Staff Reports
Arizona Daily Wildcat
December 2, 1997

Tuesday's Tidbits

In the 15th anniversary edition of Tucson Lifestyle , Arizona head coach Lute Olson listed his top 15 Wildcats during his tenure. His list, which looked for players that made an impact off the court as well as on, included Pete Williams (1983-85), Steve Kerr (1983-88), Craig McMillan (1984-88), Sean Elliot (1985-89), Anthony Cook (1985-89), Jud Buechler (1986-90), Matt Muehlebach (1987-91), Sean Rooks (1988-92), Brian Williams (1989-91), Chris Mills (1990-93), Khalid Reeves (1990-94), Damon Stoudamire (1991-95), Ray Owes (1991-95), Reggie Geary (1992-96), and Miles Simon (1994-98).

The 10th-ranked UA volleyball team decided to create a different look as it heads to Boulder, Colo., for its second consecutive NCAA Tournament. The players vowed they would all change their hairstyles before they play Oral Roberts in the first round Saturday night. Stephanie Venne, Michaela Ebben and Marisa DaLee have darkened their hair, Carrie Penfield shortened and lightened hers and Erin Aldrich got her hair trimmed. Raelene Morton got a perm while Allison Napier straightened her hair. The remaining players have four more days to dye, perm, straighten, cut and do whatever else they can think of. No word yet whether coach Dave Rubio will sport a Mr. Clean 'do, but the team will probably have to win a national title before Rubio takes a razor to his head.

More disappointing numbers from the Icecats' 9-2 loss to Arizona State last Friday in Phoenix. Freshman goaltender Jordan Bolton only faced 22 shots. That gave him a save percentage of 59.1. "He didn't play too well," head coach Leo Golembiewski said. "Anytime you face 22 shots and give up nine goals, it's not good."

Bolton's chance for redemption will not come this weekend. When the Ice Devils come to Tucson, sophomore Mike Tesi will be the starter for the games on Friday and Saturday. Tesi lost the starting job during last weekend's split with Minot State. "(Tesi) is our number one goalie," Golembiewski said.

Dion Broom, the basketball team's lone recruit last season, has finally passed his SAT. Broom was to join the team at the beginning of the season, but had trouble qualifying academically. Broom now has his paperwork in, and it's currently being processed.

At the earliest, Broom could join the team in January, but that may not be soon enough. The Wildcat's could use Broom's 6-foot-9 frame with the absence of Donnell Harris. Harris has been sidelined with a stomach illness, and is out for the rest of the semester. His return date is up in the air at this point. Harris has also lost some bulk, if that is possible. The junior 6-foot-11 center is currently around 180 pounds, down from the 203 pounds he started the season listed at.

Ticket sales for men's basketball games not on the student season ticket package began yesterday morning at 10, with long lines lasting throughout the day. However, there are still tickets left for all games including UCLA, Arizona State, Southern Cal and New Mexico, among others. The tickets go on sale again this morning at 8 at the McKale Ticket Office and line numbers securing your spot will be handed out as needed. Unlike what was reported in yesterday's Wildcat , season ticket holders can buy the tickets. The fastest selling ticket was for the UCLA game, but 800 still remain for the Jan. 3 contest.

By beating arch-rival Arizona State on Friday, the UA football team effectively took $7 million away from the Sun Devil's athletic department budget. The loss ruined the chances of ASU going to the Fiesta Bowl, which is played in Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, and gaining the $8.5 million payoff for appearing in the alliance bowl. ASU is expected to go to the Sun Bowl in El Paso, Texas which pays $1.5 million.

After its loss to fourth-ranked Duke in the Maui Invitational championship last week, Arizona (4-1) switched places with the Blue Devils in the AP poll, dropping behind Kansas and UNC as well.

However, Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski left Maui still impressed with last year's champion.

"We've been very fortunate to win some games early and we have played well, but to be honest, I'm not sure we are the best team in the country."

On the contrary, coach K's fellow Atlantic Coast Conference coaches were quite sure and vocal about the ACC being the nation's premier conference.

Besides Duke and UNC, the Associated Press poll, whose voting members are mainly located on the east coast, ranked five other ACC teams: No. 17 Clemson, No. 19 Florida State, No. 22 Georgia Tech, No. 23 Maryland and No. 24 Wake Forest.

"Our league is incredible," said Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins. "I turn on the TV and I see Duke beating Arizona, North Carolina beating UCLA. ... It's incredible. I've been around the ACC for a long time and I've never seen the league so strong from top to bottom."

Florida State coach Steve Robinson said, "That is scary (about seven teams being ranked). It really lets you know how tough this league is and how competitive this conference is."

Wake Forest coach Dave Odom was not as candid.

"I truthfully cannot say I'm surprised, especially considering what a number of our schools have achieved to date," he said. "It would not surprise me to see the other two teams (North Carolina State and Virginia) challenging for a spot in the Top 25 before the season is over either."