Lavin Addresses a Concern

Coach Steve Lavin, perhaps anticipating a difficult time in Tucson, is calling Saturday’s Pacific 10 Conference opener at defending national champion Arizona a learning experience--not a defining Bruin moment.

The Bruins are 2-1 at McKale Center and 5-1 against the Wildcats in the last three seasons--with three Pacific 10 titles.

“We’re going to find out right at the beginning of the league if we are deficient in some areas,” Lavin said. “It gives us time to go back to the drawing board and improve, because we’ve got them coming back to our place the last game of the year.

“You might go 6-0 in your first six league games but not be playing the better half of the league and maybe have a false sense of security or fool’s gold confidence. This way we find right away where we’re at.”