With a backcourt comprising Miles Simon, Michael Dickerson and Mike Bibby, much of the emphasis on this Arizona team has not been put on the frontcourt. In fact, of the four players filling the two positions, only one has made a significant contribution to the program prior to this year. It is this idea that causes many teams to feel that Arizona is a little soft in the middle.

"I am sure that other teams are not looking at our four and five spots with a lot of fear, and they shouldn't," UA assistant coach Jessie Evans said. "They haven't shown anybody they can play yet. And while we know they have the ability, the respect is not going to come until they prove themselves."

Arizona's unknown frontcourt consists of junior Bennett Davison (6-foot-8, 208 pounds), sophomores Donnell Harris (6-11, 210) and A.J. Bramlett (6-11, 222), and freshman Eugene Edgerson (6-6, 210). Bramlett is the only player to have logged some important minutes, averaging about two points and two boards in 8.4 minutes a game last season.

"If you look at us, we haven't really played in the last year," Harris said. "Only me and A.J. are coming back. We know that all four of us are capable to do the job, but now it's time to go out and prove ourselves."

After a month into the season, it seems the biggest contributions have come from Harris and Edgerson. In his third season with the Wildcats, Harris appears to have learned from former players Ben Davis and Joseph Blair. So far this season, he has averaged seven rebounds while being a constant force in the middle.

Edgerson appears to be in the mold of NBA great Dennis Rodman. He gives the Wildcats a tenacious rebounder who is unrelentless in his defense against other teams' top post players. He held North Carolina's All-Atlanta Coast Conference forward Antawn Jamison scoreless an entire half in the Wildcats' win over the Tar Heels.

"Donnell has been very active on the glass and runs the floor very well for a player of his size," UA coach Lute Olson said. "He's a quick jumper that has a lot of talent if he decides he wants to give the effort every day. Eugene has really made an impact as a rebounder for us. Players learn very fast not to stick their nose where it doesn't belong around him."

While Davison, from West Valley Junior College in California, has a thin frame, he has used his athletic ability to wreak havoc on the offensive glass. Bramlett has also hit the boards hard, but his court vision is what impresses the coaches.

"A.J. is probably our best passer from the post," Olson said. "He seems to find the open man on the wing and get him the ball in a good shooting position. We need Bennett to be as aggressive on the defensive boards as he is on the offensive side. He comes from a junior college program that is consistently one of the top two in the large-school division in California. So he is accustomed to people who play the games against him as their biggest game of the year."

As a whole, this unit has shown the ability to crash the offensive boards hard but seems a little reluctant on the defensive glass. Because this team does not have a Joe McLean or Corey Williams to help out from the three spot, the burden of rebounding will fall on the shoulders of the two post spots.

"I know we have to improve our defensive rebounding," Davison said. "The coaches have told us that is a big emphasis for us. On the offensive side, you can do more things with the ball, like put it back up or restart the offense. I also tend to get better position by slipping around defenders. So, in that regard, I think it is a lot easier to hit the offensive glass."

With Stanford and UCLA looming on Arizona's Pacific 10 Conference schedule, the Wildcats know they will have to try and neutralize players like Stanford's Tim Young (7-1, 245) and Bruin Jelani McCoy (6-9, 220).

"While we might not score a lot, we can make a statement on defense," Edgerson said. "There are going to be a lot of top big men coming in here with a lot of confidence, and it will be up to us to stop them."

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