No. 2 UA shouldn't falter without coach

It is the spring semester, and once again the Arizona softball team is a favorite for the national championship. Once again, it has a dominant pitcher and potent offense.

But this season, there is one key difference.

The Wildcats, who open the season ranked No. 2 and 3 in the two national polls, will have to play the season without head coach Mike Candrea, who is taking a leave of absence to prepare the USA Olympic team. In his 18 years at Arizona, Candrea has won six national titles, gone to the College World Series 16 years in a row and has coached 43 first team All-Americans. [Read article]

Pitchers

Alicia Hollowell

Sophomore ðPitcher

After a freshman campaign that was arguably the best year ever for an Arizona pitcher, Hollowell will be the Wildcats' ace again. She had 40 wins and 394 strikeouts in 2003.

Wendy Allen

Senior ð Pitcher

The No. 2 hurler will likely remain Allen, but the 2002 Big Ten Player of the Year should have a better season. Allen had off-season surgery to help with her wrist tendonitis. [Read article]

Joseph Blair, step aside - you've been passed by Salim Stoudamire on UA basketball's all-time scoring list.

Stoudamire leapt over Blair, a center under head coach Lute Olson from 1992-1996, for 30th among Arizona's scoring leaders. With a combined 26 points against Washington and Washington State last week, the junior guard upped his career total to 1,092 points, six ahead of Blair.

For the mild-mannered Stoudamire, a rise in the school's history comes as no surprise. [Read article]

Ex-Cat returns to Old Pueblo, joins scout team while rehabbing

You won't find his name on the top of any all-time lists in UA men's basketball history, but no other player may be synonymous with Arizona basketball more than Miles Simon. The consummate team player, Simon led the Wildcats to their first and only NCAA title in 1997. Seven years later, Simon has returned to Tucson. He chatted with the Daily Wildcat after a workout with his old team. [Read article]

Of all the sports in which officiating can decide the outcome of a game, basketball is the most common victim.

We've all seen instances where the stars get the calls and the no-names don't. Kobe Bryant will go to the hoop untouched and end up with a 3-point play because a trailing defender had the nerve to breathe on him. Shaquille O'Neal will take five baby steps in the paint but won't get called for traveling - of course, traveling was abolished in the NBA in the late '80s. [Read article]