Basketball readies for Nebraska tourney

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Junior forward and Central Ari-zona transfer Tatum Brown (53) shoots over the head of a Slovan Bratislava player Friday. The UA women's team is ranked No. 21 in the Associated Press preseason poll and No. 5 by Pac-10 coaches. The Wildcats face Wisconsin-Green Bay in their season opener tomorrow night at the Nebraska CableVision Classic in Lincoln.

The Associated Press ranked Arizona No. 21 in their first poll, while the Pacific 10 Conference coaches placed Arizona at No. 5.

"Some of it is based on recruit potential and on what we have done before," head coach Joan Bonvicini said.

Last season, Arizona was ranked No. 9, and in doing so, seemed to get an automatic berth in this year's poll. This season's team is very different; it has the combination of the explosive potential seen last year along with the right balance to throw different tactics at its opponents.

"Being low, people don't know what we have up front," Bonvicini said.

The Wildcats are young, but that does not bother their coach when going up against older teams.

"I'd much rather have talent than experience any day," she said.

Arizona leaves for Lincoln, Neb., today to officially kick off the season tomorrow night in the Nebraska CableVision Classic. The Wildcats face Wisconsin-Green Bay in the first game, then either host Nebraska or South Alabama Sunday.

Wisconsin-Green Bay returns nine players, including three starters, providing the Wildcats with a tough challenge.

"I think some of the players joke that Wisconsin-Green Bay are the Green Bay Packers," Bonvicini said. "But Wisconsin-Green Bay is a very good, very experienced team."

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