"Up until this weekend, it's been the best time of my career here. People could tell by me smiling all the time on the court, which I don't do very often."

Olson has worked for four years to squeeze that smile onto Stoudamire's face. He believes Stoudamire's tendency toward self-flagellation makes him less of a player and less of a teammate. Arizona cannot afford a decline in either area. Stoudamire is as important to the Wildcats as any player is to any top team. In their five losses, he shot 35.4 percent from the field and averaged 13.8 points. Arizona has been unable to make full use of forward Hassan Adams' ability to attack the lane, and center Channing Frye can be contained by physical defenders. Stoudamire must score.

But last December, Olson suspended his most important player for the second time in two seasons, believing Stoudamire's persistent negativity, though aimed at himself, was destructive to the Wildcats. "When he gets that way, I get depressed just looking at him," Olson says. "And I'm sure his teammates didn't know whether he was upset with them or upset with himself or what."

Last offseason, Olson gave Stoudamire a warning: If his approach did not change, he would not be welcomed back to the team. He could remain on scholarship but not play. It never came to that. "I talked to a few of the guys," Olson says, "and they said they'd never seen a guy change as much in five months."

Through January and February, Stoudamire was the most dynamic offensive force in Division I. He topped the 20-point mark 10 times. The Wildcats took on the look of a Final Four contender. "I think a lot of teams have already peaked," Stoudamire says. "I don't think we have. Everybody's not on the same page yet."

When he perceived the change in Stoudamire, Olson converted to zealously promoting him as an All-American.

Stoudamire is as difficult to defend as any wing player. Some shooters are more dangerous than their statistics indicate--for instance, Syracuse's Gerry McNamara. In contrast, Stoudamire has incredible numbers but perhaps not the reputation his stats warrant.

"Anybody that's seen him sees that he's changed," Olson says. "People need to give him a chance and not say, 'Look at what he was like a year ago.' He has the right to be judged on what is now, rather than what was."

So what is Stoudamire now? Is he the guy who made jumpers and elevated his teammates for nearly two months? Is he the guy who grew so frustrated he twice bumped Washington's Nate Robinson in the closing minutes of a game long since decided? "It was just a bad game," Stoudamire says. If he can leave it at that, so can we.

Chaney's punishment should have been more severe

The saddest aspect of the John Chaney affair is that John Bryant, a solid, guiltless forward for Saint Joseph's, will not get to finish his college basketball career in uniform. It's nearly as disappointing, though, that not a single adult empowered to deal with this situation handled it correctly.

Chaney began this sorry episode by promising to send out "goons" if officials working the Temple-St. Joe's game did not pay adequate attention to what he perceived to be the Hawks' propensity to set illegal screens. Chaney delivered on that promise by ordering 6-8 forward Nehemiah Ingrain to commit hard fouls. Ingrain fouled minutes; included Chaney was a shove against Bryant that apparently resulted in a season-ending arm injury.

Ultimately, Temple president David Adamany suspended Chaney for the remainder of the regular season. "I think they made a wise decision because there is more than just me to think about," Chaney told Sporting News Radio.

Before the extent of Bryant's injury was known, however, Chaney had been allowed to self-impose a one-game suspension. Atlantic 10 commissioner Linda Bruno exercised none of the authority implied by her title, at first approving Chaney's self-policing and then endorsing the university suspension.

The Temple suspension has no real bite; Chaney can coach the most important remaining games, in the A-10 Tournament, and conduct practices in the interim. He should have been punished more severely, regardless of Bryant's condition. Chaney undermined the integrity of the game. He should have been given more time to think about that.

speed reads

Whatever you think of the Southeastern Conference, Kentucky's 13-1 record is an amazing achievement for a team starting two freshmen and a first-year transfer. Remember when so many UK fans screamed that Tubby Smith couldn't coach?

There is nothing better in college basketball than a competitive conference tournament championship in a one-bid league. Give me Liberty vs. Winthrop.

The ACC/Big Ten Challenge will continue at least until the end of the decade, even though the Big Ten has been hammered the past six years and is 5-13 in the past two seasons. With the ACE expanding, the event will involve all 11 Big Ten members. Isn't this a little like sitting at the blackjack table and doubling your bets as the dealer keeps feeding himself face cards?

INSIDE DISH