Arizona might have to get used to life without Miles Simon.

Simon, a junior guard, might miss this Friday's game against No. 7 North Carolina due to his failure to comply with an academic commitment. If Simon is deemed ineligible, it will mark the second game he's missed in as many weeks.

"We will wait until later this week before a decision is made as to whether Miles will play," UA coach Lute Olson said.

"The situation is still being evaluated and that's all I know," Simon said. "It's very frustrating but I think I will be playing on Friday."

As to Simon's teammates, they echo his optimistic view on the situation.

"Miles is a big factor on our team. I'm sure he'll be playing against North Carolina," freshman forward Eugene Edgerson said.

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With no player over 220 pounds, the Arizona basketball team has been constantly asking the question "Where's the beef?"

The answer might be 6-foot-8, 270 pound forward Dion Broom. Broom, of Mesa Westwood High School (Phoenix), signed a national letter of intent yesterday, making him the second recruit to express interest in Arizona.

"Dion's letter of intent leaves us with one scholarship remaining and we will wait until the spring before we decide on that spot," Olson said.

Broom's decision came after a visit to the campus.

"Dion had limited his choices to New Mexico and Arizona. But (he) quickly decided after his visit to the Arizona campus last weekend," Mesa Westwood basketball coach Buddy Doolan said. "He liked that it was close to home, but still 100 miles away."

Last season, Broom averaged 26.1 points a game and 12.2 rebounds as the team's power forward. He also showed the ability to bang in the inside by shutting down many of the top post players he faced. One blue-chip prospect Broom faced in the summer league was 6-11 forward how intriguing Dion was."

As to how much time it will take Broom to contribute in the college ranks, Doolan isn't quite sure.

"I don't usually deal with the blue-chip type player, so all I really know is that he is a top player at the high school level," Doolan said. "I'm sure it will take him some time to learn the system at Arizona, but he has the size to be a factor."

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Friday's game is one that would make even Dick Vitale salivate in anticipation.

When Arizona freshman Mike Bibby squares off in the backcourt with North Carolina's Ed Cota, it will mark a meeting between two of the most highly-recruited point guards in the nation.

"It should be an interesting matchup. Cota played against some very good guards at his high school in New York," Olson said. "But I wouldn't trade with them after seeing the way Mike has performed thus far."

In Cota's exhibition game against Court Authority, he finished with 18 points and three assists. As to Bibby, he scored 15 points and added five assists against Melbourne. While both players have shown a good deal of potential, they have also been a little careless with the ball. In their exhibition games, Cota finished with six turnovers while Bibby recorded seven.

"Ed has shown a lot of progress thus far and should continue to improve against Arizona," North Carolina coach Dean Smith said. "It should be a good matchup."

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