Shift in power
Having lost four starters apiece from their 2000-01 rosters, both Stanford, the 2001 Pac-10 champions and second-place Arizona find themselves in the unfamiliar territory of being the underdogs.
Stanford returns junior Casey Jacobsen as the Cardinal’s only starter while the Wildcats feature juniors Jason Gardener, a starter, and Luke Walton, an effective utility player.
The caliber of both teams is still very much up in the air at this point of the season, requiring veteran coaches Mike Montgomery and Lute Olson to exercise their patience.
“We know that we have a group of guys that get along well and work hard,” Olson said of the Wildcats. “We need to be patient, and that’s easier said than done.”
In the preseason Pac-10 poll, Stanford snuck into the No. 2 spot while Arizona settled in at No. 4.
Both coaches responded to the rankings with good humor, explaining that those preseason predictions are based mainly on respect for the program and past performances.
“If you’d been to practices, you would think we’re the underdog,” Montgomery said. “It’s respect for what it has been, not for what realistically is.”
Filling the gaps
With the Collins’ twins departure from Stanford, Montgomery faces the daunting task of filling the space left open by the 7-foot and 6-foot-11 brothers in the frontcourt.
The Cardinal puts a lot of faith in junior Curtis Borchardt. Coming back from a foot injury, the 7-foot Borchardt can make an impact down low once he gets back into his groove on the hard court and assuming he stays healthy.
Don’t count your chickens
Both Arizona and Stanford’s preseason schedules are hard to believe – even if they returned everyone from last year. Arizona’s first five opponents are Maryland, Texas, Kansas, Michigan State and Illinois. But Stanford is a close second in strength of schedule with Purdue, Missouri, Texas, BYU and Michigan State.
Olson made his schedule with Michael Wright and Richard Jefferson slated to be on the squad, while Montgomery thought that Jason Collins would return for a fifth year in school and third year on the squad.
Junior leaders
After garnering All-America honors in his first two years of play, Casey Jacobsen returns for his junior season and will have to lead the Cardinal with both numbers and experience.
“I don’t feel that it’s a burden,” Jacobsen said. “I’m willing to shoulder the pressure. I invite it.”
And though not the same offensive threat as Jacobsen, Gardener will be expected to step up for Arizona as a leader.
Olson feels confident in Gardner as a leader for his experience at different positions and his initiative to help the freshmen adjust to college basketball.
“I like to be the leader and carry the pressure,” Gardener said. “We’re doing well right now. The freshmen are seeing how hard it is to get to where we got last year.”
Notes compiled by Christina Teller and Dylan Hernandez, Daily Bruin Senior Staff.