The three-headed captain -- Jason Gardner, Luke Walton and Rick Anderson -- is gone, leaving the Arizona Wildcats in search of a leader who can get the Cats through the NCAA Tournament.

There are prospects -- junior centers Isaiah Fox and Channing Frye and junior guard Salim Stoudamire. They're the most experienced players returning from a team that had greater expectations than reaching the Elite Eight, where the Wildcats lost to Kansas.

Stoudamire, a clutch-shooting guard, would be the ideal leader, but he tends to sulk. Fox, who was voted by teammates last year as the team's Most Inspirational Player, might be the answer head coach Lute Olson is looking for.

"He's a communicator and is a guy who other guys like and respect," Olson says. "I would expect that he'll be one of the guys that will step up. That's a huge responsibility, and it's such a key thing in terms of how your team develops."

Thanks to another banner recruiting class, Arizona will again feature one of the nation's most talented rosters. The Wildcats are the class of the Pac-10 and will once again be expected to make a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

So Tucsonians aren't fretting. They're just waiting to see who guides the way this time.

FRONTCOURT

Had Ndubi Ebi enrolled at Arizona rather than enter the NBA Draft -- where he was a first-round pick of the Timberwolves -- Arizona would have boasted one of the nation's toughest frontlines.

Small forward Andre Iguodala is perhaps the team's best defender. He was second on the team with 47 steals and third with 18 blocked shots as a true freshman. He had such an impressive rookie season that Walton believes Iguodala will be "one of the best players to ever come out of Arizona by the time he's done here."

Frye, who led the Pac-10 in field goal percentage as a freshman, is much like former Wildcat center Loren Woods inside. He is a shot-blocker who can score, and he causes confusion in the passing lanes with his long arms and soft hands. He has a solid mid-range jump shot and will come up big in big games. Frye averaged 13.5 points and 10.3 rebounds in the NCAA Tournament.

Fox is an enforcer who could move into the power forward role. He has averaged just 4.0 points in 13.7 minutes of action in his two seasons in Tucson but could flourish with an expanded role.

Because of the strong competition for playing time, forward Dennis Latimore left the program and transferred to Notre Dame. But Olson keeps plugging holes. And this year's surprise could be 6-foot-10, 215-pound freshman Kirk Walters.

BACKCOURT

Remember the name Mustafa Shakur. He is most likely the Wildcats' next great point guard. The McDonald's All-American will be expected to make an immediate contribution.

If Stoudamire can keep an even emotional keel and be a consistent scorer, the Wildcats will have one of the top shooting guards in the country. The left-hander has a great 3-point touch, rarely misses a free throw, and can take over a game with his ability to drive. He did it last year in Kansas, where he helped turn a potential Kansas rout into a UA blowout in the second half.

Sophomore Hassan Adams is as talented as any guard Olson has ever coached. Where Adams will fit in has yet to be determined. He could get the start at the 2-guard if Stoudamire plays the point, or he could slide over and start on the wing in a three-guard alignment.

"We're going to be quicker this year than we were last year because Mustafa brings great quickness to his position, and Kirk Walters is very, very quick up and down the court and quick to the ball," Olson says. "I think it will be potentially the best defensive team we've had because of the quickness."

FINAL ANALYSIS

If the Wildcats can get past the youth thing -- and they usually do -- there could be no stopping this bunch in Pac-10 play. As usual, Olson has loaded up the non-conference schedule with games against Florida, Texas and Marquette.

This team could be awfully similar to the 1996-97 team, which surprised everybody by winning the national title, beating three No. 1 seeds along the way. That team also had no seniors who were part of the rotation. That team had a leader -- Miles Simon, the Final Four MVP.

Who will be this year's leader? That is the only question. Olson hopes to find one before the NCAA Tournament. Then, watch out.

• Click here for complete index of 2003-04 team previews

To purchase the 2003 College Basketball Preview from Athlon Sports, click here.