Men's basketball short up front

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore Loren Woods (40), who transferred from Wake Forest, practices free-throws Sunday in the McKale Center. The 7-foot Woods cannot play this season because of the transfer, but is expected to fill the center position next year.

While that group has skills and should pose problems for opposing defenses with their quickness, they are relatively small in relation to other conference powers like Stanford and Washington.

"(With) Donnell out, that really hurts us," Edgerson said. "We now have one guy at 6-11 (Bramlett), Wessel is 6-8, Wright is 6-8 and I'm only 6-6."

Fellow freshman Rick Anderson, a forward from Long Beach who might redshirt this year, said Wright possessed a lot of different skills that could make him effective.

"He's strong, got a good inside game. He's got a nice little finesse jump shot and just overall quickness and strength," Anderson said.

But Edgerson, who has matched up with Wright in the post for much of the past month, said Wright still had some learning left to do.

"He tries to get too physical sometimes," Edgerson said. "He's going to have to learn when to be physical and when not to be physical."

Frosh forced to step up

Bramlett, senior guard Jason Terry and Edgerson are the only returning players with any meaningful college basketball experience, meaning the six-member freshman class will have to step up immediately.

And the veterans know they have the responsibility to help the young guys get going as they begin their college career.

"It's going to be up to us to get the freshmen up when they have bad games," said Edgerson, who is one of a few Wildcats to have experience in a high-pressure situation.

But despite the new mix of players, Edgerson said he doesn't expect the team to have any problems adjusting.

"We can beat the top teams," he said. "We have the talent. We just need to put it all together."

"We have the same feeling as freshman year (when the team won the NCAA Championship)," Edgerson added.

"We always feel like we can go to the championship game and it's not any different this year. Hopefully we'll turn those same heads. We have the same chemistry to do it all again."

Woods impressive

After somewhat underachieving during two years at Wake Forest (7.7 points, 6.0 rebounds per game), 7-foot-1 transfer center Loren Woods was branded by some to be selfish and unwilling to put in his full effort.

But after spending the last few months in Tucson, his coaches and teammates have a completely opposite opinion of the St. Louis native.

"He's done a great job during the fall," UA associate head coach Jim Rosborough said Sunday after the team's second official practice. "He's been very coachable."

Junior guard Josh Pastner, who gave up his scholarship so Woods could sign with the team, also gave a shining review.

"He's a hard worker, an outstanding individual and an outstanding student," Pastner said. "You can't get a better person."

Although Woods is redshirting this year and won't be able to play, he has already made his presence felt in practice with several tough blocks.

Seth Doria can be reached via e-mail at Seth.Doria@wildcat.arizona.edu.