COLLEGE BASKETBALL: ARIZONA IS PAC-10 PICK.Byline: Jon Wilner Staff Writer Thursday morning, in an LAX hotel ballroom, the Pacific-10 pushed aside its football misery and giddily promoted its upcoming men's basketball season. As expected, Arizona was a near-unanimous choice to win the league title with 32 of 36 first-place votes in the preseason media poll. UCLA UCLA University of California at Los Angeles UCLA University Center for Learning Assistance (Illinois State University) UCLA University of Carrollton, TX and Lower Addison, TX was picked second and Stanford third. USC An abbreviation for U.S. Code. was seventh. The poll is a pleasant harbinger for Arizona. The media - believe it or not - has correctly picked the league champion five consecutive preseason polls. ``Those three (Arizona, UCLA and Stanford) get the nod, to me,'' Oregon coach Ernie Kent Ernie Kent (Born January 22, 1955 in Rockford, Illinois) is the current head men's basketball coach at the University of Oregon. He has been the Ducks' coach since he replaced Jerry Green after Green left for University of Tennessee after the 1996-97 season. said. ``The reason is they have the most continuity within their programs.'' Fast start: Grant High product Gilbert Arenas Gilbert Jay Arenas Jr. (born January 6, 1982 in Florida[0]) is an American professional basketball player currently with the NBA's Washington Wizards. Arenas overcame his modest NBA debut, including being a second-round draft pick, to establish himself as one of the most has impressed the Arizona coaches and is challenging Bell-Jeff's Ruben Douglas Ruben Enrique Douglas (born October 30, 1979 in Pasadena, California, U.S.) is a Panamaian-American professional basketball player currently with Pamesa Valencia of the ACB, the premier professional basketball league in Spain. for the starting wing-guard spot. Here's Wildcats coach Lute Olson Robert Luther "Lute" Olson (born September 22, 1934 in Mayville, North Dakota) is the current men's basketball head coach at the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. He is one of the UA's highest-paid employees, though a substantial percentage of his salary is supplemented by on Arenas: ``He's the real deal. We're very fortunate that not a lot of people knew that.'' A shot at UCLA? Perhaps. Steady recovery: After missing most of two seasons with a knee injury, Stanford freshman and Harvard-Westlake graduate Jason Collins Jason Paul Collins (born December 2, 1978 in Northridge, California) is a professional basketball player for the New Jersey Nets of the NBA. He graduated from Harvard-Westlake School and later attended Stanford University, where he was an All-American in 2000-01 and appeared on should start at center for the Cardinal in its Nov. 11 opener against Duke. ``He's a pretty mature kid,'' Cardinal coach Mike Montgomery said. ``I don't see any tentativeness in him whatsoever. . . . ``Everybody would like to see the Collinses play together, and correctly so. That's a combination you'll see a significant amount of time.'' Jason's twin brother, Jarron, is a junior forward for Stanford. Add Stanford: In a decision that should concern Arizona and UCLA, the Cardinal probably will redshirt 6-foot-9 forward Justin Davis, one of the league's most talented freshmen. At this point, Montgomery said, Stanford doesn't need Davis. Wow. Quote of the day: From USC coach Henry Bibby, when asked if he was concerned about replacing top shooters Elias Ayuso and Adam Spanich: ``If you think kids who shoot 30 percent shoot the ball well, then yes.'' RAISING ARIZONA The Pac-10's 1999-2000 preseason media poll: 1. Arizona (32) 356 2. UCLA (3) 307 3. Stanford (1) 296 4. Oregon 246 5. Oregon State 174 6. California 152 7. USC 151 8. Arizona State 129 9. Washington 117 10. Wash. State 44 (First-place votes in parentheses See parenthesis. parentheses - See left parenthesis, right parenthesis. ) CAPTION(S): Photo, Box Photo: The media picked Arizona as the favorite to win the Pac-10 men's basketball title, which should be a good sign for Wildcats coach Lute Olson: The media has been correct five years in a row. Andy Holzman/Staff Photographer Box: RAISING ARIZONA (See text) |
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