Lute's fresh look

By Michael Melissa Sports Central Columnist

The specter of a mass exodus by three starters followed the University of Arizona throughout its NCAA Tournament run last season. A week after falling to Duke, 82-72, the Wildcats saw that specter become reality when guard Gilbert Arenas and forwards Richard Jefferson and Michael Wright all left for the NBA draft.

Without its core offense, including Loren Woods who departed as a senior, Arizona was supposed to be a much different team this season.

A look at the Associated Press and ESPN/USA Today polls tells a different story, though. The Wildcats (3-1) are currently ranked No. 4 and No. 3, respectively, after being unranked in the preseason.

When you beat No. 3 Maryland (71-67, No. 5 Florida (75-71), and No. 22 Texas (88-74), you tend to garner some national attention. That's the case for Arizona.

While head coach Lute Olson should be applauded for his ability to get the most out of unheralded players, it has been the freshmen and sophomores who have helped the Wildcats to their meteoric rise.

Led by juniors Jason Gardner, who nearly left after last season, and Luke Walton, Arizona can be considered a Sweet 16 team once again. Gardner leads the team in most offensive categories, averaging 24.7 points per game, while playing 39.7 minutes per game. Walton leads the team in rebounds (29) and is averaging 9.7 boards a game. Those numbers and their experience has helped ease the burden on a freshman class that includes Will Bynum, Isaiah Fox, Channing Frye, Dennis Latimore, and Salim Stoudamire. Add junior college recruit Rick Anderson to that mix and no wonder Olson is not surprised at how well the 'Cats have done this season.

While Bynum, Fox, and Frye haven't added much offensively, Olson has been praising the freshmens' ability to disrupt the opponent's offense. Both Fox and Frye, the two big men in Olson's lineup, have nine defensive rebounds each. Frye, the prototypical Arizona big man at 6'10", also has six blocks working out of the three spot.

For the Wildcats, their offense is generated primarily by guard play. With Arenas and Gardner in the backcourt last season, Arizona had maybe one of the fastest guard tandems in college basketball. Despite Arenas' departure, the 'Cats have retained that quickness by adding Bynum and Stoudamire.

Stoudamire has made an immediate impact, averaging 12.7 points per game, second behind Gardner on the team. Being the cousin of former Arizona great and current NBA point guard Damon Stoudamire may have helped as well.

It's funny how things work out. Latimore is the highest rated recruit for the Wildcats, yet is making the least impact. The 6'8" forward has been a non-factor in Arizona's three wins, averaging just six minutes a game with six total rebounds and is still looking for his first college points after five field goal attempts.

Olson is a master at getting his players to focus on the positive and putting their deficiencies on the backburner until he they find time to correct them. If there is a hole in the youthful Wildcats, that may be it. However, until a team exploits those weaknesses, you can bet the Wildcats will be at the top, proving they deserved a preseason top 25 nod.

The Wildcats are a much different team this season. Just ask the pollsters who left them out of the rankings a few weeks ago.

Article courtesy of Sports Central.