TUCSON, Ariz. -- Go ahead and scatter those shooters and passers all the way to Sedona. Pound those jumpers and bangers deep enough so the enemy needs a whole month to recover at Indian Hot Springs. Release that freshmen twinsies combo as far across the cactus and sagebrush as you wish.

Just don't overnight the NCAA championship trophy to that zipcode known as 'Zona just yet.

	Freshman Hassan Adams is part of a perceived problem at Arizona most teams in the country would love to have.

Not until the Platoon-o-Cats get Luke Walton back healthy. (What? A Walton out with ankle/foot injuries. You're kidding!) Not until that circus act of a perimeter posse stops hurling alley-oops over the backboard and whipping behind-the-backs into the cheerleaders. And maybe not until Lute Olson swallows the recruiting budget, admits he's got far too many players for too few positions, limits some minutes, hurts some feelings and figures out who his best five ... or seven or eight or nine ... combination may be.

Prior to undefeated Arizona's unadorned, intensively cared-for 73-70 escape against Texas -- the game might have been a matchup of Nos. 1 and 2 if not for Notre Dame beating the Longhorns the week before; darn that Tyrone Whatshisham's soul, again! -- Olson was discussing how a couple of years ago he would have recruited T.J. Ford except he heard the Houston youngster was going to stay home. "You got to know when to fold 'em," said The Lutester.

Oh, fine. Did that simply mean that if Olson hadn't folded, Ford might have been among the approximately 20 or 30 Wildcats who attempted to shuttle in and out of the contest during the first timeout on Sunday? Or the eight who played nearly double-digit minutes in just the first half? Or the nine who did manage 13 minutes plus in the game? Or the 10 -- none, of course, with more than 14 points -- who simply scored?

Arizona has more terrific players than Trent Lott has sincere apologies. And that's without the most valuable 'Cat, Walton, who sat on the bench in floppy hair and even floppier, double-toned grey sweats. (At least he wasn't subjected to another interview by his dad.)

As it was: "They threw a whole lot at me; I was just trying to catch my breath," said Ford, who was man-to-manned by five different Wildcats, not to mention doubled, tripled, zoned, trapped, pressed and harassed into six turnovers, 5-of-15 shooting and only nine assists (he had 14 against the 'Cats last year before twisting his ankle). Ford also had a fairly immaculate look at a last-second, game-tying, 3-pointer from directly out front. But by that time he was obviously confused enough by the zillions of 'Zonans assigned to his spindly frame that the shot came up short.

That's hardly a description which could be applied to either team's supply of players in what has become an annually attractive Wildwestian rivalry -- even as it's now gone Arizona's way seven straight years.

"Hey, we didn't come here to play close," said Texas coach Rick Barnes. "I told my team we're number one in America ... if we finish two games in the last four minutes. When you got depth, you use it. We played nine guys double figure minutes, too. Nobody's gonna out-tire us. I thought we made them tired."

	“	The good thing is, with so many different players who can play, it's confusing for the opposition ... although sometimes, it gets in our own way just as much. ”
		— Isaiah Fox, Arizona sophomore center

Matter of fact, about Arizona senior playmaker, Jason Gardner, Wildcat assistant coach Jim Rosborough agreed -- to a point. "I think Jason got tired because of our practices," he said. "He's got to play against (Will) Bynum and (Salim) Stoudamire and (Chris) Rogers every day, not some scout team guys."

That may be the core of the question. Have the numerous charms of Tucson and Olson attracted too much talent for everybody's mutual happiness?

Sophomore Bynum, who started at the two guard spot on Sunday (although Stoudamire played 25 minutes to his 13), was disenchanted and expected to transfer after last year. Freshman Rogers, Gardner's supposed successor at the point, has already been recruited over for next season. (Paging the top PG in the Class of 2003, Mr. Mustafa Shakur.)

While budding star center Channing Frye scratched for 12 minutes and one point against Texas, the less heralded "backup", Isaiah Fox, was as significant as any Wildcat. He contributed more muscle against the Horns' WWF-sized James Thomas -- "Coach was pissed about our recent rebounding issues," the sly Fox said, undoubtedly dumbing down the more refined Olson's verbs for a younger target audience, "so I knew I would play more." As well he did. Earning more than twice Frye's PT, the Tucson-born Fox -- whose father played football at 'Zona and whose mother went into labor with him during spring practice -- responded with some significantly belabored numbers (11 points and eight rebounds vis a vis Thomas' 20 and 12).

Then there's the Brothers Hassandala, Walton's lookalike caddies -- actually, freshmen Hassan Adams and Andre Igoudala could probably play both the 2 and the 3 -- who are so similar in face, body and game that even Olson, along with many students on campus, mistake one for the other. (Adams is the one wearing the black headband.) When the acrobatic twins shared Walton's position on Sunday, they split 40 minutes straight down the middle and combined for 17 points and 10 rebounds. But will they be content to share over a college career?

"Look, we all understand when we come here that Coach O is gonna play everybody and when you have a good game, you're gonna stay in longer," Gardner said. So with all those reinforcements, how did he actually get "tired."

"We do go 12-deep in practices and I get worked. So maybe it did carry over," said Gardner, who incomprehensively lasted 37 minutes against Texas and Ford despite absolutely shanking nine of 14 shots -- including all four of his trifecta tries.

Not that the recently elected Hall of Fame coach clip-clopped all the way to Springfield on some haywagon. Olson left his caterwauling little All-American Cat in -- "and there is no question who was in control at the end," Lute said.

"He's a one-man fast break," Barnes said.

And sure enough. Around the two-minute mark, Gardner exploded for a couple of consecutive one-on-one baskets that broke the tenth and last tie (at 65) of the contest. He safeguarded the ball and hit a couple of key free throws (while missing two others). He dribbled the clock away, rebounded, helped defend Ford and did everything imaginable to clinch the outcome short of issuing smallpox vaccinations.

"We missed Luke a lot. I missed him probably the most. But Jason's a senior. He's always been clutch. That's what he's supposed to be," said 'Zona's fifth-year senior, Rick Anderson. And about those player changes? "With everybody rotating, it's difficult to know who's coming in and out. I think we're getting used to it. But our rhythm was a little shaky."

Shaky? How about stirred, fried, stir-fried and guacomole'd? How about, with 16:10 to go in the second half, the Zonans finally getting a hold of the occasion, about to take their biggest lead at 47-40, Olson subbing almost an entire new team into the game? (Gardner, bless his enormous little heart, did not come out.)

Whoops. Over the next nearly four minutes the Wildcats did not score (while Texas cashed ten straight), and among UA's atrocities: Could not in-bound and had to call timeout. Were whistled for a five-second, held-ball violation. Watched Bynum unload a lob pass to Adams that might still be soaring into Ventana Canyon ... and seconds later repeat the same play only uglier and funnier. (Honest.) Gardner and Stoudamire brick a couple of no-conscience circus shots. And finally, again, Stoudamire -- the cousin of the 'Blazers' Damon -- dribbled behind-his-back, behind-the-scorers' table and practically across the river and into the woods.

At one point -- if Daddy Walton was colorcasting, the whole thing would have been "turrrrrrible, just turrrrrrible" -- the perfectionist Olson bowed his silver mane, then angrily walked the length of the bench and grabbed a clipboard of notes from a manager, undoubtedly checking to see if the Mackovic Rules of Player Engagement had been re-revised to permit calling his beloved blueblood recruits "a disgrace to your families."

"Ahh, we throw those alley-oops and behind-the-backs all the time in practice," said Gardner, who airlifted a couple of no-chancers himself trying to hook the Horns. "We just were mis-reading each other. You get your emotions going, not really thinking. But you hope you're thinking what the other guy is thinking."

Whaaaaa?

"Lackadaisical," Stoudamire said, clearing up everything. "Guys getting excited, and instead of making basket ball plays, taking it to the playground."

Normally Arizona's best shooter (like, maybe, ever), Stoudamire settled down to hit four of eight 3-pointers, score that team-high 14 points and address his status as a sub. "Nobody likes to sit. If you play 10-11 minutes, yeah, it's uncomfortable. That's nothin'. You can't even develop a feel for the game."

"The good thing is, with so many different players who can play, it's confusing for the opposition," said Fox, "although sometimes, it gets in our own way just as much."

Like on Sunday? To think that with Walton's ankle/foot woes healed -- he may sit out Arizona's road game at LSU this week plus the 'Cats' Christmas tournament to be ready for the Pac-10 opener at Oregon (scheduled at 12 a.m. ET, following the Orange Bowl on January 2, for all you sleepy heads) -- the future-book NCAA champs would have still another look.

Would that mid-game meltdown have ever happened? Or would the exquisite-passing senior have floated into the seams of the Texas defense, spied the open lanes and found his mates for easy buckets. Would the younger 'Cats have sulked, soaking in even fewer minutes and stewing in even more frustration? Or would the team had: "won by double figures," as Stoudamire boasted.

"I don't want to hear that," said Barnes. "I love Luke Walton. But with him healthy, we would have played differently as well. I'd love to get them again in March or April."

"Texas will be a Final Four team," said Gardner.

Ah, but will Arizona?

Okay, but which Arizona?

Bounce Passes
The Kid Went Blippin' Goofy: Memo to Disney Bosses: In keeping with the spirit of the occasion, wouldn't The WorldWide Leader have been better represented by a few more dozen names covering that Lebron James 31 and 13 debutante ballin'? I mean:

Vitale…Walton…Bilas ….

Katz?

Where were:

Koppel ... Jennings ... Walters ... Sipowitz ... The Little Mermaid?

Memo to NBA Lottery, NBA Draft, NBA Ethics Committee: We'll know the fix isn't in when Boy-King James shows up on the Memphis Grizzlies roster next year.

Memo to Andy Katz. Weren't you the one who invented "Mid Majors." If so, do the tawdry showings of Gonzaga (83-95 to Georgia), Tulsa (80-89 to Kansas), and Xavier (61-71 to Mississippi State) reduce them to major minors?

"History, Get me a re-write": A Correction. Not of ourself, of course. But, in celebration of grand old Ray Meyer, 88, showing up in Notre Dame's Joyce Center on Saturday to watch his former school, DePaul, take on the Irish. It was reported in USA/TODAY that Meyer's intense family loyalty to DePaul "was shattered with the firing of his son, Joey, an essential part of the program's revival as an assistant coach and later a successful head coach of the Demons."

Shattered, yes. "Successful"? Well ...

The problem during Joey's last few years was that Ray (who was doing DePaul radio, remember) and Joey and Blue Demon Athletic Director Bill Bradshaw -- all good men, fine and true -- had different definitions of that word.

In not one of the younger Meyer's last five years did DePaul make the NCAA Tournament. In those seasons, attendance slipped from around 10,000 average to 3,000. In his last two years the Demons lost 41 games. In his last season they were Three ... and ... Twenty Three -- and somewhat of a joke. Such as: Joey Meyer was the highest paid coach in America -- per victory. And: DePaul could have de-mothballed and then suited up George Mikan, Mike Ditka, Mike Royko, old Mayor Daley and Marshall Field himself and lost only three more games than Joey.

Then again, maybe it's Bradshaw who's actually that cartoon character with the cloud over his head, Joe Bjflspk, come to desperate life. After Wild Bill hightailed it out of the Windy City to become the AD at Temple -- not only is another legend, John Chaney, recovering from pneumonia but the usually competitive Owls are 1-6 and just plain Depaul-ful.

Scud Dud: Any truth to the rumor that Hans Blix and his United Nations monitoring commission scurried out of Baghdad to Des Moines when they heard about tiny Grinnell's 12,000-page arms declaration, not to mention those 100 shots a game? Alas. No weapons of mass destruction were discovered even though the Pioneers hoisted 102 howitzers against Drake. They made only 38 -- 23 of a measly SEVENTY THREE from the trifecta circle -- and scored but 110 points. It was the home-standing Bulldogs which put together enough chemical and biological agents to come up with 162 points of their own and win by a card deck.

Pronunciation: By the way, why do all these television political reporters keep talking about some "cutter" without even mentioning the screener. Oh. That's Qatar? Never mind.

Curry Kirkpatrick is a senior writer for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at curry.kirkpatrick@espn3.com.