In a case of deja vu for the Arizona men's basketball team, center Joseph Blair has been declared academically ineligible and will be out indefinitely.

Blair, a communication senior, failed to meet Arizona Board of Regents academic standards, Wildcat head coach Lute Olson said at his weekly news conference yesterday. Under Board of Regents rules, a student-athlete must maintain at least a 2.0 grade point average to be eligible.

No. 18 Arizona (11-3 overall, 1-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference) hosts Southern Cal (9-6, 2-2) and No. 13 UCLA (11-3, 4-0) this week.

Last season, Olson suspended Blair for two games for violating team academic policy.

"He is attempting to work out an academic situation, and that's all I'm allowed to comment on," Olson said, adding he was unsure when Blair would return to the team. He has not practiced with the team since last Wednesday's game against Arizona State.

Arizona athletic director Jim Livengood, also present at the news conference, stressed that the 6-foot-10,

265-pound Blair had not violated NCAA academic requirements, and that it was strictly a Board of Regents matter.

"He is absolutely eligible by NCAA standards," said Livengood, who declined to name the specific violation.

Despite the possible loss of Blair, the Wildcats' leading scorer at 14.7 points per game, Olson said the team still has a job to do, as a much improved Trojan team and the defending national champion Bruins come to town.

"We'll be ready to play with or without him," Olson said.

Most of the players, who were unaware about the specifics of Blair's situation, agreed with their coach.

"You do what you have to do to win," said senior forward Ben Davis, who in Blair's absence becomes Arizona's best inside threat. "It would be a big loss. (Blair) is a big body and our leading rebounder and scorer, but we can make up for it."

There was also concern for Blair's well-being.

"He's part of our family, and we hope to get him back," senior forward Joe McLean said.