Men's matchup pits 'David against Goliath'

Chris Richards Arizona Daily Wildcat UA sophomore forward Eugene Edgerson (33) shoots over ASU's senior forward Urit Kelly (40) in the teams' face off at McKale center in January. The Wildcats will travel to Tempe Saturday to play the Sun Devils at the Activity Center at 12:30 p.m.

The amount of points Arizona scored in its 127-99 win over Arizona State last month was the most points ever scored in a Pacific 10 Conference game. The 226 combined points were also a McKale Center record.

So, is there any chance Wildcat fans will see the same kind of production when the UA travels to Tempe?

"We can probably score more," senior Miles Simon said.

"It will be fun. They will try to run the ball. There were not deep enough last time, and that hurt them."

Although the Sun Devils have played most of the season with just six guys logging significant minutes, they are likely to go with the same formula that has put them in a tie for fourth in the conference.

"The thing is, I think they play more effectively at that pace," head coach Lute Olson said.

The Sun Devils know that, despite the fact that both teams like to play a fast paced game, their lack of depth can make them an underdog.

"We understand that we are a playing a phenomenal team that can hurt in a lot of ways," Arizona State head coach Don Newman said. "Talk about David going against Goliath."

It's not like the Sun Devils will face just one Goliath. Simon, senior Michael Dickerson and sophomore Mike Bibby each scored 20 or more points the last time the teams met.

"Last (time) we didn't let down," Dickerson said. "I think they let down more than we did."

"Against us, they ran out of gas," Olson added. "We were probably the fastest team they played."

Like any good state rivalry, the trash talk game has begun before the actual contest.

"They have been talking a lot of junk," Bibby said. "(ASU guard) Ahlon Lewis was saying that they put on their shoes the same as us. I told Jason Terry about what he said and J.T. said it is the people inside the shoes that count."

"They run their mouths all the time," Simon said. "It doesn't bother me. We are the team with the best record in the Pac-10."

The Wildcats are prepared to keep their conference record perfect despite being in hostile territory.

"I know that it will not be that good of a homecoming," Bibby, a Phoenix native, said. "I know I will get booed. I hope that I play well. No, I know that I will play well."

No. 3 Arizona vs. Arizona State

(21-3, 11-0 Pac-10) (16-8, 6-5)

When: Tomorrow at 12:30 p.m.

Where: University Activity Center, Tempe

TV/Radio: The game will be televised by KTTU and broadcast live by KNST (AM 790)

What: The Wildcats are currently riding a 14-game win streak - The Sun Devils have won three straight, including a 90-87 overtime win at Stanford on Jan. 31 - In the series, Arizona has won five straight and holds a 119-72 all-time advantage over the Sun Devils - ASU senior guard Jeremy Veal is second in the conference in scoring, averaging 20.4 points a game