Arizona Wildcats


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It's hard to not see what Lute Olsen has done in the Arizona desert. In 21 seasons at the University of Arizona, Olson has taken the Wildcats to 20 straight NCAA Tournaments, produced 17 straight 20-win campaigns, four Final Four appearances, a national title, and an .802 winning percentage over the last 17 seasons -- just to name a few feats accomplished by the Hall of Fame coach. These days, it's hard to believe one of Olson's team was ever not ranked in a Top 25 poll. After the 2000-01 season, that’s exactly what happened. Three starters from the 2000-01 Final Four runner-up team -- Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas and Michael Wright -- left school early and were selected in the NBA draft along with two senior teammates. Olson was left with six freshmen and three juniors as the Wildcats entered the 2001-02 season outside of the top 25 in the Associated Press preseason polls for the first time since November 1995. That swiftly changed as Arizona pulled off upsets against No. 2 Maryland and No. 5 Florida in its first two games. By season's end, Olson's young squad showed to be one of the best teams in the country, climbing as high as No. 3 in the polls, winning 24 games, capturing their fourth consecutive Pac-10 Tournament title, and advancing to the NCAA West Regional semifinals. The Wildcats have been ranked since then, despite inexperienced players year in and year out. So long as Olson is pacing on the sidelines in Tucson, it's hard to imaging his team not being among the elite in college basketball.

Last year, however, Arizona was hindered with early-season injuries and lack of experience at key positions and depth became a serious concern. Arizona started the year without a senior in its 10-man rotation for the third time in five years and center Channing Frye and forward Hassan Adams often were in foul trouble. Olson just didn't have replacements that he had become accustomed to having. The Wildcats still began the season strong, climbing up to No. 3 in the polls before falling off in conference play. Ultimately, Arizona finished with its worst conference record since 1997 at 11-7 for a lack luster third place standing behind Stanford and Washington. Among some of the huge games last year was when the Wildcats dropped a heartbreaker to Stanford on Feb. 7 when the Cardinal's Nick Robinson hit a last-second 35-foot prayer to squeak by the Wildcats, 80-77. Frye and teammates struggled to keep their string of 20-win seasons alive, before finally notching the mark for the 17th consecutive year against USC in the opening round of the Pac-10 Tournament. Arizona then fell in the next round to Washington --their third loss to the Huskies of the year-- and fell on their faces in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Seton Hall, 80-76.

Four of five starters return this year with six reserves and six newcomers, making for anything but a transition season. Olson also added another top tier recruiting class with players from all around the globe. He brought in guard Daniel Dillon from Hampton Victoria, Australia; center Charles Okwandu from Lagos who is 7’2”, Nigeria; 6’9” Mohamed Tangara, a forward from Mali, West Africa; and guard/forward Jesus Verdejo from Puerto Rico. Forward Bret Brielmaier and guard Jawann McClellan aren’t quite as exotic since they are from Mankato, Minn., and Houston, Texas, respectively.