Fateful elbow lands Edgerson on bench

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward Eugene Edgerson (33) dunks the ball against Texas Nov. 25 at McKale Center. Head coach Lute Olson suspended Edgerson for Saturday's game against Wyoming in Phoenix after Edgerson elbowed BYU center Bret Jepson, giving him a concussion.

"After looking at the tape of the game, I determined Gene had committed a flagrant foul," head coach Lute Olson said in a prepared statement yesterday. "Although it wasn't called when it happened, the penalty for a flagrant foul of that type is removal of the game - which I did - and a suspension for the following game."

Edgerson said he had written a personal letter of apology to Jepsen and will move on from there.

"All I know is that it was wrong," Edgerson said. "I apologize for doing such an unethical thing."

Despite the criticism from the Utah press about the incident, Edgerson and others have pointed out that the mid-court elbow to the face was only a continuation of a battle that had been going on, with Jepsen dishing out as many hits as Edgerson.

But Edgerson, who was averaging four points and 4.7 rebounds a game, has still taken the blame. But he will not, however, be losing any sleep over the ordeal.

"The last time I checked, my God was a forgiving God," he said. "I asked him to forgive me for that and that's all that matters because I know it wasn't right."

Replacing Edgerson in the starting lineup against Wyoming will be freshman Michael Wright, who impressed coaches and fans with a 21-point, seven-rebound performance in 32 minutes last Saturday.

Despite not starting a single game, Wright is second on the team in scoring, averaging 14.7 points through the Wildcats' first three wins, and second in rebounding with six per game. He is also second on the team in free-throw shooting percentage, having scored on 14 of 17 attempts.

"Michael's play offensively was outstanding" Olson said, though adding he would like to see Wright's defense and offensive rebounding improve.

Olson also said Wright was always attentive in practice and he has improved everyday.

"He continues to make improvements every day after practice," he said. "I don't think they come any more coachable than Michael."

In fact, Wright has been working so hard in practice that while battling for a rebound, he accidentally hit fellow freshman Richard Jefferson in the face, slightly breaking his nose.

Jefferson has been wearing a mask through the last few days of practice, but will not wear it during the game against Wyoming, Olson said.

With Edgerson's absence, Wright and center A.J. Bramlett will be responsible for the entire post area, meaning Wright will have to increase his average playing time of 23 minutes per game.

But Wright said he has no problem playing however many minutes Olson decides to give him.

"I'll play the whole game if he lets me," Wright said.

Tickets are still available for the "Southwest Showdown" at America West Arena in Phoenix, and Olson said he hoped Tucson fans would make the trip up to support the team.

The Wildcats-Cowboys (3:07 p.m.) game will be preceded by host ASU against Western Athletic Conference power UNLV starting at 1 p.m.

Tickets are available through the America West ticket office (1-602-379-7800) and are $25-$30 apiece for the double header. Tickets will not be sold for a single game.

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