By
Keith Carmona
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Midnight Madness marks start of practices, scrimmaging
A basketball season that will have its share of drama begins tonight on a lighthearted note.
The UA men's basketball team might have redemption in mind this season, but the Wildcats will open their first official practice with slam dunk and three-point shooting contests at "Midnight Madness" tonight at McKale Center.
"We're just going out there to get the fans excited about the season in a festive atmosphere, but come Saturday afternoon, the real business begins," UA assistant coach Josh Pastner said. "Midnight Madness kicks off the season, giving fans and players a chance to get riled up about the months ahead."
The bitter taste of last season's second-round defeat to Wisconsin in the NCAA tournament still resides in all the players' mouths, and tonight marks the dawn of their journey to avenge that disappointment, Pastner added.
"This is really going to be the first time the guys have all been healthy and on the court together since last season," Pastner said. "They'll be anxious to start working towards our goal at winning a national championship. We want to be there in Minneapolis on April 2 competing for the (championship) ring, and it all starts this weekend."
Despite boasting a top seed in the tournament last March and having expectations of advancing effortlessly through the first few rounds Arizona was without senior center Loren Woods, who was out for the season with a back injury. The depleted Wildcats, maintaining just a seven-man rotation, was dealt a 66-59 heartbreak by the Badgers.
"Last year after the tournament, our guys knew that if they had been healthy, nobody would have beaten them," assistant coach Jay John said. "Now that they are back and everyone is doing well, they know that they have unfinished business. The guys are not necessarily filled with any vengeance, but just want to achieve what they realize they are capable of."
Sophomore guard Jason Gardner said that there is certainly a sense of eagerness among the players to get back out on the court.
"I think (Midnight Madness) will probably get our season going," he said. "It will probably make us more motivated to bring the season on and finish things we didn't finish it last year. I think most of the guys are pretty excited about it."
The activities begin at 10:15 with a players autograph session and celebrity basketball game involving UA coaches. The player pageantry won't start until midnight, in accordance to NCAA regulations.
At the stroke of 12, the Wildcat roster will be introduced with dunking and three-point shooting exhibitions to follow.
Loren Woods, Lamont Frazier, Richard Jefferson and Gilbert Arenas are scheduled to compete for the dunk title, but Pastner seems to think that there really isn't any contest at hand.
"If I were a betting man, my money would be on Richard," Pastner said. "He can do some spectacular stuff and, unless Vince Carter or Jordan show up, he should be the man to beat."
Gardner, who stands only at 5-foot-10 and is not listed to compete in the contest, has ideas to the contrary.
"I want to be in the slam dunk contest. I am going to give Richard and Gilbert and everybody else a little run for their money," he said jokingly. "I think I am going to take it, though."
Following the exhibitions, the Wildcat players will split into two teams and play some actual basketball. Fans in attendance shouldn't expect an intense showing by the team, John said.
"The scrimmage between our guys will probably resemble an NBA All-Star game," he added. "There won't be many fouls called, the lanes will be wide open and it's going to be a pretty low level of play. They're just going to get a chance to get up and down the court for the first time and have some fun."
