Men’s hoops starts conference play 3-1

Over the past month, the Wildcats have turned the corner after a shaky 2-3 start to put themselves in the thick of the conference race and back into the national rankings.

No. 24 Arizona (10-4, 3-1) reeled off an 8-1 run over winter break and now sits in a three-way tie with No. 11 UCLA and California for first place in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Arizona knocked off Southern California 74-63 in McKale Center Saturday to salvage a split during this past weekend’s homestand.

The then-No. 17 Bruins gave the Wildcats their first conference loss of the season and snapped the Wildcats’ seven-game winning streak Thursday, shooting 60.8 percent from the field on their way to an 85-79 victory.

The Wildcats began their Pac-10 season with a sweep of the Washington schools on the road.

Junior center Kirk Walters hit one of two free throws with just 5.1 seconds in the second overtime to give Arizona the winning margin in a 96-95 double overtime victory Dec. 31 over then-No. 7 Washington.

The Wildcats led by three points with time expiring in regulation before Washington senior guard Brandon Roy cashed in a 3-pointer from the top of the key to send the game to a first overtime.

Arizona again was up by three and again Roy drained a triple while flying through the air to send the game to a second overtime.

Senior guard Hassan Adams posted a career-high 32 points while shooting 54.2 percent from the field in a classic individual duel with Roy, who scored 35.

The victory ended Washington’s nation-leading home winning streak at 32 games.

The Wildcats beat Washington State 70-52 Dec. 29, riding another great performance from Adams, who scored 25 points and grabbed eight rebounds.

He edged out Roy for Pac-10 Player of the Week honors after the Washington trip, earning the award for the second week in a row. He is the third player to earn back-to-back honors in the past 11 seasons.

Adams also took Player of the Week and Chase Fiesta Bowl Classic MVP honors the week before, when the Wildcats won the Fiesta Bowl Classic for the 20th time in 21 years.

Senior guard Chris Rodgers joined Adams on the all-tournament team and freshman forward Marcus Williams also played two great games in the Fiesta Bowl Classic.

“I frankly thought our most valuable player (during the Fiesta Bowl Classic) was Marcus Williams,” Olson said. “He missed three shots in two games and has earned the opportunity to start.”

Arizona pulled out an 86-81 overtime victory over Western Kentucky Dec. 21 in the championship game, though Olson’s squad was thoroughly tested by the mid-major.

The Wildcats jumped out to a 22-5 run against Sam Houston State Dec. 19 in the first game of the tournament en route to an 87-51 blowout.

Arizona’s run in the Top 25 ended before the Wildcats took the court against Sam Houston, despite throttling Utah 73-43 Dec. 17 in their worst home loss since 1943.

“With the game at Utah, I don’t think you should be dropping spots,” Olson said.

Before being dropped, Arizona was ranked in The Associated Press regular season Top 25 poll for 312 weeks.

The Wildcats started the break with sluggish victories over Saint Mary’s and Northern Arizona.

Arizona beat the Gaels 73-61 Dec. 10 and the Lumberjacks 75-66 Dec. 8.