1. I really like O”Neill’s attitude. No excuses. Everybody could see who the more experienced team on the floor was and yet the Cats could have won that game by executing and staying focused. The positive from this is that this team will improve as the season progresses unlike last year’s squad that deteriorated as they went along. The big negative is that Hill still has NO help inside and is apparently going to have to wait until next year to get any. This speaks poorly of the staff’s ability to develop big men. I realize Walters is not going to be able to get in shape to contribute, it is still early for Jacobsen. But can’t Tangara play some kind of role, even if it’s to come in and bang for 5-10 minutes? Still, I don’t feel nearly as disappointed with this loss as some last year. This team will struggle early but will learn and improve. Best to get ridof that ranking and lower expectations right off the bat.
   — RJ Rants    11/18/2007 06:31 AM    #
2. I agree RJ. I’m actually more encouraged after this loss than I was going into the game. This team has guts. They played tough and they didn’t fold when they got down by eleven. That second half comeback was outstanding against a team that can shoot the lights out.
   Yes, they made critical mistakes in the last two minutes, but they are young and they WILL learn. If they don’t get discouraged by early losses, they will be very good come March. It’s going to be a fun season.
   — Mike    11/18/2007 07:46 AM    #
3. Negatives:
   
   Again – no big man with a shot or any defense will be the killer for this team this year.
   
   Defending on the perimiter look simlar to the last two years. When the hell are the coaches going to start preaching to get after them outside the three point line.
   
   I guess Walters is really not ready nor is Jacobson, but tell me why they can not come in a provide a presense in the lanes for a few minutes each game. You got to get these two some minutes.
   
   Where the hell was Horne last night? He really must have had one of those games vs. NAU where the coaches don’t beleive in him. Could have used him in some situations.
   
   Dillion is a horrible offense of player.
   
   Positives:
   
   Defense looked much better after the first five minutes. O’Neil coaching is helping already.
   
   Dillion is a lock down defender.
   
   This is not McClellan team, it is Chase’s team. Chase had a really nice game.
   
   O’Neil coach a decent game besides not providing any depth off the bench.
   
   Not to many positives out of this game. Boy SI might be right. I got my issue the other day and can not remember when I saw AZ not listed in the top 25 of it.
   
   This would have been the year for Lute to schedule a softer non-coference schedule, this team is not ready for prime time.
   
   Remember Cat fans when AZ had an 83 game home game winning streak? No longer is it a W when teams come to Tucson.
   — Wildcatike    11/18/2007 07:49 AM    #
4. Just as a point of interest, UA was a 7 point favorite and the money line was -300 +250. $100 on Virginia to win(without any points) would get you $250 profit. $300 on UA(even a 1 point win) would get you $100 profit.
   — vegasallen    11/18/2007 07:49 AM    #
5. While I hate to see the Cats lose one , especially at home, I was actually quite pleased with the game. I really expected Virginia to run away from our young and size challenged boys. I like the way KO handles the rotation better than Lute, and it was good to see Dillon’s experience properly exploited.
   
   These Cats are not going to threaten to win the PAC-10, but they will still be fun to watch and should ruin the hopes of some very good teams during the season. I was hoping to see more out of McClellan, thinking heath had held him back big-time. I’m beginning to think he’s just not a particularly good ball handler.
   
   At least the next two games should raise the Cats confidence before the trip to Kansas.
   — Cactus Jim    11/18/2007 07:51 AM    #
6. I also am encouraged like you guys…keep in mind Arizona lost to Virginia last year, and they team was a 4 seed in the NCAA tournament.
   
   I was REALLY impressed with how Bayless looks on the floor. Yeah, he made some big mistakes down the stretch that cost the team the game, but he looks like he has ‘it’ and will be a great player this year.
   
   Daniel Dillon impressed me as well, his defense was very good. Singletary is one of the better guards in the country.
   
   Chase Budinger looked very good, and made some key shots when Arizona needed them. It looks like he listed all through the offseason when everyone was telling him he needed to be ‘the man’ for this team.
   
   Jordan Hill was a disapointment, save for the couple of times when he stepped out and hit an outside jumper. Things like turning around and facing a guy within a few feet from the basket instead of posting him up (and subsequently getting the ball stripped) need to change. He has to be on the floor for this team to compete with the better teams that they will play this year.
   
   Hopefully a lot of the other guys like Horne, Tangara, and others get a chance to play against UMKC and Adams State this week.
   
   Also, anyone else notice the reaction of the Virginia players after the game was over? They looked like they just won a national championship. That Lithuianian guy was getting in the face of my TV. That wasn’t very classy.
   — Darren    11/18/2007 07:56 AM    #
7. I only got to see select portions of the game last night. Who had the assignment to defend Singletary last night? I remember our teams in the past where we could put our best defensive player on their best offensive player and we’d shut he down. If Dillon played great D on Singletary, why did he get 24 points? (I guess it could have been worse, but still.)
   
   My biggest dissapointment is the 9 points that McClellan put on the board and 4 TO’s?
   
   I also wish that KO will give some of the other guys a chance to bump around in the paint. But who knows, maybe the guys on the bench really can’t play D good enough to earn a minute of two.
   — chicat    11/18/2007 09:15 AM    #
8. just a guess but i’m thinking we’ll see a lot of Tangara, Walters, Jacobsen, Johnsons, Perry and Horne during our non-con games against missouri-kansas city, cal st. fullerton, and fresno st. we really need to get those guys up to speed but they obviously couldn’t hang with virginia otherwise we would have seen them
   — scott    11/18/2007 09:37 AM    #
9. I think O’Neill nailed it. All-in-all, I don’t think the team played that bad against a hot shooting club like Virginia. Disappointed in the foul situation with Wise. Bayless is much more effective as a shooting guard. Hill is going to need all the playing time he can get to prepare himself for the PAC 10 monsters. With the UCLA front group, and when both the Lopez twins are at full speed, it is going to be brutal for him and Bret. McClennan is going to have to agressively go after the ball, because Bayless doesn’t look for him. All he sees at this point is Chase and an opportunity to put it up himself.
   — James    11/18/2007 10:16 AM    #
10. You guys are finally seeing why I’ve never been a McClennan fan. Bayless is doing great for a freshman and being pressed into starting. He’s got a ton of upside.
    — vegasallen    11/18/2007 10:24 AM    #
11. Nice to see the spin this morning. I don’t care how much lipstick one tries to put on this pig, it was still a loss at home. No moral victories here so y’all need to back off the “I was encouranged stuff”.
    
    The truth of the matter is that Lute and company did a horrible job with the big men over the years and it is going to hurt this team substantially.
    — Robert    11/18/2007 10:50 AM    #
12. I have been a long supporter of Arizona since my days at Santa Rita back in the mid-80’s. However, I was extremely frustrated with last night’s loss. I saw too many things that reminded me of last year that cannot be simply written off as “freshman mistakes”.
    
    First, inbounding the basketball is as fundamental as it gets in basketball. I remember two or three times last year Arizona had the same problem. If you want a specific person to get the ball, set up a double or even a triple screen. If the defense switches, then the second or third screener peels off and is almost always open for an EASY inbound pass. I have seen 13-14 year olds run this with little problem. Perhaps devoting a practice or two to this will prevent future problems.
    
    Second, most fans would agree that McClellan and Budinger are our “go-to-guys” this year. However, how many times did either even touch the ball in the last 2-3 minutes? Once, twice? Budinger disappeared so completely down the stretch that I challenge anyone to provide video evidence he was even on the court! Budinger has to DEMAND the ball in his hands and step up when crunch time calls. Arizona could never decide last year who “the man” was going to be. Such inconsitancy cost us last year and will this year until the right people step up.
    
    Third, I read a poster complaining about Hill losing the ball so often in the post. I think if you look closely you will find Hill was RARELY ever in the post. He was always receiving the ball halfway up the key, WAY TO FAR from the post. He allowed himself to be pushed so far from the hoop he was never a threat to turn and shoot. Hill must put himself in the proper position to be a threat as both a scorer and a passer.
    
    Fourth, per published reports, the coaches properly scouted and laid out exactly what Virginia was going to do. The players obviously did not execute the plan in the first half. Well, bench them. Send an early statement. Lay down the law now so you do not have the same things happen in January and February. We could not/would not bench people last year and we saw Arizona make the same mistakes at the end of the year as they did in the beginning of the year.
    
    Whew!!! Now that all of that is off my chest I agree with many that this young team will take time to gel. I believe this team will improve as the year progresses, unlike last year. I do like this team because I believe the effort will be there and that losing REALLY bothers them. That these players will take the lessons from this loss and make themselve better. However, let us not continue to use the excuse of “freshmen mistakes” to hide the breakdown of fundamental basketball.
    — SCDave    11/18/2007 12:00 PM    #
13. Yeah Darren i saw that crap,CHASE NEEDS THE BALL at the end of the game. Like i said on the other blog it was the younger players making mistakes during crunch time. I do see alot of upside for all of these guys. We will match up well in small ball even with Brett on the floor. I wished we had the Adams State game and the UMKC game before we played them to build other players confidence. But we gotta play it out. Go Cats See yall at KU..
    — Trev in Kc    11/18/2007 12:17 PM    #
14. Robert… whatever. Sorry not everyone is ready to jump off a cliff over a loss to a good team. I think everyone here has accepted what this team is, a team with some good talent but some obvious flaws. But thanks for telling us “the truth of the matter” as if that hasn’t been pointed out on this board a hundred times before (including by the first couple of posters on this message board). Now I understand why everyone calls you robtard.
    
    I think the key for this team is to stay positive an unselfish. Because with our early season schedule, we will likely take a few Ls into the Pac 10 season. Guys need to stay loose and confident. Most of our top players are freshmen or sophomores, we will improve throughout the season.
    
    I was thinking before the game Dillon should perhaps start (for perimeter defense), but I would also like to see McClellan on the bench too, and let BrettB or Tanagra start. Its obvious that the first option all year will be Chase, than Bayless, than Hill. Basically the other two guys in the starting line-up should be defensive/glue guys. And than you can bring in Wise and McCellan off the bench for scoring.
    
    From the looks of it, Coach O’neill has only settled on 4 starters for now. Dillon was a stop-gap for this game. You can’t play Budinger at the 4 all year. We need someone to step up and be physical on the inside.
    
    Hopefully we can get some game experience, go deeper in our bench and work out some kinks over the next couple of games.
    — Mike H    11/18/2007 12:20 PM    #
15. I agree with Roberto to a certain degree. There are numerous reasons why the Wildcats no longer have the defensive presence as well as offensive presense in the paint since Channing moved on to the N.B.A., i.e., elite level recruits akin to Arthur turning down Arizona, health and injury issues, vastly overrated post players coming out of H.S., post players whom are “tweeners,” and perhaps lack of development due to coaching.
    From my perspective all of these factors have put Arizona basketball in a worst case scenario this season. But not all is doom and gloom. Because help is on the way in the persons Whitey and Negudu.
    
    All and all I still vision the Wildcats making the TOURNEY for an unprecedentated 24th year in a roll. Our non-conference SOS will again be a major plus, and as long as the Wildcats finish around 11-7, give or take a victory, in the PAC-10 conference, which arguably speaking happens to be one of the nation’s top two conferences.
    
    Also, most teams, which aren’t in the exclusive Top 8 status, of major college hoopdom all have their strengths and flaws. For instance, Stanford lost to Siena albeit on the road last night.
    
    So, the main ingrediant for Coach Olson’s Wildcats is to improve along the trek to another N.C.A.A. appearance. Be patience LOYAL Wildcat fandom because it’s always brighter at the end of the college hoops tunnel.
    — voice of lunacy    11/18/2007 12:35 PM    #
16. So, SCDAVE do you fathom the notion of getting completely “blown out” of McKale let alone on the road, using your modus operandi of benching three of four of Arizona’s starters to “lay down the law!!??”
    
    Moreso, Arizona simply does not have the quality bench to replace starters, at this stage of the season, for their collective court breakdowns.
    
    Now, if SCDAVE and others who share the same notions what to see a 12 or 17 point setback, then so be it. Because this is one Wildcat loyalist who will go along with the coaches decisions during the heat of the hardwood battle.
    — voice of lunacy    11/18/2007 12:44 PM    #
17. i’m a huge fan and like this year’s team. i agree they will improve as the season progresses. but i suspect this is going to be a long season. we have no low post presence. i also agree that chase needs to demand the ball at the end of the game, somewhat like salim used to do.
    — confused, maybe not    11/18/2007 01:31 PM    #
18. a few more observations after reading through the above posts-
    
    1. we did not lose to Sienna, Mercer, Gardner-Webb, or Grand Valley St.
    
    2. College Basketball is not College Football, for those of you saying “duh,” let me explain- in college football you can’t afford to lose at all if you want to contend, that’s why the strength of college football is its regular season and the weakness is the post-season. In college basketball losing a close one to a good team early on doesn’t kill you in March.
    
    3. Early season games are used for a number of reasons as we all know but a few of the most important ones are, player development/rotation solidification, testing yourself against good teams to boost RPI, and beating up cupcakes for confidence and getting bench guys minutes. the non-con. is all about getting ready for the pac-10.
    
    4. last nights game was about getting to play a good team early on to get tested. So one can walk away feeling better, because I know that this loss won’t endanger our season, and there were positive things happening out there even if some of you can only see W’s and L’s. I’ve said it before I’ll say it again, I’d rather lose know than in March.
    — scott    11/18/2007 02:30 PM    #
19. I’ve been hearing a lot of people saying that Bayless shouldn’t have touched the ball in the front court on that inbounds pass. For the record, it is not a back-court violation if you touch the ball in the front-court and then gain possession in the back-court. In other words, Bayless would have been fine if he had just run back there and picked it up instead of trying to save it. I would chalk it up as a “freshman mistake” but the rule is the same in high school so he should have known that. Tough loss but not a tragic loss. Let’s see how they respond. That will be the tell-tale sign for the rest of the season.
    — AZCoachB    11/18/2007 03:07 PM    #
20. Just watched about half of the NAU- Mizou/KC game on replay. We should learn more about this Cats in that one Monday- Mizou/KC is not a very good team. The Cats should beat them by 20 while using EVERYBODY including some valuable minutes for Tangara, Walters and Jacobsen if he doesn’t redshirt. It will be interesting to see if the starters play up to their ability so that the bench players can get some time or just play to the level of the competition as they have so many times in the past. Unfortunately Mizzou/KC seems small so the minutes will not be as valuable as they would have been against NAU but they will be minutes all the same. Question is which Cats will show up- the team that blows out a team it should blow out( the ones we haven’t seen in a while) or the one that just plays well enough to win? Hope for the sake of the bench it’s the former.
    — Ron W    11/18/2007 05:34 PM    #
21. SC Dave was correct—seldom was Hill in the post. Something to say about the lack of coaching. Lute got an O’Neill to spark the defense, maybe he needs an assistant who understands how to adequately coach the big men. Whitey, while tall, in addition to the need for him to bulk-up, will be a work in progress in his first year and will need a stong teaching coach to prepare him for the bump and pounding of the college game. It gets rough in there and bulk helps a heckuva lot more than style points.
    — James    11/18/2007 08:53 PM    #
22. If Buddinger isn’t demanding the ball at the end of the game, then he isn’t really a “go to guy”. I’m not saying that he isn’t a really good player, because he is. But a leader? Nope. Dude has to be screaming for the ball at the end of the game. That’s what the great ones do.
    — Robert    11/19/2007 12:02 AM    #
23. I find it kind of humorous that some of you consider yourselves experts on “how to adequately coach the big men” because they are not “in the post” enough. I’ve been saying for years that I think having Pastner coach the big men is a bad idea but for much different reasons than some of you are giving. Did it occur to any of you that Arizona runs their offense through a HIGH post as opposed to a LOW post? Also, there is nothing wrong with Jordan Hill facing the basket in the low post. He just has to be stronger with the ball and make his move faster. It’s usually to your advantage to face-up in the post when you’re a lot faster/quicker than the man that is guarding you (as was the case with Hill last night). Anyways, good comments all around.
    — AZCoachB    11/19/2007 12:07 AM    #
24. I didn’t see UVA ranked in any preseason polls. I think they’re underated- again. Chase not touching the ball the last few possesions was ridiculous. McClellan not very impressive. Where’s Tangara? Last year’s team probably would have folded and lost by 15. They actually showed a little toughness.
    — C.C.    11/19/2007 05:47 AM    #
25. I can not beleive that I am actually agreeing with Robert for the first time on this here blog, but the truth is the CATS lost at HOME! Three years ago you could accept one or two home losses during the season, but neve/ever in non-confernce play!
    
    Dilion while good on D sucks at the offense of side of the ball a pure off the bench guy when you need him to play lock down D.
    
    An for sure Robert is right on about not getting more big men in here.
    
    This is going to be another difficult season to watch, also knowing full well that Bayless is one and done and Budinger should leave also. I hope they look at Hansbrough in NC and think about coming back just to win a title next year, because this team just might have all the peices in place.
    — Wildcatike    11/19/2007 07:55 AM    #
26. #23, facing the basket isn’t the problem so much as facing the basket with a guy behind you who strips the ball. Thats what I saw.
    
    #25, like we all have been saying, USC lost to Mercer at home, NC St. lost to New Orleans last night, etc etc etc…its a long season, we’ll see what happens.
    — Darren    11/19/2007 08:15 AM    #
27. Yeah, Coach, I hear you about running their offense through the HIGH post, but I still don’t see Hill positioning himself for offensive rebounds. Maybe it’s because he gets knocked out of position by the bulkier guys. I have also said for years that Pastner doesn’t relate to the big guys. I don’t know, but have a suspicion that he doesn’t have enough credibility for them to listen to him. You hear the players talk about O’Neill in the same breath as they talk about his NBA experience. Pastner doesn’t even have the college experience for them to relate to.
    — James    11/19/2007 08:50 AM    #
28. I’m one of those that don’t believe Bayless will be one and done. I think he’ll be around next year. Too many real good and more seasoned guards who play better “D”, like Collison, will be coming out. In a sense Bayless will be playing out of position this year at the point. I don’t think the pros look at him as a point guard. He’s more a shooter than distributor who can shoot. Budinger for sure will leave.
    — James    11/19/2007 08:58 AM    #
29. I completely agree with the fact Bayless will be back, if he leaves I think he might turn into Marcus Williams, hopefully I’m wrong b/c he has a bright career ahead of him but probably a minimum of two years, although with the influx of guys next year do you think that’s possible? Better team, but worse statistics??
    
    Also, I have no idea why we are so tight with our bench players. Why do you bench Horne, that is ridiculous, could you possibly see Lute doing that, I mean there is no way. Who is coaching this team, I mean don’t you think O’neill would have consulted Lute about this decision?? it appears he didn’t.
    
    I like the Dillon move, and the emphasis on defence, but how is that this guy comes from barely playing in the preseason to now playing 30+ mins, where is the consistency, i mean we don’t see practice but this is kind of strange…and O’neill does some strange stuff…
    
    And can somebody tell me why Wise can’t play a more important role, I mean there was hype going into the season with him, but now Dillon his ahead of him, is there any hope for him?
    — t    11/19/2007 01:09 PM    #
30. Lock down D “off the bench”?
    What about lock down D, period.
    I remember when opponents shot 40% it was an insult!
    — Fred    11/19/2007 01:21 PM    #
31. #23, I find it kind of humorous that some of you consider yourselves experts on how to coach the game. Everyone… there is a reason that they’re coaching the team and not you. Most of you, with all your words of wisdom, were probably bench warmers at best in high school. Get a grip – it’s easy to be a critic after the fact.
    — D.A.    11/19/2007 01:30 PM    #
32. #30 – I think you answered your own question: “i mean we don’t see practice.” You don’t see practice. You also don’t see the hundreds of hours that go into game-planning for every game. Just relax. There is no need to be so reactionary. Try putting a little faith in Lute Olson, who happens to be in the Hall of Fame. The sky is not falling.
    — AZCoachB    11/19/2007 02:28 PM    #
33. do you think lute is having any say with the current rotation right now?
    — t    11/19/2007 02:39 PM    #
34. Marco, Marco, Marco:
    
    You are on crack! Unless, Lute was able to lace ‘em up and play the post, his presence would not have made one bit of difference. Right now, the problem is not a coaching problem, it’s a talent problem. This is a team full of guards and small forwards. Unfortunately, this isn’t the NBA where we could trade a few of them and get some bigs in return. Our roster is what it is and because of that, we will be fortunate to get 18 wins. I’m sorry dude, but them’s the facts.
    
    So, lay off of head coach O’neill. He inherited this mess and it’s going to take a year or more to straighten it out. He was very successful in recruiting some quality big men, but that does nothing for us right now. Look for improvements in 09 and 10.
    — Robert    11/19/2007 02:54 PM    #
35. Yes.
    — AZCoachB    11/19/2007 03:24 PM    #
36. “This is a team full of guards and small forwards…we will be fortunate to get 18 wins.”
    
    We disagree.
    — 05-06 Villanova    11/19/2007 03:29 PM    #
37. We also disagree.
    — 04-05 Illinois    11/19/2007 03:32 PM    #
38. Robert explain to me how this is a mess??? This is a young and talented team.You know i can remember a few years back MSU had a young team and a murderous non-conference schedule. I believe at 1 point they were 5-5 and ended up playing in either the sweet 16 or elite 8 when they lost to KY. All i am saying folks we are going to take some lumps but we will be better off down the road. It is unbelieveable how people are jumping off the team after 2 GAMES….......
    — Trev In Kc    11/19/2007 03:59 PM    #
39. #37 and #38,
    
    Tell me,
    
    How many titles did these guys win? Hmmmmmm, yes. That’s what I thought. To win the big one, you need…...............floor balance. Otherwise, you are just the college version of the Suns. Fun too watch, but no chance of winning the big one.
    
    And # 38, don’t get me started about Illinois. That had more to do with Lute choking down the stretch by putting the rock into Shakur’s hads
    — Robert    11/19/2007 05:05 PM    #
40. Marco’s, 35 points is reaching. Talk about LUNACY!!!! A more apt point differentiation would be about 22-25 points in Arizona’s favor. Remember, remember this. The Wildcats’ don’t have quality bench depth. Of course, if Coach O’Neil decides to play all of his starters more than thirty minutes, then the 35 point victory margin is attainable.
    
    Robert, perhaps, you’re sell this year’s version of the Wildcats short. IMHO twenty or twenty-one regular victories are feasonable.
    — voice of lunacy    11/19/2007 06:11 PM    #
41. #26 yes I know it is a long season and that is what I say every year in November professor!
    
    Fact – AZ has not lost a November home game since 1978 before they even got to be an elite team.
    
    As I have stated on the Blog for the past few years, PROTECT THE HOME COURT, plain and simple.
    
    If they blow our the Roadrunners tonight I might change my tune, but if it is close watch out for this to be the first year in 26? not making it to the dance, and another one of those stats will fall as so many have the past two years.
    — Wildcatike    11/19/2007 07:55 PM    #
42. Ike,
    
    Well, looks like your worst fear is about to come true!!!!! Marco, you’re looking good, dude. The 35 point victory is in the bag!!!!! Not only are we going to make the final four, we will be playing on Monday :)
    — Robert    11/19/2007 08:15 PM    #
43. We didn’t say we won championships but we did win an average of 30 games between us in those seasons. We think you will win 18 games by the end of February.
    — Villanova, Illinois    11/19/2007 09:50 PM    #
44. “Daniel Dillon can’t play offense”
    
    4-4 (3-3 3 pt fg), 14 pts.
    
    “Arizona can’t guard the 3”
    
    UMKC: 7-26 3 pt fg (26.9%)
    
    In related news, ASU is down 29-8 11 minutes into the game against Illinois.
    
    Wow. They are awful.
    — AZCoachB    11/19/2007 10:01 PM    #
45. They played a good game but this was against a school that I’ve never heard of. Happy to see some help from the bench.
    — vegasallen    11/19/2007 10:43 PM    #
46. Can’t help but wonder why Tangara and Walters didn’t see any PT…I won’t buy that it was because of UMKC’s 3-point shooting “prowess.”
    — scott    11/19/2007 11:20 PM    #
47. Scott—O’Neill is really focused on matchups, and UMKC had a small lineup. He said Walters is playing better in practice and will play him soon, but not on Wednesday, because Adams State is small, too.
    So maybe he’ll get thrown into the fire at Kansas. We’ll know pretty quickly how he’s doing then…
    — Bruce Pascoe    11/19/2007 11:44 PM    #
48. So Walters is playing better? He certainly couldn’t play worse!
    — vegasallen    11/20/2007 06:00 AM    #
49. Marco—O’Neill seems to have a different philosophy than Olson on this. I suspect his defensive focus means he would prefer to match up similar sized guys so they can stay with the opponent defensively more than anything. He did say he would play Walters soon, just not on Wednesday because Adams State is so small.
    Olson would have probably gone with Brielmaier last night as a fourth starter, if I had to guess…
    — Bruce Pascoe    11/20/2007 01:36 PM    #

: Help on the way ... in '08
: Dillon making impact