2000-01 record: 28-8; 15-3 in Pac-10 (2nd) Final Ranking: No. 2 ESPN/USA Today Postseason: Lost to Duke 82-72 in national championship game of NCAA Tournament. RETURNING LEADERS Points: Gardner 10.9 ppg | Rebounds: Walton 3.9 rpg | Assists: Gardner 4.1 apg | FG %: Walton 42.0% | 3pt %: Gardner 36.7% | FT %: Gardner 80.9% 00-01 Stats: Arizona | Pac-10

		Monday, Nov. 5 The single biggest key for Arizona is the play of Ricky Anderson. Anderson is an athletic, skilled and talented big man that needs to step into the void left by the departures of last season's leaders. Lute Olson has a stable of very talented young players, which he has guided successfully before, to go along with Luke Walton and Jason Gardner, but needs Anderson to be a force.

Outlook
There aren't many places to go but down after reaching a national championship and losing four starters. In a space of four days last April, Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Michael Wright and Jason Gardner declared early for the NBA draft.

Gardner, a junior point guard, played poorly in pre-draft camps and returned to Tucson. Jefferson, Arenas and Wright didn't. Center Loren Woods is also gone.

But smart, these current Wildcats are. Gardner, junior forward Luke Walton and junior forward Rick Anderson are intelligent players who will help the growing process of talented freshmen like guard Salim Stoudamire and forward Dennis Latimore.

Arizona coach Lute Olson, whose 2000-01 season was marked by the death of his wife Bobbi, has returned to a more normal routine.

"I think we'll be a very tough team to beat once we get to the end of the regular-season," said Olson. "I think it's safe to say we'll give (Gardner) more freedom. He's a very good player and has been in a lot of big games, which should help the younger guys. He now needs to be aware of everything those guys are doing."

The Wildcats suffered another loss when sophomore guard/forward Travis Hanour, who was challenging for significant time, quit the team a few weeks into practice. Stoudamire and freshman Will Bynum will split time alongside Gardner now.

"(Hanour quitting) leaves us with a huge hole entering the season," said Olson. "We're fine with what we have provided that we don't have injuries. There isn't anything you can do about it. You just have to go with it."

What we like: Anderson and Walton up front. Anderson is a 6-foot-9, 235-pounder who redshirted last season. He moves from the wing to power forward and is a good enough shooter to take slower defenders outside. Walton is the league's best passer and versatile enough to play both wing spots and some power forward. Walton, so far the ultimate role player, now becomes a leader.

What we don't like: Backcourt depth. Gardner is a terrific college guard and should score more than his two-year career average of 10.9 points a game. But while Stoudamire (cousin to former Wildcat star Damon) has great potential, he will likely endure the highs and lows of a freshman season. Bynum is an athletic 5-10, 170 pounds who can play both guard spots, but he also suffers from the inexperience blues.

The bottom line: There is a word for the early schedule: Brutal. Arizona opens against Maryland in the Coaches vs. Cancer Classic, followed by games against either Temple or Florida, Texas, Kansas, Illinois, Purdue and Michigan State. But another NCAA Tournament berth will come because there is still ample talent. A top three finish in conference with so many new faces would be one of Olson's best coaching jobs.

Key Players Returning
Player	Yr.	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Jason Gardner	Jr.	G	5-10/181	PTS: 10.9 | REB: 3.0 | AST: 4.1
Luke Walton	Jr.	F	6-8/233	PTS: 5.5 | REB: 3.9 | AST: 3.2

Key Losses
Player	Pos.	Ht./Wt.	Comment
Gilbert Arenas	G	6-3/188	PTS: 16.2 | REB: 3.6 | AST: 2.3
Michael Wright	F	6-7/238	PTS: 15.6 | REB: 7.8 | AST: 0.3
Loren Woods	C	7-1/244	PTS: 13.2 | REB: 6.5 | AST: 2.1
Eugene Edgerson	F	6-6/237	PTS: 4.6 | REB: 4.0 | AST: 0.2
Richard Jefferson	F	6-7/222	PTS: 11.3 | REB: 5.4 | AST: 2.7

Arizona Signings
Player	Pos.	Ht.	High School/College
Will Bynum	G	5-10	Chicago/Crane Tech Prep
Dennis Latimore	F	6-8	Halstead, Kan./Halstead H.S.
Salim Stoudamire	G	6-2	Lake Oswego, Ore./Lake Oswego H.S.
Channing Frye	C	6-10	Phoenix, Ariz./St. Mary's H.S.
Isaiah Fox	C	6-9	Santa Monica, Calif./Crossroads H.S.