KEVIN KLAUS

UA freshman forward Channing Frye runs onto the court during the team introduction before the "Midnight Madness" scrimmage. Frye is one of five freshmen expected to play a significant role on the men's basketball team this season.

Monday October 15, 2001

Freshmen highlight official start of season

What a difference a year makes.

The buzz surrounding this season's UA men's basketball team is different than last year's. The highly touted roster that went to a national championship game is no longer there, and it showed Friday night at "Midnight Madness," a celebration of the official commencement of the basketball season.

There's no preseason hype surrounding the team. No top-10 ranking. No Richard Jefferson jumping over cheerleaders. Not even was junior point guard Jason Gardner's hair the same color.

Gardner, sporting a new red hairdo, officially took to the court with his teammates for the first time since last season's loss to Duke in the national championship game.

Gardner said it was a little strange this time around with the loss of so many players from last year's squad.

"It was different just because I came (to Arizona) with Gilbert (Arenas) and hung out with Richard (Jefferson)," Gardner said. "To be the older guy, I knew everything that was going to happen."

For the five freshmen, it was their first time to hear the roar of McKale Center.

"('Midnight Madness') was really fun," freshman forward Isaiah Fox said. "With the crowd into it, especially that late, it was cool."

The nearly 6,250 people inside McKale late Friday night spent much of their time looking at the new arrivals to the team.

Freshmen Will Bynum and Dennis Latimore went neck-and-neck in the slam-dunk contest and, amid chants of their names, gave the Arizona fans a taste of their athleticism.

The 5-foot-10 Bynum, who did mostly lay-ups during warm-up drills, electrified the crowd by winning the contest with an alley-oop 180-degree two-handed dunk.

RANDY METCALF/Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA freshman guard Will Bynum attacks the hoop during the "Midnight Madness" slam-dunk contest. Bynum beat out fellow freshman Dennis Latimore to win the competition.

During the scrimmage, it was the freshmen again who supplied the excitement. Off the opening tip, junior forward Luke Walton lobbed a pass toward the hoop, where Bynum attempted an alley-oop. Though the freshman was unable to convert the shot, the crowd nevertheless went crazy.

Bynum finished with a game-high 10 points.

Later in the scrimmage , the blue team streaked down court, and Latimore bounced a pass off the backboard to freshman center Channing Frye, who dunked the ball over redshirt freshman Andrew Zahn.

Freshman guard Salim Stoudamire, sporting the same style of tattoo bearing his name on his upper left arm as his cousin Damon Stoudamire - who led the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1994 - showcased his scoring ability, finishing with eight points.

Sophomore Andrew Zahn said he is excited about working with this year's freshmen, and that their talent will help the team.

"They can play ball," Zahn said of the freshmen. "I like them a lot."

The coaching staff also used the event as an attempt to sell Arizona basketball to two high-school recruits. Andre Iguodala, a 6-foot-5 guard from Springfield, Ill., said he was impressed with the team's playing style and coaching staff.

"(UA head) Coach (Lute) Olson is really cool," Iguodala said. "The style of play (here) fits me very well."

Iguodala will be in Kansas next week looking at the Jayhawks program, though he said Arkansas, Boston College and UA are his top three choices.

Hassan Adams, a 6-foot-3 guard from Los Angeles, said he is attracted to Arizona because of its history of strong guard play.

Both recruits said they enjoyed "Midnight Madness," but are still not leaning toward a school.

Olson said the night was good for his players and fans, but the true test of UA's young players will come in everyday practices.

"I thought the fans were great, the night got a little long," Olson said. "You can certainly see the ability of some of the freshmen, but we have a lot of work to do."