It isn`t often Donnell Harris is on the court as Arizona approaches the harrowing conclusion of yet another basketball game that might have ended peacefully. He is a reserve center, which means he generally has the same view as most Wildcats fans, only closer to the action and its consequences.
The Wildcats have been through 12 games decided by six or fewer points, six by one possession, three in overtime. They advanced to the Final Four in Indianapolis by one of the narrowest margins in the 13 years of the 64-team NCAA Tournament, an average of 4.7 points for four victories.
Arizona is playing without a senior in its rotation, with two freshmen and three sophomores among the top eight players. The Wildcats are considered to be a year ahead of schedule in reaching the Final Four, although that is not the reason coach Lute Olson is suggesting they need to attend ``time management`` class.
``I don`t know. I think we like to excite people, maybe,`` Harris said. ``I know the parents, obviously, don`t like it. They`re sitting over there having heart attacks, putting their heads down, closing their eyes on free throws.``
They have missed a stirring show, but one that follows no standard plotline. Arizona plays a lot of close games, but often it is a matter of rallying to overcome deficits, and other times it involves blowing secure leads.
In the Wildcats` Pacific-10 Conference opener, they surrendered a driving layup to California guard Ed Gray to fall behind by one with 21 seconds left, but freshman point guard Mike Bibby nailed two free throws with 3.6 seconds left for an 81-80 win.
One game later, the Wildcats allowed a late 16-3 run by Stanford and fell behind by a point. Forward Bennett Davison made a follow-shot inside the final 20 seconds for a 76-75 win.
In the first round of the NCAA Tournament, South Alabama had a 10-point lead with 7:35 left, but Arizona`s 17-0 rush produced a 65-57 win.
During round two, Arizona trailed College of Charleston 47-37 with 14:04 left but scored on 17 of its final 20 possessions to win 73-69.
On the way to upsetting No. 1-ranked Kansas in the Sweet 16, Arizona held a 13-point lead with 3:28 remaining, then saw the Jayhawks` four three-pointers erase all but one point of that advantage. KU had three shots to force overtime.
Through poor decision-making and sloppy ballhandling, the Wildcats wasted a 12-point lead that stood with 6:08 left in the Southeast Regional final and were taken to overtime by Providence before winning 96-92.
Both forward Michael Dickerson and shooting guard Miles Simon attempted last-minute jumpers - with plenty of time left on the shot clock - and a turnover by guard Jason Terry at midcourt gave Providence a shot at a game-winner in regulation. That was when Olson suggested his players may need to study time management.
The Wildcats have escaped four in a row like this, bringing their record in games with a margin of two possessions or fewer to 6-7. Perhaps the biggest difference with these latest games, though, is they are played away from home but quite not on the road.
Arizona is 6-0 on neutral courts, excluding a loss to Michigan in suburban Detroit that was neutral in name only. Count the Wildcats as visitors in that one, and their road record is 3-8.
``League play is what it`s called,`` Olson said. äYou see the other teams in our league that made the Sweet 16. We didn`t play as well in December as we did in February and March.``
Arizona was ranked among the nation`s top teams early in the season, when it defeated Utah, North Carolina, California and Stanford - four teams that made the Sweet 16. From Jan. 16 through the close of the regular season, though, the Wildcats` were 9-7 because of their struggles on the road.
``I had an idea we`d make it to the tournament, maybe win one or two games,`` said power forward Bennett Davison. ``But I didn`t think we`d ever make it to the Final Four. The closer each game goes by, we know we can beat this team or that team. That keeps us going.``
Olson has been to the Final Four three times before, once at Iowa and twice at Arizona. His 1988 Arizona team was the nation`s best - four starters played in the NBA, and three are still around today - but had no particular cause. The Wildcats lost in the semifinals to Oklahoma.
Olson hasn`t made the same mistake since. He now grasps any available issue and uses it to his advantage, to inspire the Wildcats to perform at or beyond their means. Last season, it was the lack of a Top 25 ranking entering the year that inspired them to win the Preseason NIT and reach the NCAA Sweet 16.
The media included Arizona in its rankings this year, but still keeps asking about the three first-round NCAA Tournament losses Olson`s team has suffered in the past six years. It didn`t help that the Wildcats came so close again to early elimination.
``People keep it alive. It`s like death and taxes. We know it`s going to be there,`` said Olson, although it seems he really prefers it that way. He all but works to instigate more comments on the matter.
``Anytime somebody is not expected to do something,`` Olson said, ''it makes it all the more enjoyable.``
WILDCATS BOMBING AWAY
Previous Final Four stories
PREJUDICE BLOCKED HASKINS FROM PLAYING AT UK March 27, 1997
TAR HEELS NO LONGER WISHING 'THEY' WERE HERE March 26, 1997
JACKSON EXCEPTION TO HASKINS' RULE March 25, 1997
ARIZONA JOINS NO.1 PARTY March 24, 1997
