By Patrick Klein
Arizona Daily Wildcat
Arizona fans got to know the 1995-96 men's basketball team from the inside out last night at the annual Red-Blue scrimmage.
While the Red team won 105-100 in front of 5,593 at McKale Center, the Wildcats, in a break from the guard-oriented offense of the past few years, unveiled a new offense that focused on the post men.
With the ball coming to them, the big guys responded. Blue center Joseph Blair (24 points, 12 rebounds) and teammate A.J. Bramlett (15 and 12) held their own against Red forwards Ben Davis (23 and 11) and Corey Williams (23 and seven).
Davis said production like that should be expected from the frontcourt every night.
"We just did what we were supposed to do Ÿ get double-doubles," Davis said.
This game could have been a rout. The Red team, paced by a game-high 30 points from forward/guard Michael Dickerson, who was a one-man wrecking crew in the first half with 19 points, stretched a 54-48 halftime lead to 86-72 with just under nine minutes to play. But Miles Simon, who finished with 25 points, led a furious Blue comeback, cutting the lead to one, 101-100 with under a minute to play. Joe McLean had a chance to tie the game at 103, but his three-pointer was partially blocked and the Red team sealed the victory.
But don't think this team has lost any of its firepower from the outside. While Damon Stoudamire, All-America point guard and last year's leading scorer, is gone to the NBA, the Wildcats have several players who, judging from last night's play, can fill the void from the perimeter.
Besides Simon, who finished 3 of 8 from three-point range, freshman Jason Terry showed his touch from outside, hitting 3 of 5 from beyond the arc to finish with 13 points. Also count in Dickerson, a sophomore who showed he could shoot, and hit from anywhere.
Arizona head coach Lute Olson said this year's team would depend on balanced contributions from a number of players, and last night's results Ÿ nine players scored in double figures Ÿ showed the team could do it.
"We're going to get production from them, all over the place," Olson said. "You can see the scoring potential, not by one guy getting 25, but a lot of guys getting 12 to 18."
While Reggie Geary showed Olson why he is the starting point guard Ÿ he had nine points, eight rebounds and six assists with only two turnovers while hounding Terry all over the court, the freshman did not wilt under the pressure, showing quickness and poise in his first game in a Wildcat uniform.
"I felt relaxed out there," Terry said. "When I play in front of people, I block all the distractions out."
While Geary did his best to rattle Terry, at one point imploring him to "Shoot it, rookie," Terry said he thought it could have been worse.
"I was surprised, Reggie didn't have too much to say to me out there," he said.