KEVIN KLAUS

Former UA guard Travis Hanour drives to the hoop against Oregon State last season in McKale Center. Hanour left the team yesterday, citing "personal reasons."

Friday October 26, 2001

Arizona sophomore guard Travis Hanour has decided to quit the men's basketball team, citing personal reasons for his departure.

Head coach Lute Olson said the coaching staff was surprised with the sophomore's unexpected decision.

"The coaching staff and team are very disappointed with his decision, but the program will move forward," Olson said.

The 6-foot-6 guard was supposed to be an integral part of a Wildcat squad, still reeling from the loss of seven players - four of whom were starters - from last year's national runner-up team.

"There is obviously a huge hole," Olson said. "There isn't anything you can do about it. You just have to go with it."

Hanour, a native of Laguna Beach, Calif., averaged 3.1 points per game in 20 appearances last year. As of last night, Hanour's name remained on the University of Arizona Web site, where he is listed as an undeclared sophomore still enrolled for both the fall and spring semesters.

Olson had described Hanour as being one of the best pure shooters on the team.

With the loss of Hanour, freshman guards Will Bynum and Salim Stoudamire will be forced to contribute even more.

Hanour was unavailable for comment.

The annual Pepsi Blue-Red scrimmage will take place Sunday at 3 p.m. in McKale Center.

Olson said the scrimmage will give fans a chance to see the progress the team has made, since all practices are closed to the public.

"It will be good to see how far we have come," said Olson. "The biggest thing will be to see how the team responds to the crowd. We need a good crowd there."

Olson said practices have been very intense and that he gave the team today off to rest up.

"We have been working very hard," Olson said. "The biggest thing for us is going to be depth."

Freshman guard Salim Stoudamire said he is looking forward to the scrimmage.

"I like playing in front of a lot of people," Stoudamire said. "We are getting there."

The scrimmage will be played like a normal game and will feature constant substitutions.

Former player Josh Pastner will stay on staff with the men's basketball team after using his last year of eligibility to be an undergraduate head coach.

Since Pastner did not use a redshirt during his four years of playing, he was allowed to stay on as a one-year undergraduate coach last season.

"You can name about seven different things (that I will be doing)," Pastner said. "I am elated. My dream job would be to be the head coach here. I am happy to be here and be involved with the program and with the university."

Pastner will serve as UA's video/recruiting coordinator and administrative assistant. Pastner played for the Wildcats from 1996-2000 and won an NCAA National Championship in 1997.