian Mayer Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore Mike Bibby (10) looks for an opening in last weekend's game against Oregon State. Along with Bibby, Miles Simon and Michael Dickerson are in the top 10 in conference scoring.

The Pacific 10 Conference season is half over and the fourth-ranked Wildcats have proven themselves to be high achievers with their 93-75 win at Stanford.

So, with nine games remaining, and the Wildcats at a perfect 8-0, it's evaluation time for the first half of the season and time to look ahead to the final stretch.

Offense: What can you say about a team averaging 96 points a game? Perhaps most importantly is that the output is being evenly distributed with four starters averaging double figures. Miles Simon, Mike Bibby and Michael Dickerson are all in the top 10 in conference scoring. Jason Terry is also showing he can be an offensive spark as well as a defensive threat off the bench.

Defense: Arizona learned its lesson at Florida State: The press can be broken. So the Wildcats tightened up the half court defense and the results have been bountiful. Yes, the Wildcats are giving up 75 points a game but when you push the tempo and score 95 a game, the other team is bound to put some numbers up as well. The interior defense is suspect at times but the post players have started to really come around, showing that they can stop an interior big guy, like Stanford's Tim Young and Washington's Todd MacCulloh. And is anybody better at harassing the ball handler than Terry?

Coaching: The coaches get high marks for easing back on the "Cat-Astrophe" defense stuff. However, Lute Olson's haranguing of his players in the media around Christmas time for their lackadaisical play has been a key. He practically called out their manhood and each player has responded well. The staff has also been able to avoid letdown losses in the conference, keeping the team focused on each game. The continued improvement of A.J. Bramlett gives coach Phil Johnson extra credit.

Interior: Olson said it right the other day. Bramlett, Bennett Davison, Donnell Harris and Eugene Edgerson have been an underrated part of Arizona's success. Bramlett has been a horse on the rebounds and his performance against Tim Young of Stanford stands out as arguably the biggest reason for UA's victory at Maples Pavilion. Davison, though his offense won't keep opposing coaches up at night, can be counted on to provide defensive intensity and another tenacious approach to rebounding. He has also made it to the free-throw line more often in the past few games, something that was of concern to the coaches at the beginning of the season. Edgerson is perhaps the most improved of the Wildcats, providing all-out hustle every time he steps onto the court. Harris is starting to come around after missing two months because of a gall bladder disorder.

"If our structure had been different, they would have the big numbers," assistant coach Jim Rosborough said. "Those four guys are undersung. They present problems for everyone."

Perimeter: Three guys - Bibby, Simon and Dickerson - with NBA talent and a sixth man - Terry - would start on every other team in the conference, if not the nation. They hit the big shots and never overshadow each other. Stanford said stopping them would be a key if it wanted to win. The team could not, however, and it is doubtful anyone else can. What else needs to be said?

Overall: Everything looks in place for a long run in the tournament but - pardon the coachspeak - there's always room for improvement. The Wildcats have looked as if they can do no wrong throughout the course of their 12-game winning streak, but looks can be deceiving. They still have to play at UCLA on March 7, as well as a Stanford club that will be looking for revenge in Tucson on Feb. 28. The team has made some adjustments and improved substantially after suffering early season losses to Kansas, Duke, and Florida State. Look for it to continue to play well in the second half of conference play.

"Typically, we have been good at making adjustments in the second half," Rosborough said.

Future Outlook:The Pac-10 has become the Pac 3, with Arizona, UCLA, and Stanford as the only frontrunners for the title. With a two game lead in the conference, in all reality the Pac-10 title is Arizona's to lose.

"We are not hiding it; we want the Pac-10 title," junior A.J. Bramlett said.

The Wildcats will need to be successful on the road, with five of their last nine games away from McKale. Stanford, who is tied with UCLA for second place in the conference, still has to travel to Pauley Pavilion to face UCLA.

The Bruins, on the other hand, are in excellent position for the second half of conference play, having played all their tough home games, and will play host to Arizona and Stanford.

"(UCLA is) a good team," Rosborough said. "I think that Stanford will do some soul searching after last week. I think they will be back and playing well."

Should the Wildcats complete the season on top of the Pacific, a number one seed in the West should be in their grasp.