Simon returns for all the wrong reasons

This confirms that the Wildcats will return all five starters from this year's team, most likely assuring them of a preseason number one ranking.

Don't get too excited, though. Although Arizona has a shot to win back-to-back titles, it is unfortunate that Simon's motivations for returning were not to finish school. It is too bad that more players do not follow in the footsteps of Tim Duncan, who came back to school to fulfill his promise to graduate.

Simon will return because he has received advice from various NBA analysts to play another year and work on various aspects of his game, mostly his ball-handling and shooting. This comes despite the fact that he rose from 31st to 14th in the latest prospect ratings released by NBA scout Don Leventhal.

The fact remains that of the first and second round picks that make an NBA roster, only a handful of those that are not chosen in the top 10 to 15 picks actually receive a significant amount of playing time.

See current benchwarmers Reggie Geary and Ben Davis.

Simon's academics continue to be a concern, but a university source says that his progress in the classroom has improved.

Let's hope that Simon and others begin to realize that they ought to stay in school... not in basketball.

Has anyone besides me taken notice of the lack of interest in and knowledge of women's college sports in this country, and especially on this campus?

Let it be noted that Arizona has won seven national titles in the 90's, eight including the women's basketball team which took home the title at the 1996 NWIT.

Of those eight titles, six were won by women's sports. Can anyone name at least three players from any of those eight teams?

No, no, no. Wait a minute. That is a bit too easy.

Excluding this years men's basketball team, can anyone name at least three players from any of the remaining seven teams?

I didn't think so.

The other five women's titles belong to women's golf in 1996 and our national powerhouse softball squad, which has won four titles in the last six years, including last year's exciting victory over Washington in the championship game.

For the record, the only other national title belongs to the 1992 men's golf team.

It should also be noted that the women's golf squad brought home the Pac-10 title last week.

They will attempt to win back-to-back titles at the national tournament in Ohio, May 21-24.

So here is to Mike Candrea, Rick LaRose and Joan Bonvicini for bringing quality women's sports to the forefront of our attention.

It is too bad most people don't want to take the time to notice.

Finally, as the year comes to an end, we begin to look to the fall and the hopes and goals of the Arizona football team.

With the success of the basketball team, one cannot help but wonder if the men of the gridiron are feeling a bit of pressure to have that breakout season that we all have been waiting for since the Sports Illustrated cover in 1994.

Can you smell the roses, Mr. Tomey?

The students can, and we all hope that your players will have that opportunity as well.

Scott Bricker covers men's and women's golf for the Wildcat.