Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
February 27, 1998

Sidelines

The Arizona women's swimming team is in Long Beach, Calif., this weekend competing in the Pacific-10 Conference Championships while the women's diving team is in Tempe at the Pac-10 Diving Championships.

The fifth-ranked Wildcats' focus isn't on this event though. Rather, they are more concerned with the NCAA Championships in Minneapolis next month.

"The Pac-10 doesn't mean as much to us as the nationals," assistant coach Eric Hansen said. "We'll swim well, but we're not totally prepared for it."

Stanford comes into the event having won 11 straight conference titles and has been an unbeatable force in conference play. At the national level, though, Arizona, who finished third last year, thinks it may have a shot to beat the Cardinal.

"It's not realistic (to beat Stanford) at Pac-10's, but at the NCAA's, that's one of the topics," Hansen said. "By not preparing for this, we figure we can peak for the one big meet."

Defending her conference titles this weekend will be Laurie Kline, the defending champion in the 500 and 1,650-meter freestyle races.

-Bryan Rosenbaum

Briefly

The Wildcats have just two meets remaining in their indoor track and field season.

The pair of contests, including today and tomorrow's Mountain Pacific Sports Federation Championships in Reno, Nev., however, are the most challenging ones.

"Every year it is a highly competitive meet and it is a good indication how well we stack up with the other colleges in the (Pacific 10) Conference," UA head coach Dave Murray said. Since the Pac-10 doesn't sponsor indoor championships, Murray said the MPSF meet is regarded as the unofficial conference championship.

Approximately 12 to 15 teams will compete, including nine Pac-10 schools. Southern Cal, who neglects the indoor season, will not be there.

-Roland Lechner

By the Numbers

18:

The number of consecutive games the men's basketball team has won after last night's 76-73 victory over California. With a win against Stanford on Saturday, the team would equal the longest winning streak in school history and wrapup its first Pac-10 title since 1994.