Bragging rights

"Gene has been talking to the guys and saying hey, I need you guys to do the job so I don't have to listen to this all summer," UA head coach Lute Olson said.

With help from senior guard Jason Terry, senior center A.J. Bramlett, freshman forward Michael Wright and great play on his own part, Edgerson got what he wanted in a 78-71 UA win over LSU.

Edgerson, who hails from New Orleans, said he didn't know if he could take the abuse when he went home if the Wildcats had lost to the Tigers in McKale.

"It was special," Edgerson said. "If I went home with an L in the column I would have gotten ragged on. I couldn't do that."

Edgerson, who said he only knew one player on the Tigers squad, continued being a force underneath the basket by scoring 12 points on 4 of 6 shooting and pulling down eight rebounds, seven off the offensive glass.

"People are doubling A.J and Mike and they are not respecting my game," Edgerson said. "I am not a real terrible basketball player. You can't leave me alone because I am going to try to dunk the ball. All three of us can hurt you. I am coming along, but they just draw opportunities for me and here I go with 10 or 12 points."

Edgerson seems to have more confidence in his inside shot as he is taking it up strong before looking for the pass after he gets the offensive rebound. This was something he was not doing the past two years and even early on this season.

"He has calmed down a little bit. He used to get nervous and travel and stuff, but now he just takes it straight up like we have been telling him to," Bramlett said.

Whether it is fighting for every rebound, scoring when he gets the opportunity or putting his arms up in the air and giving the crowd the horns with the index and pinky fingers up, Edgerson has been on the McKale fans' "love list" all season long.

There are, however, some guys on the team that have not been on "Mean Gene's" love list all season, but he says he has to get over that.

"It is all mental for me. They have been taking away from our season," Edgerson said of the freshmen. "I have been frustrated at them and at myself. I have to get over that. They have to take care of their job and me, my job."

The enjoyment of Saturday night's win for Edgerson and the Wildcats will come to a screeching halt as they now begin preparing for their upcoming two games against the Oregon schools here in Tucson.

But, Edgerson can now go home a happy Louisianan with bragging rights knowing that he will have a chance to beat the Tigers next season in Baton Rouge.

"I will leave them alone, they know they lost and they know that we have to come there next year," Edgerson said. "But, I will let it marinate in their systems for a while."