SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Sophomore Isaiah Fox puts up a shot in Arizona's win against Oregon State March 6. Though Fox saw limited minutes, he will be looked upon to fill the huge leadership void left by the team's three seniors.

After losing its senior captains to graduation, men's hoops will be forced to look elsewhere for guidance come next season

Lute Olson's greatest concern this off-season doesn't involve changing defenses or offensive schemes, but rather replacing the leadership lost with the departure of the team's three seniors.

Replacing Rick Anderson, Jason Gardner and Luke Walton won't be easy, but at least the UA head coach has options.

One option, which might be a surprise to those who don't know much about the inner workings of the team, is Isaiah Fox. Voted most inspirational by his teammates, the sophomore back-up center is also considered the funniest and most down-to-earth by his teammates.

"He is a communicator and is a guy that a lot of the players respect," Olson said. "I'm hoping he is one of the guys who will step up."

Fox should get the opportunity to not only play a more vital role off the court, but on as well. Fighting for minutes all season behind seniors Walton and Anderson, sophomore Channing Frye and freshman Andre Iguodala, Fox should see more time with the two seniors leaving after just playing 12 minutes per game this season.

"Of the guys in that class, he is the most vocal," Olson said. "I think leaders are born. They have those skills early and I think Isaiah has that and I thought that a year ago when he was a freshman."

Both Frye and Iguodala expressed their desire to play a more vital leadership role just minutes after the Wildcats' loss to Kansas on Saturday.

"I'm going to be a leader," said Iguodala in the locker room after the loss. "Next year, I'm going to have to step up so we don't go through this again."

Olson also said Frye has shown him some signs that he can fill the void.

"I think he would like to be one of the leaders, but by nature he is very quiet," Olson said. "The thing is the leadership has been so strong for those guys it's hard to get the opportunity."

Olson compares this team to the 1996-1997 team that had no seniors that played a major role on the court. Next year, UA will have just two seniors. Jason Ranne and Fil Torres made the team as walk-ons and neither is expected to get into the rotation next season.

"The leadership that year came from Miles Simon," said Olson about Simon, who was a junior. "That team also had a freshman point guard in Mike Bibby."

Odds are, next year Arizona could start a freshman at point guard, Mustafa Shakur.

"We're going to be a quicker and more athletic team next year than we were last year," Olson said. "I think potentially it could be the best defensive team that we have had; the one problem is the youth of the team."

Olson knows he won't get a quick answer.

"It will be a matter of how it develops now until the start of that year," Olson said.

Extra Notes:

Gardner earned second team All-America honors from the National Association of Basketball Coaches. It is Gardner's second All-America selection this season.

Gardner, who earned similar honors from the United States Basketball Writers Association, was named to the NABC's second team.

He is joined on that squad by Carmelo Anthony of Syracuse, Keith Bogans of Kentucky, Dwayne Wade of Marquette and Mike Sweetney of Georgetown.

Also, Olson said he wants to put an end to the rumors that incoming freshman Ndudi Ebi of Houston is headed straight to the NBA and not to Arizona.

"There is not a minute possibility of that," Olson said. "If you knew his parents you knew what I would be saying."