Considering the dominance of the Wildcat women's hoops team in McKale Center, one wouldn't think that tonight's matchup with Southern California would cause the team to lose much sleep.
Arizona (12-4, 4-1 Pacific-10 Conference) will try to improve upon a school-record 21-game home winning streak, the fifth longest in the nation, tonight at 7 against USC. The Wildcats are 8-0 in McKale this season with an average margin of victory of over 20 points per game.
Meanwhile, the Trojans (7-6, 4-1) come to Tucson with just one road win on the season. Yet, Arizona and USC are somehow tied for second in the Pac-10.
UAhead coach Joan Bonvicini said the Trojans' impressive conference mark hasn't caught her off guard.
"It doesn't surprise me for two reasons," Bonvicini said. "One is they have a good team. They also have a lot of returning players - good players and veterans."
Despite the difference in overall record, the Trojans are ranked significantly higher in the RPI rankings than Arizona. USC faced three top 15 teams in its non-conference schedule, including No. 6 Minnesota, No. 15 Colorado and the defending national champions, fourth-ranked Connecticut.
The Trojans fell by just two points to the Buffaloes and by three to the Huskies.
"They've lost a lot of close games," Bonvicini said. "It doesn't surprise me. They have a good team."
But now, USC comes to Tucson, where the Wildcats have won each game in their 2003-04 campaign by at least 12 points.
"I think number one, there's confidence playing at home," said Bonvicini of Arizona's winning ways at home. "We've been very successful. You have to protect your home court."
But Bonvicini knows the Trojans are no pushovers.
"SC and ourselves are tied for second in the conference at 4-1. We've always had good games with (them)," she said. "I think we've just got to play tough defense, got to rebound. They play very much a pressure defense."
Arizona has won eight of its past 12 meetings with USC.
The Wildcats have become a dominant second-half team of late, something that displeases Bonvicini - especially after Arizona fell behind 44-12 at halftime against No. 7 Stanford on Saturday.
"For us, our biggest thing is starting this game (against USC) well," Bonvicini said. "We're a much better team than what we showed against Stanford, obviously. I think we have to start the first half really strong and play 40 minutes. "We have to play great defense against (USC). They're coming in very confident, Bonvicini added.
After a series of poor performances by forward Danielle Adefeso, Bonvicini said the junior would be replaced in the starting lineup after Saturday's loss at Stanford. But the 13th-year UA head coach has had second thoughts after Adefeso's solid performances in practice this week.
"She practiced very well (Tuesday)," Bonvicini said.
Bonvicini said the power forward slot could be a game-time decision. Candidates for the starting job include sophomore forward CoCoa Sanford, freshman forward Rachael Schein and freshman forward/center Shannon Hobson. The starter may have the unenviable duty of guarding senior forward Ebony Hoffman, USC's leader in points (15.6) and rebounds (8.9) per game.
"It depends on who they start and who the matchups are," Bonvicini said.
Good news came for the Wildcats this week as sophomore standout Shawntinice Polk has shown no ill effects of a right knee injury she suffered early in Saturday's game with Stanford.
Bonvicini said the 6-foot-5 center has had problems in the past with tendonitis in the knee, but tests revealed no further damage.
Polk is "much better" this week, according to the coach.
"We just need to be careful with her, but she's OK," Bonvicini said.
Averaging 16 points per game, Polk came back to play 28 minutes against the Cardinal but was limited to six points on 2 of 7 shooting.