Stanford's team play breeds perfection

Surprisingly, though, Stanford has only one player in the top 20 on the conference leading scorers list with Mark Madsen's 12.8 points per game ranking him 19th. Beyond Madsen, only two Stanford players are averaging double digits in Arthur Lee (11.9 ppg) and Kris Weems (10.2 ppg).

Likewise, only Madsen and 7-foot center Tim Young are in the top 10 in conference rebounding.

Yet with an offense ranked eighth in the league, the Cardinals are still outscoring their opponents by an average of 19.3 points per game, the only conference team whose average margin of victory is over 10.

The key has been their stifling defense, allowing a measly 54.8 points per game on 36 percent field goal shooting.

Pac-10 standings through Jan. 24 Conf. Overall Stanford 7-0 17-2 Arizona 5-2 13-3 UCLA 5-2 14-4 Oregon State 4-4 10-7 California 3-4 12-5 Washington 3-4 10-7 Arizona State 3-4 11-8 USC 2-5 10-6 WSU 2-5 8-10 Oregon 2-6 10-7 Thursday's Games: Stanford at Arizona 8:30 p.m. (FSN) California at Arizona St. 6:30 p.m. UCLA at Washington St. 7:05 p.m. USC at Washington 7 p.m.

"They play together like a team," UA senior point guard Jason Terry said. "They have so many guys that are capable of scoring and doing other things, that not just one guy is going to shine. They're loaded."

UCLA enjoying the Rush

Of all of UCLA's top ranked recruits coming into this season, perhaps the most steady performer has been 6-7 swing forward JaRon Rush, who broke into the starting lineup in the Bruins' first game against Santa Clara with a 19-point, eight-rebound performance.

While Arizona fans haven't seen him yet - he was suspended for the Jan. 2 game between UA and UCLA for missing practice and a game - he has turned out to be among the elite freshmen in the conference, averaging nearly 10 points and 6.4 rebounds per game.

Nicknamed "Noodles" by his teammates for his fluid moves, Rush has so impressed head coach Steve Lavin that Lavin has done the unthinkable: compared a college freshman to Michael Jordan.

"He has a temperament and disposition on the floor that's very impressive," Lavin told the UCLA Daily Bruin . "He's so level-headed out there. Michael Jordan has that presence, that aura."

A disappointing celebration

While Oregon State head coach Eddie Payne thanked the crowd at the Gill Coliseum for their support and noise Saturday night, the post game celebration was marred by the antics of OSU fans storming the court.

After chanting profanities at the players and head coach Lute Olson during the game, a television replay showed fans throwing elbows at UA players and screaming in their faces as they rushed the court for the fourth time this season - the fans have emptied the stands after each of the Beavers' four home Pac-10 wins, including the 30-point blowout of Arizona State last Thursday.

The replay also showed Terry running into the crowd after fans who had either pushed or punched him on their way to center court.

A couple OSU fans also rushed one of the UA managers and stole all of the Wildcats' warm-up suits.

No reports were filed according to Oregon State's State Police and Security Service.

Seth Doria may be contacted via email at Seth.Doria@wildcat.arizona.edu