Gymnastics travels to Regionals

The basketball team went into its NCAA tournament after finishing fifth in the conference and look where they ended up.

"This has been a shot of motivation for our team," UA head coach Jim Gault said. "It is encouraging for us to know that we are in the same position as them (basketball team), and now we have to go out and get the job done."

Competition at the seven-team Midwest Regionals starts tomorrow night in Salt Lake City.

For the No. 27 Wildcats (13-6 overall, 5-2 in the Pac-10) the regionals bring new life.

All previous scores are thrown in the trash, so it is like starting a new season, Gault said.

Out of the 35 teams competing in the NCAA Tournament, only 12 advance to the National Championship meet on April 17-19 in Gainesville, Florida.

The five regional champions earn automatic bids, while the other seven teams earn at-large bids based on their scores.

Against other teams competing in the Midwest Regional, Arizona is 2-2. With victories over Arizona State twice (at home Feb. 28 and at the Pac-10 Championships March 22). The losses were to Utah in its home opener January 11 (194.325-192.325) and to Nebraska at the Shanico Inn-Vitational on March 7 (194.275-193.400).