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Former UA forward Justin Wessel drives to the hoop against a defender in a game last season in McKale Center. Wessel, who is a member of the EA Sports Southwest All-Stars team, will play against his former team Sunday.

Friday November 2, 2001

The UA men's basketball team will open up its presesason schedule Sunday when it plays host to EA Sports in McKale Center at 4 p.m.

One familiar face - former Wildcat Justin Wessel - will make his homecoming in the game, playing for the EA Sports Southwest All-Stars.

UA head coach Lute Olson said he is looking forward to the competition this weekend, and coaching against his former player.

"Wessel is a very solid player," Olson said. "He can shoot the ball well."

Olson said that competition for starting positions has been intense.

"Everything has been so rush-rush," Olson said. "Everything has been on the fast track. It hasn't been easy. We will start the top rebounders at each position"

UA forward Rick Anderson said he is looking forward to playing against Wessel.

"(Wessel) left a message on my machine saying he was going to drop 30 (points) on me," Anderson said. "I am going to have to shut him down."

Associate head coach Jim Rosborough said he is pleased with the team's progress and attitude so far and feels the scrimmage will help the team step to the next level of competition.

"We have a good business approach," Rosborough said. "The intensity in practice has been very good. It is just a matter of repetition so that the calls are a reaction."

Rosborough said that although the team has lost a lot from last year, the explosiveness is still there.

"Offensively we still have firepower," Rosborough said. "Our productivity was good (in the Red-Blue scrimmage). Probably the best I have seen (in the scrimmage) since I have been here."

With the Arizona men's basketball roster seemingly getting smaller by the day, Olson has again reserved a spot on the team for UA tight end Peter Hansen.

When he wasn't blocking kicks for the Arizona football team, Hansen - a 6-foot-8 junior from Palo Alto, Calif. - played four games in the 1999-2000 season when numerous Wildcats were unavailable for action.

"He is a big, tough kid, and he helped us two years ago," Rosborough said. "He will give us a little more versatility with Ricky (Anderson) and Luke (Walton). "

Hansen has not missed a shot during his basketball career. His one attempt came against Jackson State in the first round of the 2000 NCAA Tournament.

Hansen is a four-year letter winner for the football team, where his special teams play earned him a spot on the All- Pac-10 second team last season. He has one catch as a tight end this season.

Roborough said he believes Hansen will bring another much-needed size and a positive mindset to the team.

"He is bigger than when he played with us two years ago," Rosborough said. "I like his mentality. He will give us a lot of flexibility."

In addition to Hansen's place on the roster, two walk-ons - freshman Anas Fellah and junior Phil Torres - have been penciled in as well.

"We are going to need them for scout stuff," Rosborough said. "They have added to our depth to some degree."

Torres, a guard from Naperville, Ill., was a practice player for the women's basketball team last season.

Fellah, also a guard, graduated from Amphitheater High School last year.

"Anas has been a bit of a surprise - he has quickness," Rosborough said. "Phil is very popular. He has known the team and is roommates with one of our managers."

Anderson said it will be important for the two newest Wildcats to keep up with the team and contribute in practice.

"The first four practices were kind of tough for them," Anderson said. "Now they are getting used to it."