Upheaval can’t derail Wildcats

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If he spurns the NBA and returns to Arizona for another year, junior Jordan Hill will get the chance to play for his fourth coach. But don’t count on that happening.

With the way Hill, a 6-foot-10-inch, 235-pound forward, is beginning to dominate the college game, it’s obvious he’s ready for the next level.

"I came to Arizona unknown, and nobody really knew about me," he said. "I keep getting better every day at the little things."

UNLV coach Lon Kruger has noticed from afar, and he’ll see Hill up close when the Rebels (9-2) host the Wildcats (7-2) at noon today at the Thomas & Mack Center.

Every discussion about the nation’s best big men starts with North Carolina’s Tyler Hansbrough and Oklahoma’s Blake Griffin. But Kruger is adding a name to the list.

"I think Hill’s one of the premier players in the country that not enough people know about," Kruger said. "He should be getting similar attention as the Hansbroughs and everyone else. He’s very athletic and a very good rebounder and shot blocker. He impacts the game in every way."

Hill, averaging 18.8 points and 11.8 rebounds per game, is not disagreeing. "I think I should be mentioned up there," he said.

Hill was a huge factor in Arizona’s 52-49 victory over UNLV last year in Las Vegas. He had 16 points and 19 rebounds. But he also had no idea what was happening within the Wildcats’ program.

On Dec. 18, the day before that game, it was announced that interim coach Kevin O’Neill would take over as head coach when Lute Olson decided to retire.

Olson took a leave of absence before last season, returned to work in late March and essentially pushed out O’Neill, who left for an NBA assistant coaching job in June. On Oct. 23, Olson, 74, retired for health reasons, and Russ Pennell was named interim coach. It later was revealed Olson had suffered a stroke.

Arizona isn’t the same without Olson, but it is surviving a bizarre turn of events thanks to two stars Olson recruited — Hill and 6-7 forward Chase Budinger, another NBA prospect.

"Lute seemed like he was ready to come back," Hill said. "Everybody was surprised. Some players came back because of him, and some players committed because of him. But everybody understands what Lute is going through.

"Going through three different coaches in three years, it really didn’t hurt us. We have a good coaching staff here. We try not to let the coaching changes get to us mentally."

Under the guidance of Pennell, a former Arizona State assistant who was an analyst for the Sun Devils’ radio broadcasts last year, the Wildcats’ circus has calmed. Pennell will be replaced after the season, and Hill and Budinger probably will be gone too, but things are good for now.

Arizona upset then-No. 4 Gonzaga 69-64 on Sunday as Hill scored 22 points.

"I think Arizona is a top 25-type team, and I think they’ll be that throughout the year," Kruger said.

While neither team is ranked, today’s game is important for the Rebels in their hunt for a marquee win before Mountain West Conference play. UNLV is a 21/2-point favorite despite losing to Arizona the past years.

"I’m going in like we’re underdogs," Rebels senior Rene Rougeau said. "More than anything, we need to protect our home court. We didn’t do that (in November) when we lost to California and Cincinnati."

A potential sellout crowd is expected at the Thomas & Mack, and it will include several thousand Arizona fans in town for a basketball-football doubleheader capped by tonight’s Las Vegas Bowl.

"It will be a great atmosphere," Kruger said. "I think it probably will be the biggest crowd in our five years."

And Kruger might need to use a crowd of defenders to keep Hill from dominating the Rebels as he did last year.

"If we don’t bring our ‘A’ game," Hill said, "it will be a dogfight."

Contact reporter Matt Youmans at myoumans@reviewjournal.com or 702-387-2907.