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UA still a run and gun squad

The 1999-2000 UA men's basketball team has been labeled as an inside-oriented team, one that differed from Wildcat teams in the past.

Strong as they might have been down low, the team showed something during last night's Pepsi Red-Blue Game at McKale Center that is very familiar to Arizona fans - up-tempo basketball.

The Blue Team, led by sophomore forward Richard Jefferson's game-high 24 points, defeated the Red Team 93-86 in the annual intrasquad scrimmage.

Sophomore Michael Wright had 23 points and a game-high 12 rebounds in a losing effort.

Perhaps the scariest statistic was the combined 56 turnovers in the game, 34 of which were committed by the Red Team. Wright and junior center Loren Woods had 14 between the two of them.

"The trouble with an intrasquad game is that a great play usually results in a bad play on the other side," head coach Lute Olson said. "Overall, I thought the team looked pretty good. The problem with an intrasquad game is that some of the guys played tired."

Tired legs shouldn't be a problem from here on, as the Wildcats play their first exhibition game Sunday against Alita, a Lithuanian club team. Arizona goes at least 10 players deep, with many players still being strongly considered for starting roles.

"We've got a lot of competitiveness now," said redshirt senior Eugene Edgerson, who had two points and a rebound in his only game of the season. "Starting Sunday, there's only going to be five guys on the court. This week, guys are going to be playing real hard."

Freshman center Robertas Javtokas had 12 points and redshirt freshman forward Luke Walton had 11 points and six rebounds for the Blue Team.

Woods had 20 points, while sophomore forward Rick Anderson had 19 points and six rebounds for the Red Team. Sophomore forward Ruben Douglas had 11 points, nine of which came in the second half.

One new face probably cemented a starting role last night, while another made a strong case for consideration at the shooting guard position.

Jason Gardner, a freshman point guard, had complete control of the Blue Team, despite his age. The Indianapolis native, with his mother watching from the stands, had 10 points, six assists and three rebounds.

Arenas, a two-guard from Van Nuys, Calif., had 22 points and outrebounded everybody but Wright with eight boards.

"The two freshman guards (Gardner and Arenas) did a good job," Olson said. "I thought Gardner showed he was in charge, and he did a good job of running his team. Those two are not worried about who they're playing against."

The focus for much of the offseason was on the inside duo of Woods and Wright, but last night's game showed that Arizona will be able to run a fast, wide-open game, as well.

"One thing I learned today was that we're an up-and-down team," Gardner said. "We can play half-court, but our advantage is that we can run the ball up and down the court. The quicker I can get the ball up the floor, the better off we'll be."

And if opposing guards or small forwards try to penetrate inside, they'll meet the 7-foot-1 Woods, who blocked four shots, including swatting away one of Gardner's many drives.

Still, Olson showed a concern for Woods' ability to bang down low, something Woods believes he's been improving at every day.

"Loren needs to be much more aggressive, and he needs to step into the middle and be more of a threat in the middle," Olson said.

One pleasant surprise inside was Javtokas, who slipped away from defenders to get into a position to score easy baskets. All six of the shots he took were dunks, and, needless to say, all were made.

"We saw a glimpse of Robertas tonight, and that's probably the best I've seen him play," Woods said. "He's going to help me a lot this year."

Junior forward Luke Recker, who has to sit out the season after transferring from Indiana, made his Arizona debut much earlier than expected. Originally scheduled to make a cameo appearance because his left wrist is not completely healed, he entered the game midway through the first half. Recker played 18 minutes in all, scoring six points, including a fast-break dunk.

However, Recker used his right hand, despite any temptation to throw it down with two.