Tough Upcoming Games Put Pressure On Arizona

Youthful Arizona is taking stock after its first loss of the season.

New Mexico’s 84-77 men’s basketball victory Saturday didn’t cost the Wildcats much - they gave up No. 11 to the Lobos and tumbled to No. 15 - but it forced them to take stock with a tough schedule ahead.

Arizona (2-1) plays No. 3 Utah on Saturday in the John Wooden Classic in Los Angeles, and No. 18 Texas and No. 7 Michigan by Dec. 21.

“It is kind of like a tournament schedule,” Michael Dickerson said Monday. “It is going to help us in the long run.”

Some areas in need of being ironed out are finding another scorer besides Dickerson, getting tougher inside, and defense.

Dickerson, after back-to-back 31-point games, hit 5 of 18 and had 20 points against New Mexico.

Miles Simon was the team’s only returning starter until he was found academically ineligible until the end of the semester. That left the rest to pick up the slack, a lot to ask of a team with six freshmen.

Coach Lute Olson said Dickerson’s play is crucial until Simon returns.

“This will make Michael a better player,” Olson said. “He is going to draw the best defensive player every game.”