For the first time since Will Bynum was given his release to leave Arizona, UA head coach Lute Olson addressed the media regarding his now former player.

"We hated to see him go," said Olson at his weekly press conference. "He was really a very popular guy with his teammates and the staff. But what may have done it in the end was that he saw that Jason (Gardner) and Salim (Stoudamire), who were ahead of him a year ago, (were still there) and he felt like he needed to be on the court more. I can certainly understand that."

Bynum, a native of Chicago, Ill., seemed to be unhappy with what playing time, or lack thereof, he was getting as his minutes kept dropping.

He will have to sit out two semesters if he transfers to another Division I school and is likely to transfer closer to home.

Despite being not only a popular teammate, Bynum was one of the most exciting players to the Wildcat fans due to his flashy, high-flying style of play.

So when Bynum asked for his permission to leave, Olson said he was not prepared for the sudden departure.

"You just take it as it comes," he said. "You never know when you're going to have injuries or other things happen. Every year, people say, 'with all of that depth...' Very seldom does it work out that there are more (players) than are going to get time.

"When you look at us this year, a good example is Luke and Salim. How much time have they been limited as a result of injuries. You just hope kids get the big picture instead of the immediate, but that seems to be the trend of the day."

In his last two games as a Wildcat he played only a combined 14 minutes and was coming in behind freshman Chris Rodgers and was already behind Stoudamire and Adams on the depth chart.

Bynum, started the season hot as he started for the injured Stoudamire but his numbers have continued to fall due to less playing time. He averaged 7.8 points and 2.8 rebounds this season, shooting just 35.6 percent from the floor in eight games.

During his time at UA, he averaged 6.6 points, 2.8 rebounds and 1.4 assists.

As Bynum is on his way out, senior Luke Walton is one his way back in the starting lineup.

After missing the last two games with his fourth ankle injury of the season, Walton will play Thursday when Washington State takes on UA (9-1, 2-0) in McKale Center.

"Luke practiced Monday and moved very well," Olson said. "He's in full drills Tuesday. We worked him in a little bit at a time Monday, but he should be ready to go full (Tuesday)."

A familiar team sits atop both the AP and coaches poll this week ö Duke.

The Blue Devils (9-0) have reached No. 1 now for their sixth straight season. The Blue Devils moved up from No. 3, taking advantage of losses last week by the teams ahead of them, Alabama and Pittsburgh.

The Wildcats follow Duke in both polls as the nations No. 2 team.