KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat

UA junior point guard Jason Gardner attempts a layup against Maryland during the first game of the Coaches vs. Cancer IKON Classic in New York City Nov. 8.

Better start making space on the bandwagon.

The Arizona men's basketball team continues to ascend the national polls.

The Wildcats are ranked No. 8 in this week's Associated Press poll, after being unranked in the preseason.

Arizona's come-from-behind win over No. 22 Texas Saturday also earned it a No. 7 ranking in the ESPN/USA Today poll.

"In my opinion, they aren't polls, they are just preseason guesses," head coach Lute Olson said. "As soon as you play, that is a poll."

According to Olson, it is important to focus on basic aspects of the game at the beginning of the season.

Olson said he has been impressed with the execution of the freshmen through the first three games.

"Rebounding has always been big with me," Olson said. "(Freshman Isaiah Fox) just goes after everything. He's not a big jumper, just a great positioner, and he anticipates rebounds very well."

Rebounding was the key to Arizona's success against Texas last week, earning a 39-37 advantage under the boards en route to a 14-point win.

"Rebounding is the key," associate head coach Jim Rosborough said. "We have our hands up, and we are being active."

Rebounding has not been the only thing that has given the Wildcats an edge.

Arizona has shot a blistering 45 percent from the three-point range while holding opponents to 29 percent behind the arc.

The Wildcats have also shot 73 percent from the free-throw line (51-70), compared to opponents' 29 percent (21-44). Freshman Salim Stoudamire is third on the team in free throw attempts (12) and has only one miss on the season.

Arizona will take a break from top-notch competition and return home for an exhibition game against Nike Elite Sunday.

"We are treating this like an exhibition game," Olson said. "We had to play that first exhibition game like it was a real game because it was so close (to the season opener)."

Olson said he will use the game to get the freshman guards experience playing without Gardner.

"We are going to try and limit the time that Gardner gets," Olson said. "We also want to get the big guys who haven't (played) a lot of minutes to see what they can do."

The team has plenty to be thankful for this Thanksgiving - namely a 3-0 record. And they will spend the holiday the way they spend many regular afternoons - at practice.

"This year we do everything as a team," junior forward Luke Walton said. "We go out to dinner together. We're not as experienced as we have been, so we need that team camaraderie."

Rosborough said he likes the chemistry building on this year's team.

"Last year we had some guys that were individual and went out on their own,' Rosbourgh said. "This year (the team) is very close. We have no seniors, no agendas."