Native of Tucson hopes to continue winning tradition

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Freshman guard Julie Brase (20) looks for an open player at the Red-Blue scrimmage Sunday night. Brase, Lute Olson's granddaughter and a Tucson native, scored six points and had three rebounds in the exhibition game at McKale Center.

The freshman guard finished her high school career at Catalina Foothills High School as the state of Arizona's all-time career leading scorer with 2,913 points. She was a three-time first-team Arizona player, three-time Southern Arizona Player of the Year, high school All-American and a state champion in 1997.

All that is history as she begins her collegiate career, something she hopes can be just as successful.

If she needs any advice, however, there's one person that she can count on for it anytime. That person happens to be her grandfather, who also happens to coach his own basketball team at UA.

"Last year, when she was coming down to making a decision, I just told her that I'd like to be able to see her everyday," men's head coach Lute Olson said.

Brase wasn't bothered by Olson's appearance at the women's Red-Blue scrimmage on Sunday. She had six points and three rebounds for the Red team in a 72-68 loss.

"I don't think it was much of a change," Brase said. "He came to my high school games when he could. When he was there, it didn't bother me."

With conflicting practice times, Olson doesn't get many opportunities to see his granddaughter play.

"I haven't had much of a chance to see her work on the court because of our schedule," he said. "On Tuesday-Thursday we work out late and they work out early, and our guys do stretching in the locker room before they come out. That gives me a few minutes to watch her and see how she's doing."

Women's head coach Joan Bonvicini was impressed with Brase's work-ethic before practice began, and has seen it continue into the first two weeks of practice.

"Julie's done very well," Bonvicini said. "In fact, she's done better than I thought she would. She's an excellent shooter with the mentality to go for big numbers."

The women's basketball media guide says that Brase is a "workaholic" who loves to be challenged. Although she hasn't found her jump shot yet, she's been working hard on the defensive end, where she is underrated.

"I'm just trying to hustle and play good defense," Brase said. "As the season progresses, my shot will come."

Brase gained 10 pounds in muscle this summer after she went on an intensive weight program.

"I still need to get stronger," she said. "I lifted hard over the summer, but I'm still not strong enough."

A ball-girl for the Wildcat women when she was younger, Brase knows all about Bonvicini's intensity.

"I don't think it's a big change because my high school coach was intense, and I play better with someone always on me," Brase said. "With Coach B's intensity, it's only going to make us better and develop a winning attitude."

For now, Brase will continue her hard work in practice and continue to stop by her grandfather's office on a regular basis.

"I've just asked once in a while how she's doing," Olson said. "I don't worry about her because I know she knows the game and she's going to play hard. If that means she's going to get time, fine, if she isn't, she knows there will be time coming down the line somewhere."

Bryan Rosenbaum can be reached via e-mail at Bryan.Rosenbaum@wildcat.arizona.edu.