By Patrick Klein
Arizona Daily Wildcat
With just over two weeks until the first regular-season game Nov. 15 against Long Beach State, Arizona men's basketball coach Lute Olson is hurrying to prepare his team.
Last week it was putting them through full-court pressure. This week will be spent in zone defenses and offenses with particular attention paid to executing the offense in a half-court trap. Still left to be practiced are specific two-on-two and three-on-three situations.
"There's just not enough time to get everything done," Olson said. "But that's nobody's fault, we've had good concentration and intensity in practice."
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Olson has put particular focus on winning the rebounding battle more often this season. While 6-foot-10-inch center Joseph Blair and 6-foot-9 forward Ben Davis are expected to get their fair share of rebounds, Olson is stressing a more team-oriented approach.
He has kept track of the leading rebounders by position so far. The leaders are Reggie Geary at point guard, Miles Simon at the two-guard position, Joe McLean at the three position and Davis and Blair in the post.
"We've put a strong emphasis on rebounding," Olson said. "The guys whose numbers are down on the boards, that will be their emphasis this week."
In the battle between McLean and Michael Dickerson for the starting spot at the three (swingman) position, Olson said McLean is taking advantage of his rebounding ability.
"Joe's been a real dynamo on the glass," Olson said. "He knows that's one area he can have an edge."
Dickerson said he tries to get more rebounds, but there are only so many to go around.
"We have Ben and Joe and A.J. (Bramlett, a 6-foot-11 freshman), and they get most of the rebounds," Dickerson said. "It's frustrating because Coach Olson stresses rebounding."
Dickerson received extended time last week during practice playing with the rotation that included Geary and Simon. Olson said in Saturday's scrimmage, Dickerson thrived in that group.
"When we put them together with Mike, it was obvious things flowed," Olson said, adding that McLean will receive the same opportunity to play in that rotation this week.
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Olson had good marks for freshman Jason Terry, who will be counted on this season to log time at the point guard position.
The 6-foot-2, 168-pound Terry, from Seattle's Franklin High School, has been matched up against Geary in practice. Olson said Terry struggled against Geary and Simon in Saturday's scrimmage, but that while throwing Terry up against Geary's defensive prowess might frustrate the freshman, he is confident Terry will benefit from the experience.
"The toughest part for him is working against Reggie every day. It's not a real confidence builder offensively," Olson said. "Strength is also a factor. Reggie can make it tough for Jason to get where he wants to get.
"This year, working with Reggie on a daily basis can only make Jason a better player. The mistakes are upsetting for him, but he's not hanging his head."
Terry said he remains upbeat about his progress so far and said he just is trying to get better every day. He said he also understands what Geary is trying to do.
"He's putting a lot of pressure on me, but he doesn't put me down or anything," Terry said. "I think he's just trying to make me go through what he went through, and he didn't get a lot of help his freshman year."
When asked if Geary, perhaps the most vocal member of the team, had been trash-talking to try to get an advantage, Terry said, "Not yet." But Terry also said he knows of Geary's tendencies.
"I heard that he's got the biggest mouth in the Pac-10," Terry said.
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Olson said James Harbour, a 6-foot-1, 189-pound walk-on from Moorpark Junior College in Camarillo, Calif., has left the team to concentrate on his studies. Jason Lee, a transfer, has been practicing with the team, as has point guard Eugene Thompson.