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9. Arizona A program that's famous for its guards has a new look: A frontcourt that will give foes fits
Olson and his team should have a less stressful NCAA run this year. In 7'1" junior Loren Woods, who sat out last season after transferring from Wake Forest, Olson has a sensitive soul who might be the most talented big man he has ever had. Woods spent the downtime tinkering more with his attitude than with his game. "A lot of people tell me I need to do this or that to improve, and I'm getting better at laughing those comments off," says Woods, who left Wake because he was uncomfortable in the team's slow-down game and with the expectations that he become the next Tim Duncan. Playing alongside Woods to form one of the best frontcourts in the nation is power forward Michael Wright, the Pac-10 freshman of the year last season. "As good a year as Michael had, he will blow that away this season," says Olson. "I'm amazed at how much he's improved." Wings Richard Jefferson, who earned All-Pac-10 freshman honors, and Ruben Douglas will be pushed by slick-passing redshirt freshman Luke Walton, son of NBA great Bill Walton. The only real question mark is at the point, where freshman Jason Gardner is already drawing favorable comparisons to former Wildcats Damon Stoudamire and Mike Bibby. Says Olson, who is not given to hype, "Jason is a better defensive player, and probably better shooter, than Stoudamire or Bibby were when they came in." Issue date: November 15, 1999
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