UA presses Aussies to lopsided win

Nicholas Valenzuela Arizona Daily Wildcat A.J. Bramlett (42) and Bennett Davison (21) scramble for a loose ball in the first half of Arizona's 113-76 domination of the Melbourne Magic last night at McKale Center. The Wildcats never trailed in the game and seven UA players scored in double figures.

"How about 'Cat-astrophe?'" he said. "But, give me a week or two."

As the season progresses, the name of the press might change, but it looks like Lute Olson's Wildcats may continue to use what created most of the Magic's 27 turnovers.

"That's our plan," Olson said. "We have to press the entire game. Its a test for us. We spend an inordinate amount of time on it in practice."

The players seem to have embraced this style of play, as seven players scored in double-digits and the team combined for 12 steals.

"No team will be able to keep up with us if we press like we can," senior forward Bennett Davison said. "They will have to slow down if they want to compete."

Guards Mike Bibby and Miles Simon agreed.

"We are so deep, we could press all game and be effective," Bibby said. "If we get tired, there is a replacement for us."

Bibby enjoyed the press, dropping in 21 points and 7 assists on 7 of 11 shooting.

"We were quicker than them and we took advantage of it," Simon said. "Our press was pretty effective, and we forced them to take quick shots and got turnovers off of it."

Simon started the night off slow, making just two of his eight attempts in the first half.

A quick shoe change at halftime though - from regular Nikes to Air Jordans -ędid the job as Simon finished with 15 points and four assists.

"I made no shots," said Simon, although the team led 52-28 at the break. "I had to switch."

Davison, on the other hand, started the night off hot. Scoring the first points of the night courtesy of a Mike Bibby alley-oop. On UA's next possession, Davison followed a missed lay-up by A.J. Bramlett with a thunderous jam, that rendered a standing ovation.

Davison credited his 11 point, eight rebound performance to the press.

"Last year I was dying on the press," he said. "Now, I'm getting used to it and actually enjoying it. When you press, you get a lot of dunks and fast break shots. And that's the type of game that I like."

Despite Davison's above the rim play, it was senior Michael Dickerson that brought down the house with an alley-oop jam after Terry stole the ball and fired it to him from half court. The dunk was part of a 22-point performance for Dickerson, the most for either team.