Katrina Lindner freshman guard

Redshirt freshman, blue-chip recruits make debut tonight

While the Red-Blue Game may seem like little more than a glorified scrimmage, for one Wildcat, tonight's tip-off will mean a whole lot more.

Redshirt freshman Katrina Lindner tore her ACL in last year's Red-Blue Game, effectively ending her promising first season as a Wildcat.

Head coach Joan Bonvicini said losing Lindner for the season was a tremendous blow last year.

"I knew right away," Bonvicini said. "That was really big. We were already short-handed and it hurt our depth. We missed her a lot."

Game Lineup Red (White) Team #30 ÷ Jessica Duger #13 ÷ Aimee Grzyb #23 ÷ Natalie Jones #32 ÷ Svjetlana Papcevic #33 ÷ Phakisha Peterson #00 ÷ Shawntinice Polk #31 ÷ Robin Roberson #5 ÷ CoCoa Sanford Coached by Kellee Barney & Curtis Loyd Blue Team #44 ÷ Danielle Adefeso #4 ÷ Candice Allen #20 ÷ Julie Brase #15 ÷ Anna Chappell #21 ÷ Katrina Lindner #35 ÷ Krista Warren #11 ÷ Dee-Dee Wheeler Coached by Denise & Dove Ianello

Lindner, a 5-foot-6 guard from Australia, said even though the injury was obviously disappointing, the year off allowed her to become seasoned with college basketball in the United States.

"It was frustrating when it first happened," Lindner said. "I have grown over the last year."

Though a year removed from the injury, Lindner said part of her mind would be on her mid-leg joint.

"It will be in the back of my mind," she said. "I want to get out there and play, and try to relax."

As Lindner's career starts over tonight, it will also launch the career of prized recruits Shawntinice "Polkey" Polk, and Natalie Jones tonight at 7 p.m. in McKale Center.

Both players have already made a huge impression on their coaching staff, and will challenge for starting positions.

Bonvicini said even with all the depth at the guard position, Jones has established herself, while Polk has nearly cemented a starting spot at center.

"They don't play like freshmen," Bonvicini said. "Natalie has picked up things quickly, and I would say Polkey has shored up a starting spot."

Polk, a 2001 All-American, will finally take the floor as the team's blue-chip center. Polk originally signed with Arizona in the fall of 2000 but did not qualify academically to play during the 2001-02 season.

Jones was a Parade All-American and the Alaska Player of the Year after leading East Anchorage High School to its third-straight state championship last season as a senior.

Jones, along with last year's Pacific 10 Conference freshman of the year Dee-Dee Wheeler, will make a potent back court for Bonvicini's team, but tonight, they will compete against each other.

That competitiveness is something that Bonvicini said she wants to see tonight.

"The first challenge is tomorrow," she said. "It's tough when you go against yourselves. When someone is doing something good that means someone else isn't."

The Wildcats can't afford to just go through the motions, as they have just over two weeks to prepare for home games against No. 3 Louisiana State and then No.10 Georgia eight days later.

Arizona has played big games early in its schedule before ÷ last year, UA upset No. 15 Notre Dame. But with so many newcomers on this year's team, the learning curve is vital.

"I don't try and put pressure on the players," Bonvicini said. "They are well aware of our strength of schedule. Honestly, I talk about the other teams but talk more about ourselves. We prepare for our opponents."

This year's team boasts two transfers, two redshirt freshmen and four true freshmen.

While the youth movement might seem to put Arizona at a disadvantage, the talent level and potential is something that is creating a buzz around the team.

"I am impressed," Bonvicini said of the team's progression. "There is tremendous cohesion on the court. Different players pick up things at different rates. I'm looking for a top eight or nine."