Arizona will get a glimpse of the future of this season's women's basketball team tonight, but not until it takes an opportunity to honor its past.

At 7 p.m. the Wildcats (1-1) will host the Evansville Aces (0-0) at McKale Center. Before the game, Arizona will be presented with rings and a championship banner from winning the Women's National Invitation Tournament last March.

Two other Wildcats will also be honored. Forward Adia Barnes will receive an award for having scored 1,000 career points and former point guard Brenda Pantoja will be honored for having led the nation in assists per game last season with 9.3.

"This is a big step for us as a team," UA coach Joan Bonvicini said. "Having that banner up is another step in establishing a tradition. I'm proud of last season's team and want this season's team to continue that."

Perhaps even more intriguing should be how Arizona responds after a split at the Women's Preseason National Invitation Tournament last weekend. The Wildcats beat San Francisco 85-79 in overtime and lost to No. 11 Louisiana Tech, the eventual tournament champ, 73-60. Both games were on the road.

Yet despite a strong showing against a good field, Arizona fans might still be leery of this season's team. The last time the Wildcats were at home, Arizona lost 80-61 to a Slovakian club team, showing a lack of experience in the backcourt and a lack of defensive pressure. In the game against San Francisco, however, it was Arizona's defense that got the team back in the game.

"Our defense was much better in the last couple of games and that is what this team is built around," Bonvicini said. "But our three areas of concerns are rebounding, better shooting percentage and getting other people involved in scoring."

Arizona's success this season has revolved around the three returning starters from last season's squad. Barnes leads the way for the Wildcats, averaging 25 points and 10 rebounds per game this season. Monika Crank, who moved from guard to small forward in the starting lineup, is second on the team with an average of 10 points per game.

Senior Jacque Barrington and Marte Alexander share time in the middle while a pair of freshmen guards are at the point. Lisa Griffith is averaging only four points per game so far while Felicity Willis is getting only eight points.

If history holds true, the Wildcats should get an opportunity to do just about anything they want against Evansville. The Aces finished with a record of 3-23 last season, losing their first 14 games.

Evansville is returning four starters this season, however, and lost by only five points against Finland in its first preseason game. The team is led by a pair of juniors. Jill Sajevic averaged 9.7 points per game last season and guard Suzanne Smith pitched in 9.1.

Evansville does have a new coach, however, in Kathi Bennett, who has slowed down the run-and-gun offense the Aces displayed last season. It was an offense that was beaten by 15 points a game. Bennett has instituted a new defensive approach.

"They will certainly be an improved team," Bonvicini said. "We both have the same objective: to get off on the right foot."

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