In an effort to prepare for the possibility of life without center Joseph Blair, Arizona head coach Lute Olson said Corey Williams and A.J. Bramlett would see more time under the basket. Olson said he was not concerned about a drop-off, saying Williams, w ho usually moves between the post and perimeter, would simply have to concentrate more on his inside play.

"If there's no foul situation, A.J. will play in the 15-20 minute range," Olson said, adding that Bramlett has shown great improvement during the year.

Williams was confident someone would step in and fill Blair's shoes.

"To say we're not going to miss Joseph is ridiculous, but we've got guys who will step forward and accept the challenge, and that's all we ever ask," Williams said. "The thing I need to do is concentrate on rebounding and maybe be a little more of a force around the basket."

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The controversy surrounding Arizona's decision to cancel Saturday's game against St. Joseph's in Philadelphia was again a topic of conversation yesterday.

Olson expressed regret that the matter could not have stayed between the two schools' athletic directors € a possible jab at Hawks head coach Phil Martelli, who used the occasion to rip the Arizona program and Olson. Martelli said the Wildcats were afraid to play the Hawks, who suffered a five-point overtime loss No. 1 Massachusetts three nights before.

"If it had been handled by the athletic directors like it was supposed to be, everyone would have been a whole lot better off," Olson said.

Livengood said Martelli was out of line with his comments.

"I can understand he was frustrated, but my initial reaction was that I was glad my son doesn't play for him," he said.

Livengood also said there were still plans to try to reschedule the game for next season € something Martelli apparently does not want. A St. Joseph's sports information representative said Monday that Martelli said if the game were rescheduled, the schoo l "would be looking for a new men's basketball coach."

The players agreed the situation had been blown out of proportion, and said they were frightened by the weather, not the Hawks.

"I was scared of a plane crash," sophomore forward Michael Dickerson said. "I wasn't scared of St. Joseph's."

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In an attempt to add some depth for practice situations, the Wildcats have added football player Thomas Demps to the squad.

Demps, an outside linebacker this past season who has since used up his football eligibility, was cleared by football staff to play for the team. The 6-foot-2, 217-pound Demps will travel with the team if his class schedule permits, Olson said.

"I checked with (UA assistant football coach) Rob Ianello about getting someone who could beat people up," Olson said.

Olson said one of the problems Demps is encountering on the hardwood is conditioning, jokingly adding that in basketball, players don't have a chance to rest between plays.

"He's got a great, quick burst," Olson said. "The problem is he wants a 25-second break after it € where's the huddle? But you don't have to worry about Thomas, he's not looking for any breaks."

"He's doing all right," point guard Reggie Geary said. "His cardio is messed up right now, but we really appreciate him coming out."

Demps takes the place of Eugene Thompson, a walk-on who is no longer with the team.