'CATS' WINS EASY COMPARED TO FANFARE.

Byline: Scott Wolf Daily News Staff Writer

These 'Cats are so cool, not even defending their national championship is considered reason for stress.

But if you wonder how top-seeded Arizona has strolled through the first two rounds of the West Region and arrived at the Pond with a what-me-worry attitude, just check a map.

There's little that can happen on the court to compare to the stress of being a Wildcats basketball player in Tucson, Ariz.

``In classes, I've had people bring basketballs to be signed. They bring (copies of) Sports Illustrated,'' guard Miles Simon said. ``You can't go to the mall. You can't eat dinner. You can't go out with your girlfriend.

``Wherever you go, it doesn't matter, they don't care. Attention is good sometimes, but it gets to a certain point where people are following you in cars or by foot. There's been too much. It's really difficult. It's worn thin.''

In the world of a Wildcat, defending your national title is not a problem. Leaving your apartment is.

``I'm sure when (Simon) goes to bed at night, he sees people coming at him with Sports Illustrated,'' Arizona coach Lute Olson said.

The scrutiny in Tucson, where rabid fans are even willing to buy pieces of the old basketball floor, is good preparation for a team that has shown no signs of cracking as it meets Maryland tonight in a Sweet 16 matchup at 7:30.

Arizona (29-4) has won its opening two tournament games by an average of 36 points. Last year, it won its first two games by an average of six points.

Nothing, it seems, bothers them. If you mention the pressure of repeating as champs, it elicits no response. If you mention that the upset-minded Terrapins (21-10) have already played the other three No. 1 seeds, it barely creates a ripple of emotion.

``I think deep down inside they might have a little bit of fear because we're the national champions,'' Arizona guard Mike Bibby said of Maryland. ``They have something to prove.''

Maryland forward Obinna Ekezie said Wednesday that the Terrapins would not be intimidated by Arizona because they ``play the best teams in the country on a regular basis'' in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

To which Bibby replied, ``They said they played the best teams, that's fine; they haven't played us.''

Nothing on the court seems to be fazing the Wildcats either. That potentially disastrous loss to USC two weeks ago? Big deal. They merely went out and beat UCLA two days later.

``You want to talk about a tough place to win, how about going into Pauley Pavilion on senior day?'' Olson said.

Although some might perceive Arizona's self-assured manner as cockiness, Bibby was quick to dispute that notion.

``I don't think it's arrogance. It's confidence,'' Bibby said.

Olson also bristles at the slightest suggestion the Wildcats need to keep their egos in check during the tournament.

``I'm accused of being arrogant as well,'' he said. ``If you don't think you can win, then you shouldn't be here to begin with. I don't think they're arrogant.''

Actually, Simon does have a worry. It's about tickets. He grew up next door, in Fullerton, and is playing in the Pond for the first time since leading Mater Dei High of Santa Ana to a Southern Section title in 1994.

``I need tickets,'' he said.

That's about the biggest dilemma for the Wildcats these days. With a trio of potential first-round draft picks (Bibby, Simon, Michael Dickerson), solid big men (Bennett Davison, A.J. Bramlett) and perhaps the best sixth man in the nation (Jason Terry), no one player feels like he must carry the team.

``It's a team I pick to win the Final Four,'' USC coach Henry Bibby said. ``There's no team in the country that's better than Arizona. It's probably the best team to come out of the Pac-10 in the last 15 years. They're like the UCLA teams of the past. You can't rattle Arizona.''

ON THE TUBE

What CBS plans to show in the L.A. market today:

4:39 p.m.: Michigan State vs. North Carolina (East semifinal)

7:25 p.m.: Maryland vs. Arizona (West semifinal)

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Photo

PHOTO (Color) Mike Bibby says Arizona's manner is confidence, not arrogance.

Tom Mendoza/Daily News