Arizona’S Terry Wants To Work Around The Clock

Arizona’s Jason Terry really didn’t feel comfortable resting during game time.

The senior point guard knew he wasn’t supposed to be sitting there next to the manager, the assistants and the players who get only garbage minutes.

This is his team. Running the show is his job.

And through the first three games, he did just that. He was averaging 41 minutes per game, thanks to two 40-minute games to start the season and a 43-minute performance in an overtime win against BYU.

So, when he had to sit out four minutes against Wyoming in the fourth game, Terry was downright anxious.

“I’m a competitor,” said Terry, who has played 199 of a possible 205 minutes. “I want to be out there.”

And the thing is, Arizona needs him out there.

Sure, the Wildcats are 5-0 and ranked No. 8. And, yes, their players are leading in five of eight Pac-10 statistical categories.

But coach Lute Olson insists that this just may the calm before the storm. He said this team doesn’t belong in the top 40 and is fifth-best in the Pac-10.

“We’ve been really inconsistent in a lot of different ways,” he said. “We have 11 guys on scholarship and one is Loren Woods (sitting out because of a transfer) and Luke Walton (out with a season-ending ankle injury), so it leaves nine scholarship guys, of whom five are freshmen.

“Every day is an experience,” Olson continued. “The only consistency has been with A.J. Bramlett and Jason Terry.”

Terry and Bramlett have been asked to fill the void created by the absences of NBA draft picks Mike Bibby, Michael Dickerson and Miles Simon.

While Bramlett has done the job on the boards, averaging 11.8 per game, Terry has picked up the scoring load with his conference-high average of 22.8 points and is efficiently running his team.

“Really early on this year it was little rough,” said Terry. “I would go out on the court and look to my wing and I wouldn’t see any of those guys so it was little scary.

“But I knew coming into the year my role was going to be ‘The Man,”’ he continued. “It’s just a little more responsibility, and I have to be a little bit more aggressive.”

Olson also has had to change roles. Whereas last season he could rely on his stars to carry the team, this season he has to rely on his patience just to make it through practice.

“The biggest difference in the practice situation is you just have to go over things again and again and again,” he said. “Then you have to go back and repeat it as if they have not heard it or worked on these things you did two days before.

“They have to be taught that you have to learn to listen first and that part has really been a struggle for us,” Olson added. “It is not like it was 10 years ago. I just haven’t found, as a group, that they listen as well and understand that to become a really good player you have to pay attention to detail.”

Cardinal come back to earth

The awe surrounding Stanford has lifted. Slightly.

The Cardinal, which was everyone’s favorite to run away with the Pac-10 during preseason predictions, has looked almost beatable during the non-conference schedule. They actually lost two games. Of course those two games were to Top 10 teams Maryland and North Carolina. And both games were on the East Coast.

But with the recent rash of injuries, many - including Cardinal coach Mike Montgomery - are not so sure No. 6 Stanford is the powerhouse everyone thought it would be.

“I don’t think we are the heavy favorite anymore,” said Montgomery. “What we have probably shown is that there are probably six teams that have a shot (at the conference title).”

“Maybe we are seeing a situation where people are not as strong as they were a month ago,” added Washington State coach Kevin Eastman.

The Cardinal (5-2) still have the most experienced players in the conference, but they will have to deal with the season-ending injury to post player Jason Collins.

The freshman twin brother of Jarron Collins fractured his wrist against George Washington a week ago and underwent surgery to repair it on Tuesday.

In addition, sophomore guard Michael McDonald is out with a sprained right foot and junior sharpshooter Ryan Mendez is out indefinitely with problems in his left knee.

“Best case scenario is that we will get them back after Christmas,” said Montgomery. “Right now, we have got nine strong guys and it has changed the way we have to play.

“We have got to get comfortable with this new rotation,” he continued. “And we have got to find a way to spot Art (point guard Arthur Lee) and not run him into the ground.”

Wooden’s watching

UCLA, long on tradition and championships, has finally gone the way of so many other programs. John Wooden doesn’t approve.

The Bruins debuted new black uniforms in their recent trip to the Puerto Rico Shootout. Steve Lavin said the change was in response to a request from his players, adding that it also helps with recruiting.

Wooden had this to say: “I would have stuck with the school colors. I don’t think the inmates should be running the asylum.”

Speaking of recruits, one of the country’s most coveted, 6-8 Carlos Boozer, was making a visit to Westwood for the UNLV game. Boozer, an Alaska product who is said to be deciding between Duke and UCLA, watched the game a few rows up from midcourt.

And sitting two rows up, watching Boozer, was former Duke All-American Grant Hill. At least the current Detroit Piston has found something to fill all his spare time.