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By Arlie Rahn
Arizona Daily Wildcat
September 13, 1996
Easing into the season will not be an option for the 1996-97 Arizona men's basketball team.The Wildcats have early nonconference matchups with North Carolina, New Mexico, Utah, Texas and Michigan - all NCAA Tournament teams last season.
For many teams, the preseason is a gauge at how good a group is. But for a young UA team, there will be more than the usual number of questions.
The Wildcats will not have any seniors, and with three juniors, a couple of sophomores, a junior college transfer and a few freshman in the mix, the tough nonconference schedule could be a big setback if the team isn't ready.
UA assistant coach Phil Johnson, however, does not think this will be a problem.
"I think a schedule starting out that tough will be good for the young guys in the long run," he said. "To face that type of good competition should only help them."
The returning Wildcats are juniors Michael Dickerson, Miles Simon, and sophomores Donnell Harris, Jason Terry and A.J. Bramlett. Bennett Davidson arrives at the UA from junior college. Junior Kelvin Eafon has chosen football over basketball, where he is in the depth chart at fullback. The highly touted freshman class includes guard Mike Bibby, from Phoenix Shadow Mountain High School, and forward Eugene Edgerson.
"We always try and schedule the best competition for preseason that we can," Johnson said. "If our players can learn in these games, it might help them get ready for the tough Pac-10 teams."
On Nov. 22, the Wildcats will face North Carolina in Springfield, Mass., in the Hall of Fame Tournament. In the Bank One Fiesta Bowl Classic, they will face Robert Morris in Tucson on Dec. 28. They'll play Tulane at the 7-Up Shootout, held in Phoenix on Feb. 9.
The other nonconference games are against Northern Arizona on Nov. 26 and Jackson State on Dec. 14. The Pacific 10 Conference race starts with California at home on Jan. 2.
"I don't think this strong of a schedule will hurt us at all," Johnson said.
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