KEVIN KLAUS/Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman Andre Iguodala grabs a rebound in last week's game against USC. Iguodala will get his first taste of basketball in Tempe when the Wildcats visit Arizona State tomorrow at 7 p.m.

Wells Fargo Arena to host battle for Pac-10 positioning, state bragging rights

It seems that every time Arizona plays in Wells Fargo Arena, it turns out to be another home game, just 100 miles up I-10.

Throughout the stadium, many fans can be heard screaming "U of A" or "ASU Sucks." That changed a bit last season, as the Sun Devils took back home-court advantage with an impressive victory.

Game Info: Who: ASU at UA When: Tomorrow at 7 p.m. Where: Wells Fargo Arena, Tempe TV: FSNA (Tom Dillon/Tim Kempton) Who to Watch: ASU - Ike Digou, UA- Channing Frye

Still, ASU (17-7, 9-4) seems to never have a home-court advantage against Arizona, but tomorrow night at 7 p.m. it could be different.

"I think it's going to be wild," said senior Luke Walton, who was surprised about the amount of tickets ASU has sold for the game. "The environment is going to get them playing their best ball."

The game, was sold out for over a month until ASU put 300 standing room only tickets up for sale this week. This will be a big game for both teams as UA (20-2, 12-1) is trying to hold on to the top spot in the conference, and the Sun Devils are trying to solidify their spot in the NCAA Tournament.

"It should be a good game with two good teams playing the best that they've played all year, so it's a good time for this one," UA head coach Lute Olson said.

Even though the Wildcats won 15 of the last 16 games in the rivalry, the Sun Devils got the best of the nation's No. 1 team last time Arizona traveled to Tempe.

ASU out-rebounded UA, 39-29, and forced 16 turnovers in its 16-point win.

"Yeah, they got us really good," senior Rick Anderson said. "We were a little upset about that last year and we want to make a statement."

With the bitter taste still in their mouths, the team realizes this Sun Devil team is better than the one it lost to last year.

"This is by far the best team we have seen in the five years I have been here," Walton said. "Without question."

Part of that reason is that ASU is experienced öö five seniors play big minutes öö while also adding freshman Ike Diogu to the roster this year, the center that Southern California head coach Henry Bibby said is the best player in the conference, hands down.

"He's a good one," said Olson about Diogu. "He's better now than he was the last time we played him. They have a good supporting around Ike."

Diogu, a sure candidate for freshman Player of the Year honors, is leading the Sun Devils with 18.8 points per game and in rebounds with 7.1 a game.

The Wildcats handled Diogu as well as anyone has all season in their first meeting at McKale Center, holding him to only six shots, of which he made three. UA switched to a 1-3-1 zone at times in the game trying to make the double team easier on Diogu.

"The only way you're going to contain him is if you limit the number of touches he gets and the number of times he can do something with the ball," Olson said. "That will be our challenge as it is everyone's challenge that plays against him. They're going to go to him, it's almost every time down the court they're going to try to get the ball to him."

Arizona was successful against Diogu on the offensive end of the floor, utilizing sophomore center Channing Frye's size against the shorter Diogu. Frye scored 13 points and made six of 10 shots against the team from near his hometown of Phoenix.

"I think our big guys really took it as a personal challenge," Walton said. "They did a great job on him."

Senator John McCain (R-Ariz.), an avid basketball fan, will be in attendance at the game tomorrow. When Olson was asked whether McCain had a preference on a winner he said, "I think he will be very neutral in the game."