SAUL LOEB/Arizona Daily Wildcat Seniors Jason Gardner and Luke Walton are now surrounded with the talent that could lead them to the national championship that eluded them in 2001.

Seniors Anderson, Gardner, Walton guide young Wildcat squad into battle

The most eye-opening stat in the box score is usually the point total. However, for the three senior starters on the Arizona men's basketball team, success is measured not by their own line, but by the team result.

So far, so good ÷ the Wildcats are ranked No. 1 and have one blemish on their record.

"We have to have a senior presence on this team," said Jason Gardner, one of the team's three starting upperclassmen. "The big thing is that the three of us know what it takes to win. We can all score, and when the time comes we will step up our scoring. We know we are capable of doing it."

With Luke Walton, Rick Anderson, and Gardner the only contributing upperclassmen, many thought they would be looked upon to score even more then their collective 48 points per game last season.

That has not been the case.

Walton and Gardner entered as pre-season All-Americans, but neither player has put up offensive numbers comparable to last season, yet at the same time, haven't lost any of their status.

Gardner led the Wildcats in scoring last season with an average of 22 points per game, but this season he is only averaging a little over 13 points per game.

"Being a good point guard should be based on wins," Gardner said. "We have a lot of talent on this team, and I don't need to force shots."

The same is true for Walton, who is only averaging 7.6 points per game compared to almost 16 last season.

Walton's numbers are a bit deceiving, as he has not been better then an estimated 70 percent healthy since injuring his ankle at the beginning of the season.

Anderson is shooting a blazing 56 percent for the season, but he has not been able to become a dynamic force in Arizona's offensive attack.

"Rick has done a great job,' Gardner said. "People don't give him the respect that he deserves. He causes so many match-up problems (because) he can shoot. He grabs a lot of rebounds. He does whatever it takes to win games."

With Walton and Gardner considered to be pro prospects, their play during their senior seasons will be one of the determining factors of whether or not they will be able to take their games to the next level.

With pro scouts watching, Gardner and Walton have been team-first players who are more concerned with winning games rather than personal accolades and statistical accomplishments.

After 14 games last season, Arizona was 10-4, 3-2 in Pacific 10 Conference play.

With the three seniors' scoring output decreasing, the Wildcats are 13-1, 6-0 in the Pac-10, and they hold the No. 1 ranking in the country.

Gardner, Walton, and Anderson's unselfishness has also given sophomore Salim Stoudamire and freshmen Hassan Adams and Andre Iguodala an opportunity to establish themselves offensively.

"The seniors have been great," Iguodala said. "Luke makes so many things happen. He is leading the team in assists, and he plays great defense. I just try to do what Luke does."

UA's three seniors may be scoring fewer points, but Arizona is still averaging 85 points per game, good for sixth in the country.

Arizona associate head coach Jim Rosborough said the seniors realize when the time comes, they will be looked upon to pick up their scoring.

"Jason is capable of scoring 20 points a game," Rosborough said. "Luke is only going to get better and better as he gets healthier. Each senior knows their role and they have done a great job getting everyone involved. We know that when they have to step and score that they are capable of doing so."

With Walton, Gardner, and Anderson playing unselfish basketball, the Wildcats are becoming a balanced team that compares to the 1997 national championship team.

The 1997 UA championship team was filled with three eventual NBA starters ÷ Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, and Michael Dickerson.

However, due to the depth and contributions from each player, the Wildcats were able defeat three No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament en route to the school's first-ever basketball national championship.

Every player knew his role and executed it to perfection.

Walton, Gardner, and Anderson came to Arizona to help bring the Wildcats their second national championship, and their unselfish play and dedication to UA's overall success has been apparent in their last run at a national championship.

"We want to win," Anderson said. "We have been here for four or five years waiting for an opportunity to win a national championship. We are going to do whatever it takes to make that happen."