JeffnLund sports editor

Biggest threat to Arizona'e Pac-10 title quest?

As last year proved, no lead is safe in the Pac-10, no matter how hot a team is. Last year Oregon won the regular season title with four conference losses, then got booted in the second round from the conference tournament. I still see Oregon as a contender. The Ducks have one tough road trip left (Arizona, Arizona State), and USC and UCLA if they get their acts together. Cal still has to go to Oregon and then come to Arizona. That could end up being three losses right there. It's gut check time for Oregon, and despite being 1-3, I believe the Ducks are the second-best team in the Pac 10.

How will Will Bynum's departure affect the team?

Lute Olson had a problem. He had a load of talent, and only 200 minutes to split per game between 11 players that all could start on most Division I teams. If this team is going to win the National Championship, the team's head needed to be in the right place, and bickering about playing time would do nothing but bring the team down. Olson played who deserved the time. Bynum made the decision easy on Olson by being happy when he played and frustrated when he didn't. Arizona basketball will move on without Bynum, and might even be better following the departure. No other team in the country could absorb such a loss like the Wildcats, and no other coach could handle it better than Olson.

What is the most underrated sport on campus?

In the spring there are many sports that compete under the immense shadow of softball and men's basketball. Perhaps the most underrated and under-appreciated of these sports is gymnastics. Few know that the Gymcats are annually ranked nationally, and compete against the best schools across the country. Whether it is a lack of interest or knowledge, the accomplishments of the mat queens go unnoticed. Attendance inside the McKale Center is sub-par, especially for such a talented squad. If any team on campus is lost in the shuffle, it has to be the Gymcats. By the way, this Friday they take on Oregon State at 7:30 p.m. at McKale Center, and guess what kids · it's free to students.

Brett Fera asst. sports editor

Biggest threat to Arizona'e Pac-10 title quest?

So California is 3-0 in conference right now. Arizona State looks decent, and Oregon has enough talent, but both look more like pretenders than contenders. And do not get me started on UCLA or Southern California. Lavin should be coaching in Eugene right now öö he's a lame duck öö and Bibby's bunch is searching for identity while struggling to decide where to play its home games. Arizona's biggest threat might just be itself, with Luke on the shelf so much and Bynum putting on his yellow jacket as he bolts out of town. The only thing in Arizona's way might be the fact they have too much talent to go around. That is interesting, because every coach in the country would love to be in Lute's shoes öö including himself.

How will Will Bynum's departure affect the team?

A timeline of Bynum in the Old Pueblo: Highly touted Dicky-V diaper-dandy, thought to be the heir apparent to J-Gardner, wows the crowd en route to Midnight Madness slam dunk title; earns opportunity to play and start; season continues, loses playing time to walk-ons Anas Fellah and Mike Schwertley; busted for shooting windows in La Paz with a BB gun; offseason speculation of departure refuted by Bynum; Will heats up early this season, averaging 13.5 points through four games, but totals just eight over the next four öö his last as a Wildcat. In a nutshell, hype knocked, Bynum answered, and no one was there. Lute won't let this be problematic, so the ÎCats can punch their tickets to New Orleans as Willy the Kid heads to Atlanta.

What is the most underrated sport on campus?

Much respect to Leo's gang, but since I cover the Icecats, it would be biased of me to pick them as the campus' most underrated team. With that said, I will go out on a limb and say that football (YES, FOOTBALL) is most underrated on campus. I call out every student on this campus who turns their back on the on the gridiron bunch every fall öö they need support. Nobody will root for football unless they win, but if nobody packs the stands, why would any decent high school recruit want to play here? If the team can't draw the talent, how can they win? See where I am going with this? Get out there and support your neighborhood football team. Football players need love too.

Charles Renning staff writer

Biggest threat to Arizona'e Pac-10 title quest?

I can't believe I'm about to write this and have people actually read it, but the second-best team in the Pac-10 could very well be only 100 miles north in Tempe. I refuse to actually say the name, but they are a lot better than most people give them credit for. They have the best freshman in the conference (sorry Hassan) in Ike Diogu and have a good core of role players. Both Curtis Millage and Jason Braxton can make plays and they have a decent inside presence with Tommy Smith. The Scummies seem to get better with every game and the Pac-10 is way down this year in hoops. As much as I hate to say it, they could be the Cats' toughest competition.

How will Will Bynum's departure affect the team?

Losing a player midway through a season can never be good for a team, but in the Wildcats' case this one might be. Bynum was an unbelievable talent but didn't really seem to fit in. With his departure that's one less player on the bench that is looking to get minutes. I don't know if there is really such a thing, but the Wildcats might be too deep. Not since the Western Kentucky game has the team played to its full potential and while watching, it seems more like watching an Icecats game with players coming in and out every couple minutes. With Bynum out that could mean more quality minutes for Gardner and Stoudamire, and more of an opportunity for guard Chris Rodgers to get time.

What is the most underrated sport on campus?

There are so many quality programs on campus that probably don't get as much publicity as they should, but I'm going with the men's club lacrosse team. Almost three decades ago former head coach Mickey-Miles Felton started the Laxcats on the UA campus and the team has been successful every year since. In a sport that remains largely popular on the east coast only, the Laxcats have been a lacrosse powerhouse on the west coast. The players pay thousands of dollars a year to participate and practice almost year round. They have two national championship game appearances in the last six years and wouldn't be surprised to see them there this year after losing just one senior on last year's squad that finished 15-3 and eighth in the nation.