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By Arlie Rahn
Arizona Daily Wildcat
October 30, 1996
With The Sporting News ranking the Arizona backcourt of junior Miles Simon, sophomore Jason Terry and freshman Mike Bibby as the eighth-best unit in the country, the UA coaching staff has a situation of three talented players and two positions.Considering Simon entered the season as the team's top returning scorer, the decision might come down to either Terry or Bibby.
"I don't think it is really a controversy," UA head coach Lute Olson said. "It's not like we are deciding a football quarterback to play all the games. I think Mike and Jason will find themselves with a good deal of playing time each. We have also been working with both of them on the floor."
Terry finished last season with an average of 3.1 points and 1.2 assists per game in limited action. Bibby, who played last season at Shadow Mountain High School in Phoenix, has already been touted by The Sporting News as the 19th-best point guard in the nation.
"Through this week, Mike had 20 turnovers and 28 recoveries. To put this in perspective, most freshman players strive to have relatively the same number of turnovers," Olson said. "While he does have a good deal of turnovers, he makes up for it with his ability to disrupt an offense. In that respect he is a lot like Khalid (Reeves)."
As to the players, both Terry and Bibby are regarded equally.
"Both guys play pretty much the same," Simon said. "They are quick with the ball up the court and are always looking to get other members of the team involved."
The UA coaching staff and players said Friday's Red-Blue game will be a good gauge of how well the team is performing.
"This game will be like a mid-term exam in any class," Arizona assistant coach Jesse Evans said. "The guys will be tested on everything we've been implementing in our practices and scrimmages."
With North Carolina looming Nov. 22, this game should provide the team a chance to get some of the kinks out and work on some set plays. This week the team will concentrate on some of the offensive sets and out-of-bounds plays to make this game as accurate a simulation as possible.
"We feel this game will let some of the younger guys know what it's like to play in front of a home crowd," Olson said. "It should be a good learning experience and a chance for them to get their nerves settled."
One dilemma for the UA coaching staff is deciding which players to redshirt. Since the Red-Blue scrimmage will be the last time redshirting players may play in a game situation, some decisions are due in the near future.
Olson said two freshman, Justin Wessel and Quinn Tebbs, came to Arizona knowing they may have to redshirt their first season.
"This scrimmage will give us a good chance to look at some guys that we are considering," Olson said.
Not only will players redshirting this season have to sit out exhibition games, but they will also be unable to travel with the team this summer on its foreign trip.
"Since we don't have a game until Nov. 17 (an exhibition against the Melbourne Magic), we have a little time to make our decision," Olson said. "Every Saturday we evaluate our players in a live scrimmage with officials."
While the coaching staff has been leaning toward redshirting Tebbs and Wessel, a good showing Friday could alter the picture.
"Quinn is way ahead of where we thought he'd be at this time in the season," Olson said.
"But we have not decided to redshirt anyone at this point in time. If it turns out we haven't made a decision by Nov. 17, we might hold some players out of the Melbourne game."
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