By Craig Degel
Arizona Daily Wildcat
January 14, 1998

Harris to return after 7 week absense - Basketball Notes

With his stomach ailments behind him, Arizona center Donnell Harris will return to the floor tomorrow for the first time since the Duke game in Maui Nov. 26.

Needless to say, he's excited.

"Oh, this is a great season," Harris said. "I feel healthy and 100 percent for the first time since all of last season and this season. We've got the rest of the Pac-10 season and the tournament so it can be a long season."

Harris had his gall bladder removed Dec. 12 at the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale. He has been steadily improving his condition while gaining the 20 pounds lost during his illness. Harris would have returned for the games against the Washington schools but a strained foot tendon delayed his return to tomorrow night's contest with Arizona State.

Arizona head coach Lute Olson said Harris has gained 10 pounds in the last 10 days and has been running the floor well in practice.

"He's ready to play," Olson said. "He could go quite a while (during the game)."

Harris' return will provide more depth inside for the Wildcats, who have been using mainly a three-man rotation of A.J. Bramlett, Eugene Edgerson and Bennett Davison. Justin Wessel has also gotten some time.

"If A.J.'s not in foul trouble, we're a pretty good basketball team," Olson said. "But that's been what, three of 16 games."

Another week...another conference honor

Arizona senior forward Michael Dickerson was named the Pacific 10 Conference Player of the Week yesterday for his performance against the Washington schools.

His 24 points and eight rebounds against the Washington Huskies in his native Seattle were both game highs.

"That wasn't really a personal thing," Dickerson said. "It wasn't about revenge."

Dickerson has always been a scorer but his field goal percentage has never been better than in the last eight ball games. He has scored 181 points in that span and is shooting 68 percent from the floor and 52 percent from beyond the three-point line.

"Dickerson is playing the best he's ever played," Olson said.

It was the second-straight week an Arizona player was tabbed for the honor. Miles Simon earned it for his performance against UCLA and Southern Cal. Jason Terry was also named player of the week for the second week in December.

Anyone attend the UCLA game?

For those of you who missed the Arizona-UCLA game Jan. 3, and based on the fact that it was only broadcasted on the fX network, most of you probably did, you missed the unveiling of Arizona's national championship banner and a 12-point UA victory.

"It was special," forward Eugene Edgerson said. "Every time I walk into McKale Center I can look up and go 'Wow, I was a part of that.'"

Broom suffers another setback in quest to begin UA career

Arizona recruit Dion Broom has officially qualified for school but is not expected to play for the Wildcats anytime soon because the rehab on his injured knee did not go as expected.

Olson said the UA medical staff also want the 6-foot-9, 250-pound Broom to lose another 15 pounds before they let him play. Taking off the weight will put less pressure on his knee and allow him better mobility.

"They won't allow him out there until he has better strength in the knee to allow him to protect himself against further injury," Olson said.