Men's basketball looks to future with recruits

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona men's basketball head coach Lute Olsen gives his team instructions last season. Olsen gave his last press conference of the season yesterday, and discussed the future of the Wildcats and the new recruits.

You see, all the big names from the 1996 title year and the 1997 runner-up finish to Arizona were gone. However, five guys on that team had a championship ring and the knowledge of what it took to get another one, which they did with a victory over Utah.

Now, consider the Arizona men's basketball team.

The big names that were part of the 1997 title and 1998 Elite Eight appearance are gone, but four guys with rings and championship game experience remain.

Draw your own conclusions.

"We've been in every situation you could possibly go through," said senior-center-to-be A.J. Bramlett yesterday at the team's end of the year press conference. "Hopefully the new guys will learn from us and we'll do much better than people think."

While yesterday's media question and answer session was billed as a season wrap-up, it was more like a look ahead to a myriad of items. Ahead to the six incoming recruits, the senior years of best friends Bramlett and Jason Terry and the status of the omnipresent Josh Pastner, who it was announced yesterday will graduate in 2 1/2 years. That, of course, would make him eligible to fill Arizona's coaching vacancy.

"He made sure I knew he was available," Arizona head coach Lute Olson said, drawing a laugh from the room.

Looking relaxed and tanned - that coming courtesy of his annual postseason retreat in Acapulco - Olson discussed the future of the Arizona program and how the recruits will contribute.

"If there are opportunities, they're going to have to take advantage of them," Olson said. "The two wings are gone and J.T., though he came off the bench, was really like one of the starters. The guys coming in are going to have to make some major contributions."

Olson said Luke Walton, Ricky Anderson - who will redshirt next season - and Ruben Douglas will try to play together on a Los Angeles summer league team with Miles Simon. Michael Wright and Traves Wilson are expected to take part in a Chicago summer league with Bramlett, who spends part of every summer in the Windy City with his father.

That leaves only Richard Jefferson, a Phoenix resident who Olson said will take part in a tournament in the Valley.

"They have the kinds of personalities that will fit well together," Olson said. "The new guys coming in are going to be willing to listen and learn."

Yesterday also served as a coming out party for the comedy tandem of Bramlett and Terry. When they approached the podium, one reporter asked if they were Abbott and Costello.

With the loss of Michael Dickerson, Miles Simon, Bennett Davison and Mike Bibby, the Wildcats go into the 1998-99 season without more than 70 points a game. Asked how they will remedy that, Terry was in comedy mode.

"I'll get 36 a game, 35 for A.J.," he said.