Even with the nation's No. 1 rank, it still seems that many doubt the Wildcats are playing the best basketball in the nation.

But it's not just the outsiders who have noticed that UA isn't on top of its game with just seven games remaining before the start of tournament play.

Game Info When: Thursday at 8:30 p.m. Where: McKale Center

"I think as a team we really haven't played like the number one team," freshman guard Hassan Adams said. "We're kind of just getting by and we can play much better than what we're doing. I can see it and Coach O can see it too. Everyone on the team can see it."

Head coach Lute Olson said Arizona was handed the top spot more than it earned it.

"We're only number one because Florida got beat," said Olson about last week's number one. "I think there are probably about 300 other schools in the country that would like to be in our situation. We're concerned with how we play."

It's hard to pinpoint exactly where the Wildcats (18-2, 10,1) have struggled, but one area that Olson mentioned was turnovers.

"We need to take better care of the basketball," said Olson, referring to the team's 21-turnover game against Washington State.

Part of Arizona's problem with taking care of the basketball has been that senior forward Luke Walton is still not 100 percent recovered from an earlier ankle injury.

Walton, the conference leader in assists last year, is averaging just 2.68 assists per game.

"We're still limited in the amount of time that Luke can be on the floor," Olson said. "We're hoping that is going to get better as we go because, not only does Luke need the time on the floor for his own timing and getting in sync, it's really important that we get him out there as much as we can so that the other guys become accustomed to him being on the floor."

Both Walton and senior guard Jason Gardner, who injured his foot against WSU, were held out of practice on Monday. The injury to Gardner should not keep him out of any more practices, according to Olson.

Despite the fact that Gardner and Walton were missing, Olson said Monday's practice was the best one of the year.

"Everybody was totally in tune with what was being done," Olson said. "Everyone was really concentrating on what needed to be done."

Getting back into the flow was something welcomed by Adams, who played just five minutes in Thursday's game against Washington.

"It's surprising, if you don't practice well, you don't generally play well," said Olson with a smile. "He did not have good practices last week and it showed on Thursday. I thought he played really well, especially down the stretch at Washington State."

Adams said he knows what he needs to do to improve the rest of the season.

"In the Washington games I think I hit a wall and I need to get around it," he said. "In practice yesterday I did my best and I think I played hard. I talked to the coaches and asked them for advice."

Olson said even though UCLA (5-15, 2-8) is on the verge of its worst season in 15 years, the game tomorrow hasn't lost any of its luster.

"If you look at their last few games against the Oregon schools, USC and Georgetown, they have played very well," Olson said. "They were really struggling early but I think they've circled the wagons, they're reacting like that."

The Bruins picked up their first win in 10 games Saturday against Georgetown, ending their longest losing streak since 1940-41.