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By Arlie Rahn
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 6, 1996
When Arizona travels to Anaheim, Calif., this weekend, it should consider making a quick stop at Disneyland.The 15th-ranked Wildcats (2-1) might need some Disney magic to take down No. 3 Utah (4-0) when the teams face each other tomorrow at 11:30 a.m. Tucson time in the John R. Wooden Classic at The Pond.
"Utah is an experienced team, similar to New Mexico," UA head coach Lute Olson said. "Their big player, (6-foot-10 Keith) Van Horn, creates a lot of problems inside and out. I think this game will be a better gauge of where we are at than the New Mexico game."
In addition to Van Horn's 17 points and 8.3 rebounds per game, the Utes have been the recipients of solid contributions from 6-11 center Michael Doleac and junior guard Andre Miller. Doleac is the team's top rebounder at nine per game and is averaging 15 points. Miller is shooting 64 percent from the field and scoring 11.3 points per game.
"Miller is a big key to their ballclub," Olson said. "He is quick and makes great decisions on the court."
The Wildcats will hope to neutralize Miller by putting sophomore guard Jason Terry on the Utah point guard. On the offensive side, Arizona will counter with the firepower of junior forward Michael Dickerson and freshman point guard Mike Bibby.
Dickerson is leading the Pacific 10 Conference with a scoring mark of 27.3 points per game. He also has helped Arizona in the rebounding department, averaging six rebounds per game, while Bibby has averaged 15 points. Through three games, Bibby is averaging 6.3 assists and only 2.3 turnovers.
"We need to be in this game from the start," Bibby said. "(Against Marathon) we came into the locker room laughing. So I think we need to focus more on this game."
One newcomer who has turned some heads is junior Bennett Davison, who finished with 21 points and eight rebounds off the bench against Marathon, earning a starting spot.
"Bennett will start against Utah. The other spot will come down to who plays better in practice between A.J. (Bramlett) and Donnell (Harris)," Olson said. "Bennett has been playing very hard and we need to maximize the amount of time he is on the floor."
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