Feb. 13, 2004
Complete Release in PDF Format
Download Free Acrobat Reader
Date: Saturday, Feb. 14, 2004
Time: 1 p.m. MST
Location: Olson Court, McKale Center (14,545), Tucson, Ariz.
Radio: Wildcat Radio Network (Brian Jeffries/Joe Nehls)
TV: FSN (Steve Physioc/Sean Farnham)
Game Data: Love is in the air as sixteenth-ranked Arizona (15-6, 7-5 Pac-10) hosts UCLA (10-10, 6-6 Pac-10) Saturday (Valentine's Day for those of you who may have missed it on the calendar) in the cozy confines of red-clad McKale Center ... In the Lute Olson era, Arizona is 3-1 when playing on Valentine's Day with the only loss coming in 2002 at UCLA (77-76) ... Arizona is 10-1 this season in McKale Center and has scored 90 ore more points in six of those games ... UA plays four of its last six regular-season games at home.
The Rankings: Arizona slipped to No. 16 in the Associated Press poll and to No. 15 in the ESPN/USA Today Coaches poll after last week's action. The Cats opened the season ranked No. 4 in both major college basketball polls. UA has been ranked in 282 consecutive AP polls released during the regular season only.
Arizona Head Coach Lute Olson . . . is in his 21st season at Arizona and his 31st overall as a college head coach with a career record of 706-245 (.742) and 514-152 (.771) at Arizona ... He was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Sept. 27, 2002 ... Olson recorded his 700th collegiate victory on Jan. 3, 2004, and became Arizona's career victories leader (510) on Jan. 17, 2004 ... He has the second-most Pac-10 wins (286) in history, trailing UCLA's John Wooden (304, 1949-75) ... Olson has the second-best conference winning percentage (.777/286-82) and second-most league championships won (10) in Pac-10 history (minimum three years), trailing only Wooden (.810/304-74/16 titles) ... During his 21-year tenure at Arizona, the Wildcats have won one national championship (1997), played in the national championship game (2001), participated in four Final Fours (1988, 1994, 1997, 2001), won 10 Pac-10 Conference titles, four Pac-10 Tournament crowns (1988, '89, '90, 2002) and been to the NCAA Tournament for the past 19 years, which is the longest active and second-longest streak in NCAA history (North Carolina, 27)... He also led Iowa to the 1980 Final Four ... Olson has been named the Pac-10 Coach of the Year seven times (1986, '88, '89, '93, '94, '98, 2003), the Big Ten Coach of the Year twice (1979 & '81) and directed the UA program to the nation's best winning percentage over the past 16 years (429-101/.809) ... In his collegiate career, Olson has produced 46 NBA Draft picks, including 27 at Arizona - 20 alone since 1990 ... He's led UA to 16 consecutive 20-win seasons and has 25 overall in his career, making him one of only five head coaches in NCAA history to record 25 or more 20-win seasons... Under Olson, the Cats are 304-31 (.907) in McKale Center and have won 232 of its last 248 home games ... He is assisted by Jim Rosborough, Rodney Tention and Josh Pastner ... Olson is 25-19 against UCLA.
Last Time Out: Arizona got its running game going and ran USC out of the building in a 97-70 decision Thursday in McKale Center. Arizona shot 67.9 percent from the floor in the second half and outscored the Trojans, 58-30, after the break. The Cats used a 23-5 run over 6:39 to break the game open in which six of the eight field goals inside it were either dunks or layups. Six UA players finished in double figures, led by Salim Stoudamire's game-high 22 points.
Scouting UCLA: The Bruins enter Saturday's game with a 10-10 record (6-6 Pac-10) following Thursday's 74-62 overtime loss at Arizona State. As a team, UCLA shoots 45.3 percent from the floor (493-of-1089) and averages 65.9 points per game, 1.0 points per game less than the opposition. Individually, three Bruins average in double figures, led by Dijon Thompson's team-leading 14.2 points per game mark. T.J. Cummings leads the team with a 6.6 rebounds per game average.
The Series: Saturday's game marks the 67th meeting of the two schools with UCLA holding a 38-28 series advantage. Arizona has won eight of the last 11 games in the series, which dates back to Feb. 19, 1923, including a 97-72 triumph in this season's first meeting in Los Angeles on Jan. 17. The Cats have won six straight games against the Bruins in McKale Center. All-time, Arizona is 16-11 in series games played in Tucson, 11-25 in Los Angeles and 1-2 in neutral-site games. See page 127 in the UA media guide for more series information.
Last Meeting: Arizona 97, UCLA 72, Jan. 17, 2004: Arizona put forth one of its most complete performances of the season in handing UCLA a 25-point defeat and making Lute Olson the winningest coach in school history. UA shot 54.4 percent from the floor, including 60.9 percent from three-point range, held a 39-31 rebound advantage and saw three players score more than 20 points as the Wildcats jumped out to a quick 10-2 lead and built momentum from there. Channing Frye finished with 26 points and 10 rebounds to give Olson his 510th win as the UA head coach.
Straight Shooters: For the eighth time in 12 Pac-10 games, Arizona posted a shooting percentage of 50 percent or better from the field and continues to lead the league in field goal percentage (conference games only) at .497. On the season, Arizona has shot 50 percent or better 10 times this season, its highest number since the 2000-01 squad did it 14 times. Since the start of the 1999-2000 campaign, Arizona is 44-5 (.898) when shooting 50 percent or better from the floor. This season, UA is 7-3 when topping the 50-percent plateau.
Shooting Notes, Part II: Courtesy of 11 dunks or layups after intermission, Arizona shot 67.9 percent (19-of-28) from the floor in the second half, Arizona's best-shooting half this season. Not that we like dunks or layups more than jumps shots, but they are simply a higher percentage shot. In Thursday's game vs. USC, 15 of Arizona's 33 field goals (45.5 percent) were either dunks or lay-ups.
Shooting Notes, Part III: Mustafa Shakur's missed free throw at 14:14 of the second half was the Cats' lone miss from the line in the second half (17-of-18). While it kept Arizona from perfection, it didn't keep the squad from setting a record. Arizona's 92.6 percent (25-of-27) from the stripe Thursday was an Arizona McKale Center record for free throw percentage. A nice accomplishment in a facility that opened Feb. 1, 1973.
Quite a Difference: Arizona's 97-70 win Thursday over USC was certainly a nice change of direction following an 0-2 conference weekend. But it was also a nice rebound from the year's first meeting with the Trojans. In that game on Jan. 15 (a nine-point USC win), the Trojans scored 99 points and shot 52.3 percent from the floor (both UA opponent highs this season). In Thursday's UA 27-point win, USC mustered 70 points and a 34.8 field goal percentage. The following statistical turns also took place in the 28 days between meetings. Points in the Paint: Jan. 15: USC, 50-30; Feb. 12: UA, 36-20. Fast Break Points: Jan. 15: USC, 12-10; Feb. 12: UA, 20-0.
Could it Be This Simple?: Much can be made about Arizona success rate when it scores 80 or more points (see note on following page), but perhaps it's even simpler than that - or at least as simple. This season Arizona is allowing 77.0 points per game, the second-highest figure in the Lute Olson era. Arizona is 12-3 this season when allowing less than 80 points. As Olson says, "Defense wins games. It's the offense that determines the margin."
Share the Ball: It would make sense that if shots are going in, assists will follow. So its not that surprising that Arizona tallied 20 assists in Thursday's win. It was the ninth time this season that Arizona has had at least 20 assists in a game and the first time in the last five. Overall, Arizona leads the Pac-10 with an average of 19.33 assists per game.
On the Run, Again: Once the running game got going Thursday, it wasn't long before the Cats started another one of its near-patented scoring runs. The 23-5 burst over 6:39 marked the seventh UA scoring run of more than 15 points this season. Here is a look at the list:
18 points - 23-5 run over 6:39 vs. USC, Feb. 12
18 points - 18-0 run over 4:44 vs. Oregon, Jan. 25
17 points - 21-4 run over 9:31 at Stanford, Feb. 7
17 points - 20-3 run over 5:31 vs. California, Jan 8
17 points - 21-4 run over 6:08 vs. Louisiana-Lafayette, Dec. 30
17 points - 21-4 run over 7:34 at Saint Louis, Dec. 6
16 points - 22-6 run over 7:04 at Arizona State, Jan. 3
Glass Work: Led by Andre Iguodala's game-high 11 rebounds, Arizona outrebounded USC, 40-38, Thursday to reverse a -16 rebound margin in the first meeting. All told, Arizona is 12-3 this season when outrebounding the opposition. It was Iguodala's eighth double-figure rebound game this season. He ranks second in the Pac-10 with an 8.7 rebounds per game average.
Six In Double Figures: Led by Salim Stoudamire's 22 points, Arizona placed six players in double figures Thursday. It marked the third time this season that six Cats have finished with 10 or more points. Incidentally, Andre Iguodala's 14 points were the 20th double-figure scoring game of his career. It was also the 10th such effort for freshman Mustafa Shakur.
Keep it Up: One could say that steals are a reflection of defensive intensity. If that's the case, then Arizona's intensity was pretty good Thursday, as the club collected 12 steals vs. USC, led by a career-high four by Chris Rodgers. It was the sixth time that the Cats tallied 10 or more pilfers and just the only time in the last nine games.
Fast Starts are Key: Getting off to a good start would be a step in the right direction for the Cats. In the last four games, Arizona has had to dig itself out of a significant first-half hole. In that span, the Cats have faced a cumulative first half deficit of 49-10 within the first 10 minutes. Only twice in those four games has UA recovered and won. How important are good starts? On the season, Arizona is 9-2 when tied or leading with 10:00 to go in the first half and 6-4 when trailing.
Two Straight: Sophomore guard Chris Rodgers posted his second consecutive strong performance with 14 points (5-of-7 FGs) and two assists in 28 minutes. Perhaps more impressive was his defense as he pulled down two boards, collected a career-high four steals and hounded USC's perimeter players all evening. Against Satnford, Rodgers was also solid defensively, collected six points and did not commit a turnover in 22 minutes.
Double-Doubles: Andre Iguodala's 14 points and 11 rebounds Thursday marked the sophomore's seventh double-double this season (counting his two triple-doubles). It was Arizona's 14th such effort in 2003-04. On the year only California's Leon Powe (11) has more double-doubles than Iguodala.
Stepping Up: Lute Olson also credited Salim Stoudamire with some inspired play. In his last two games, the 6-foot-1 guard from Portland, Ore., is averaging 23.0 points, 3.0 rebounds and 2.5 assists. He has connected on 14-of-25 field goal attempts (.560), including 5-of-11 (.545) from three-point range. Through 21 games, Stoudamire is averaging 15.2 points, 2.8 rebounds and 3.0 assists.
Give 'Em a Diamond: All fans attending today's UA-UCLA men's basketball game in
McKale Center are invited to a special Valentine's Day Wildcat doubleheader. Those diehard sports fans can gain free admittance to the 4 p.m. UA-Cal State Fullerton baseball game across the street at Kindall Field at Sancet Stadium simply by showing their basketball ticket stub from the game against the Bruins.
Scoring 80: Perhaps no statistic is more telling of UA success, as the squad is 121-14 (.896) since the start of the 1997-98 season when scoring at least 80 points. The Cats are 12-3 this season when scoring at least 80 points.
Early Signees: Coach Olson and his staff signed three student-athletes to National-Letters-of-Intent during the November early signing period. Daniel Dillon (G, 6-4, 190) from Hampton, Victoria, Australia, and North Laurel High School in London, Ky.; Jawann McClellan (G, 6-5, 202) from Houston, Texas, Charles H. Milby High School; and Mohamed Tangara (F, 6-9, 230) from Mali, West Africa, and Mt. Zion Christian Academy in Durham, N.C., will join the squad next fall.
Up Next: After the Valentine's Day tryst with the Bruins, Arizona embarks on its final road trip of the regular season. The swing begins on Thursday, Feb. 19, at Oregon. Tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m. PST and can be seen on Fox Sports Net.
