By
Keith Carmona
Arizona Daily Wildcat
UA expects best performance of year from St. Mary's
Arizona basketball hasn't exactly been a model of consistency so far this season.
After losing to Purdue last weekend, the No. 5 Wildcats found themselves in another hole when they trailed Gonzaga late in the second half Wednesday at McKale Center.
Arizona pulled out the victory, but is currently searching for a game in which all of its players can function together.
They're hoping that time is tomorrow when Arizona hosts St. Mary's at 6 p.m.
But the Wildcats (4-1 overall) are being overly cautious about not taking unranked opponents seriously enough, this time around. Their apathy led to a 72-69 defeat by an unranked Purdue team last weekend at the Wooden Tradition in Indianapolis.
The bulls-eyes on Arizona's chests are going to be just as large when the Gaels come into McKale Center.
"Every team is going to give us their best shot, and that's the way it is when you are Arizona," senior forward Gene Edgerson said. "We have to realize the fact that when small teams come in here, it is their opportunity to make some serious waves. The only thing we can do is to make sure we come out with our A-plus-plus game."
Like Gonzaga - Arizona's last opponent, St. Mary's plays in the West Coast Conference, but hasn't reaped the same results that the Bulldogs have lately.
The Gaels (0-4) come to Tucson following two losses to Sacramento State and San Jose State, and actually haven't won a ballgame since Feb. 24 last season.
But junior forward Richard Jefferson said that the Wildcats need to remain humble and approach the game with St. Mary's as if they are playing Purdue again.
"We expect that every time we go out on the floor, the team we are facing is going to give us their best performance of the year," he said. "Purdue basically finished their season after they played us because they went out and played Virginia and got blown out by God knows how many.
"So we know that every team is going to come out and play their best game of the season against us."
To sophomore guard Gilbert Arenas, Arizona's quest for cohesion is particularly important as senior center Loren Woods is out of the lineup due to suspension until Dec. 9.
"We just have to play hard and play like we can play until (Loren) comes back," he said. "We still have to play, but we just really have to prove ourselves (without him)."
In their four defeats this season, the Gaels have yet to establish an offensive rhythm. They are shooting 38 percent from the floor and 66 percent from the free throw line.
Sophomore forward Ross Benson has lead St. Mary's in its paltry scoring attack with an average of 11.3 points per game. Benson is the only Gael averaging in double figures.
Even more discouraging is that Saint Mary's is 2-18 in their last 20 road games, including the last seven in a row, dating back to last season.
Though they're hoping to find an even cadence, upon looking at the St. Mary's scouting report, resting Arenas' strained right leg might be advantageous for the UA coaching staff.
Following Wednesday's game, Arenas said that his strained right leg was sore and wasn't sure if he'd be back in the starting lineup this weekend, but was confident he'd be playing.
"I wouldn't think that (Arenas' leg) is going to be a problem for us right now," UA head coach Lute Olson said. "I see him now as perhaps coming out for a little while and then getting right back in. It shouldn't be a problem."
