February 2003

Luke's luck turns around [02.25.03]

UA's senior leader finally sees game come together after overcoming injury

This was supposed to be the year Luke Walton showed rest of college basketball that you don't need to be fast or jump out of the building to be a star.

He was going to prove that the old way of getting the job done, one of swift footwork and fundamental passing, could still work in a game that has become full of high-flyers and overwhelmingathletic talent. [Read article]

Double-double dominance [02.24.03]
Walton, Anderson and Frye finish with at least 10 points and 10 rebounds each to pace No. 1 ÎCats

TEMPE öö When Channing Frye returned home to take on Arizona State last season, he had high hopes of playing well and getting a win in front of family and friends. [Read article]

Game Analysis: How sweet it is [02.24.03]
TEMPE ÷ There is no doubt for the rest of the season: The Wildcats will be heckled on the road about the "Candygate" incident.

Saturday night was no different as Sun Devil fans showered the UA players with candy bars after UA's 20-point victory. Even though none of the candy bars hit any of the Arizona players, some were thrown back into the yellow-clad ASU student section. [Read article]

Sweet revenge against the Devils [02.22.03]
This year, it was a little payback.

No. 1 Arizona (21-2, 13-1) held ASU (17-8, 9-5) without a field for the first 5:35 of the second half in a 92-72 victory in Wells Fargo Arena Saturday night. [Read article]

A devil of a game in Tempe [02.21.03]
Wells Fargo Arena to host battle for Pac-10 positioning, state bragging rights

It seems that every time Arizona plays in Wells Fargo Arena, it turns out to be another home game, just 100 miles up I-10. [Read article]

Playing time at premium [02.20.03]
Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.) stopped by UA yesterday afternoon to spend 45 minutes with Arizona head basketball coach Lute Olson.

"He is a big basketball fan," Olson said. "He must stay up late in D.C. to watch the games."

McCain will also be in Tempe for the weekend matchup against Olson's squad and Arizona State. [Read article]

Coaches agree on Gardner's value [02.19.03]
If Jason Gardner is going to win Pac-10 Player of the Year, it's going to take some convincing of some of the coaches around the conference.

The early favorite for the award has to be between California's Joe Shipp and Arizona State's Ike Diogu, but the senior point guard for the No. 1 Wildcats definitely has the vote of his coaching staff. [Read article]

Hoops holds on to top spot in rankings [02.18.03]
It might be the 10th time this season the Wildcats have been ranked No. 1, but maybe the first time the players feel they deserve it.

"We feel like we're No. 1 right now," senior Rick Anderson said.

When the poll came out yesterday afternoon, Arizona (20-2) remained at the top for the fourth time in the last five weeks with 59 first-place votes. [Read article]

SoCal shutdown [02.17.03]
No. 1 UA, led by Channing Frye's 25 points and 14 boards, dropped USC by 27 on Saturday, just two days after punishing UCLA by 36

Winning has not been much of a problem for the No. 1 Arizona Wildcats so far this season, but winning in back-to-back games had been rare until this weekend. [Read article]

Game Analysis: Channing dominates down low [02.17.03]
No one is ever going to mistake Channing Frye for a football player.

Standing at 6 foot 10 inches and weighing just 235 pounds, the UA sophomore has been called everything in the book, from a gentle giant to just plain soft since his arrival at Arizona less than two years ago. [Read article]

Wildcats shut down Trojans [02.15.03]

In winning their 20th game of the season, it might have been the Wildcats best performance so far.

Using a 32-4 second half run and getting a career-high 25 points and 14 rebounds from sophomore Channing Frye, No. 1 Arizona rolled to an 86-59 victory against Southern California in McKale Center Saturday afternoon. [Read article]

No. 1 'Cats bury Bruins [02.14.03]
Paced by freshman Iguodala's 18 points, Arizona crushes lifeless UCLA by 36 at home

After two disappointing wins, Arizona wanted to show the rest of the nation that it's not just the No. 1 team in the nation by default.

For UCLA it could have been a season- making game, but it ended up being a statement game for Arizona as the Wildcats routed the Bruins 106-70. [Read article]

Lavin won't succumb to pressure [02.14.03]
Bruins' lame-duck leader looks to end tenure on high note

It's been a tough season for UCLA head coach Steve Lavin, but last night's embarrassment in Tucson might take the cake.

As the still-slick haired coach was walking into the media room he stopped and asked for a drink from his media relations guy. He first asked if they had any Schlitz, then changed his mind as asked if they had any Jack Daniels, then made a final request of strychnine. [Read article]

High-rising Hassan [02.13.03]

While showstopper Hassan Adams couldn't be happier for LeBron James' early success, the standout freshman is ready to step into the spotlight

When Hassan Adams saw what LeBron James did to his old high school on Saturday, he wasn't surprised one bit.

James, who is considered the best high school player in the nation and the consensus No.1 pick in the next NBA draft, scored 52 points for Akron, Ohio's St. Vincent-St. Mary against Adam's old team, Los Angeles' Westchester High School, at a tournament in Trenton, N.J. [Read article]

'Cats won't look past Bruins [02.13.03]

Steve Lavin has seen both the good and bad of what coaching at UCLA can bring.

The good: reaching the Sweet 16 five times in the last six years and averaging 20 wins per season since he became the Bruins' head coach seven years ago.

The bad: Lavin this year has become one of the most hated men on the Westwood campus after suffering through one of the worst seasons ever for the storied program. There is even a Web site dedicated to his firing at www.firelavin.com. [Read article]

Hoops looks to solidify top spot [02.12.03]
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. [Read article]

Huskies hope to trip up 'Cats [02.06.03]
No. 2 Wildcats begin two game trip tonight

Parody is the word of the year in college basketball, as no team in the top five has been able to avoid the upset bug.

With Florida and Texas both losing Tuesday night, the No. 2 Wildcats enter the Pacific Northwest tonight, attempting to regain the top spot in the country against Washington at 8:30 p.m. M.S.T. at Bank of America arena.

"Rick, Luke, and I are the leaders of this team," senior guard Jason Gardner said. "We let everyone know that we can't overlook anyone. We finally realize that now. This week, we have two Pac-10 games and we want to separate ourselves from everyone." [Read article]

SoCal hoops disappointing in Pac-10 play [02.05.03]
The Pacific 10 Conference is two years removed from having three teams ÷ Arizona, USC, and UCLA ÷ in the Elite Eight.

Year in and year out, the Pac-10 is among the nation's top men's basketball conferences, but this year, its reputation has diminished in the eyes of many, due to an average season by the Trojans and the demise of the once-powerful Bruins. [Read article]

Arizona drops to second in AP Poll [02.04.03]
In the world of college basketball rankings, it's all about "What have you done for me lately?"

The Florida Gators have been doing plenty lately, winning 14 straight games overall, including their first seven in Southeastern Conference play. That being said, the Gators took over the top spot in the polls yesterday for the first time in school history. [Read article]

California dreamers [02.03.03]

No. 20 Golden Bears prove to be no match for No. 1 Arizona as UA rolls by 15

All season, the talk around the college basketball world is how complete the Arizona basketball team really is ÷ they've got depth, athleticism, quickness, and balance on the offensive end. [Read article]

January 2003

ÎCats declawed by Cardinal [01.31.03]
Basketball suffers first conference loss against unranked Stanford

There goes a chance at an undefeated Pacific 10 Conference season.

Stanford came into a packed McKale Center last night and stunned the top ranked Arizona men's basketball team 82-77. [Read article]

Bitter, sweet and low [01.31.03]
Wildcats can't stomach the taste of losing at home again to unranked Stanford squad

Call it a distraction or whatever you like but, there was something agitating the nation's No. 1 basketball team in the first half.

Was it the candy incident? Maybe.

Was it the same problem that has plagued the Wildcats all season long, starting slow? Most likely. [Read article]

No Cardinal sins tonight [01.30.03]
No. 1 ÎCats can't afford to slip up against Stanford tonight at home

If there is one glaring advantage that Arizona has over its opponents, it's depth. When it comes to Stanford, that edge is monstrous.

Not only is Stanford an inexperienced team ÷ it lost two would-be seniors Casey Jacobsen and Curtis Borchardt to the NBA draft ÷ but it is an unhealthy one ÷ Justin Davis is coming back from a knee injury after missing five games, and Chris Hernandez is out for the year with a broken foot. [Read article]

Hoops near full strength [01.29.03]
Here's a scary thought for the rest of the nation: Right now No. 1 Arizona is in the best shape that it has been in all season, according to UA head coach Lute Olson. [Read article]

Gardner heads to front of the Pac [01.28.03]
Who knows where Arizona would have been Saturday without Hall-of-Fame Coach Clair Bee?

Who is he, you ask?

Bee is the inventor of a little-used defense today called the 1-3-1 zone defense that he created as the coach of Long Island University back in the early Î30s. [Read article]

South paw special [01.27.03]
What a change of fortune for Salim Stoudamire.

Just a game after being benched for the last 14 minutes of the Arizona State game, the sophomore shooting guard scored a career-high 32 points as the No. 1 Wildcats outscored No. 6 Kansas by 30 points in the second half en route to a 91-74 win Saturday at Allen Fieldhouse in Lawrence, Kan. [Read article]

Commentary: Wildcats prove worthy of hype [01.27.03]
I don't know how many times I heard, "Why is Jason Gardner on the baseline on defense?" during Saturday's game at Kansas. The 1-3-1 zone that Arizona has been using in the last few games has allowed Gardner to get out on the shooters in the corners, rather than drawing out the forwards and centers to the corners, allowing the paint to open up. [Read article]

Kiss my Kansas [01.24.03]
Sophomore forward makes return to Allen Fieldhouse, this time with an Arizona Wildcat uniform

It takes a lot to get Dennis Latimore excited. Usually quiet and soft-spoken, the sophomore forward gets pumped up for games in his own way, but odds are, Latimore will be more ecstatic than usual tomorrow. [Read article]

ÎCats crawl to victory [01.23.03]
No. 1 Arizona relies on clutch free throws late to preserve victory over ASU

Starting slow has been a problem for Arizona in the first half, but last night, it was the second half that gave the nation's No. 1 team a problem.

The Wildcats nearly blew a 26-point lead in the second half, but held on to win their 10th straight game 71-63 against in-state rival Arizona State in McKale Center. [Read article]

Twenty minutes, twice [01.23.03]
Wacky win over ASU a tale of two halves for streaking Wildcats

For the first 20 minutes of the game the Wildcats showed why they are the No. 1 team in the nation.

They held ASU to only 20 points in the half, 25 percent from the field and kept the Sun Devils best player ÷ Ike Diogu ÷ in check. The freshman was held to just seven points, had three turnovers, took three shots but more importantly had only two rebounds. [Read article]

Staff Picks [01.23.03]
Game of the week: Arizona @ Kansas. Is this a preview of the national championship game?

What are you doing for the Super Bowl? Who wins?

Could your intramural basketball team beat the UConn Huskies women's team? [Read article]

The view from above [01.22.03]
In its recent history, the Arizona - Arizona State basketball rivalry hasn't compared to that of its football counterpart.

The football players use words like "hate" and "kill" when talking about the other team in what is one of the nation's oldest rivalries. [Read article]

One-on-one with Josh Pastner [01.22.03]
Assistant coach gives insight on top-ranked Arizona hoops

Josh Pastner, a former UA basketball player and member of the 1997 national championship team, is now a full-time assistant coach with the team. [Read article]

Sharing the spotlight [01.21.03]
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. [Read article]

Top-ranked Wildcats fired up for Sun Devils [01.21.03]
Lute Olson's response to regaining the No.1 ranking yesterday was the same as it was when the team had it just four weeks ago.

"Frankly, we're not even close to number one yet in terms of how we're playing," the Hall of Fame UA head coach said about receiving all but five first place votes yesterday. [Read article]

Wildcats win ugly game against Bruins [01.18.03]
UA likely to move back to No. 1 after Duke losses

WESTWOOD, Calif. - In what's becoming typical for the UA basketball team this season, start slow and finish strong, it happened again Saturday afternoon against UCLA. [Read article]

Comeback ÎCats [01.17.03]
Arizona trails by 11 early, pulls away late, paced by Walton's near triple double

LOS ANGELES ÷ Hassan Adams watched from the bench as Southern California jumped out to an early 9-0 lead against Arizona. [Read article]

Freshmen fuel late game fire [01.17.03]
For the first 20 minutes it was the Desmon Farmer show.

The junior from Flint, Mich., hit nearly every shot he took. Farmer netted 20 of USC's 48 points in the first half on 8-of-13 shooting and gave USC a quick 11-point lead. [Read article]

Wildcats thunder into Trojan territory [01.16.03]
How much is Lute Olson going to look at the tape of USC's 99-61 home loss Saturday to Pennsylvania?

"Not much," said the UA head coach about his team's opponent in tonight's game at the Los Angeles Memorial Sports Arena at 8:30 p.m.. "We're going to focus more on the game they played against UCLA."

It was in that game on Jan. 8 when the Trojans beat the Bruins for the first time since 1993 in Pauley Pavilion, 80-75. [Read article]

Basketball: A look at the competition [01.16.03]
The last month has hardly been a vacation in the world of college basketball. The break saw Duke ascend to No. 1 in the country in two polls following an Arizona slipup at LSU and a little help from Alabama. The shuffling and reshuffling of the top 25 always happens before teams settle into their conference seasons. This is what we know about the top 25 so far. [Read article]

Wildcat Staff Picks [01.16.03]
Biggest threat to Arizona'e Pac-10 title quest?
How will Will Bynum's departure affect the team?
What is the most underrated sport on campus? [Read article]

Lineup solidified to face USC, UCLA [01.15.03]
After 11 different lineups in 12 games, it finally seems that UA head coach Lute Olson has settled on a starting lineup for the remainder of the season.

Three seniors, Jason Gardner, Rick Anderson and Luke Walton, and two sophomores, Salim Stoudamire and Channing Frye, are included in the lineup, coincidentally the same group the Wildcats used for the majority of last season.

"We're expecting, knock on wood, that we'll have the same lineup out on the floor that we had on Saturday and start getting people to understand what their roles are," Olson said. [Read article]

Georgia Tech steals Bynum [01.15.03]
Former UA guard Will Bynum decided to transfer to Georgia Tech and play for the Yellow Jackets next season.

Bynum, who left Arizona just eight games into his sophomore year, can begin play at the conclusion of the 2003 fall semester.

"When we heard about him leaving Arizona, we let his high school coach know that we'd have an interest," said GT head coach Paul Hewitt Monday in a statement. "After we received his release on Tuesday of last week, I had a chance to talk to Will on Wednesday, and he expressed an interest in attending Georgia Tech." [Read article]

Athlete of the week: Stoudamire shines [01.15.03]

Sport: Men's basketball
Position: guard
Year: Sophomore
Major: Undecided
Hometown: Lake Oswego, Ore. [Read article]

Second-half run propels UA over Washington [01.13.03]
For the first time in three years, the Wildcats have gotten off to a 4-0 start in Pacific-10 Conference play.

Behind sophomore guard Salim Stoudamire's season-high 23 points, Arizona beat Washington 79-61in front of 14,570 fans at McKale Center. [Read article]

Wildcats make it 35 in a row against WSU [01.10.03]
The Marcus Moore show ended on a sour note.

Moore, the Pac-10's leading scorer, had another stellar game for WSU but it was not enough as No. 2 Arizona defeated the Cougars 82-69 Thursday night in McKale Center. The Wildcats have now beaten Washington State 35 straight times.

Moore had 35 points for WSU (5-7, 0-3) while playing on a right ankle that has bone chips and could require surgery once the season ends. [Read article]

Men's basketball notes: Bynum out, Walton in [01.08.03]
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. [Read article]

Wildcats sweep Oregon schools for first time in 5 years [01.05.03]
The Oregon curse couldn't cast its evil spell on the Wildcats this time.

UA completed the sweep of the Oregon schools Saturday night by defeating Oregon State 80-65 in Corvallis, Ore., the first time Arizona has left the Beaver State with two victories in four seasons.

The last time the No. 4 Wildcats (9-1, 2-0) accomplished that they won the National Championship. [Read article]

Wildcats snap Ducks streak [01.03.03]
Without Walton and Bynum, Gardner steps up

Down 11 points and without Luke Walton, it didn't look good for Arizona.

Already having lost to the Oregon Ducks for the last three years in Eugene, Ore., No. 4 UA was on its way to another crushing defeat.

But senior Jason Gardner wouldn't let it happen. [Read article]

Bynum should rethink move [01.03.03]
As Will Bynum sits around thinking about what school he is going to play for, he needs to rethink his decision to leave UA altogether. [Read article]

Wildcats win Fiesta Bowl Classic, lose Walton [01.02.03]
Although the Wildcats cruised to their 17th title in the 18-year history of the Fiesta Bowl Classic Monday, UA lost its star player again.

Arizona senior forward Luke Walton returned to the Wildcats Saturday night in the teams' 95-69 win against Davidson in the first round of the tournament. He added 6 points, 7 rebounds and 3 assists in just 19 minutes of action. This was Walton's first game after missing the Wildcats two previous ones, including the 65-66 loss to Louisiana State in Baton Rouge. [Read article]