Pac-10 Spotlight; Tatum's Turnabout; Brown's Rebound Fuels Arizona's Bid For A Pac-10 Championship

Tatum Brown, who had what she called a "horrible junior year" at Arizona, is making up for lost time as a senior.

And lost points and lost rebounds.

"I think the old Tatum is back," Brown said this week.

She is back to the point where she is the statistical leader of the Wildcats, who at 11-1 appear ready to battle for the Pac-10 women's basketball championship.

Brown, a 6-foot-4 forward from Tacoma's Foss High School, is averaging 16.3 points (fourth in the Pac-10) and 8.9 rebounds (second), and she leads the league in field-goal shooting percentage (66.1). In addition, she is providing leadership as someone who knows what it takes to win a championship.

Brown arrived at Arizona after leading Central Arizona to the National Junior College Athletic Association national title in 1998. She was the MVP of the tournament and a Kodak JC All-American.

But with little more than a minute to play in the championship game, Brown suffered a knee injury, tearing her anterior cruciate ligament, which required surgery and extensive rehabilitation. She arrived at Arizona as a mere shell of her former self. Then, in addition to her physical problems, she was declared academically ineligible midway through the season.

Looking back, she said she thinks being ineligible was a blessing "because it gave me time to refocus on me and the things I needed to do as far as getting myself healthy for this season."

"She's like a different person," Arizona Coach Joan Bonvicini said. "She is by far our most consistent performer."

The route Brown took to get where is now was unusual. After signing with Arizona as a Foss senior, she decided to go to Central Arizona, where the basketball program was strong and playing time was available.

"Instead of coming (to Arizona) and sitting, I went and played at junior college," Brown said.

A good decision?

"At the time I didn't think so," she said. "I was upset. But it worked out. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I matured mentally and physically."

She matured enough to become the leader of what Bonvicini thinks might become the best team she has had in eight years as Arizona's coach.

"I like the fact we're growing together as a team," Brown said. "We're learning more about each other . . . individually . . . everyone's different style of play. I think we know who is going to do what.

"I think we have more confidence in each other."

And no one has attracted more confidence than Brown.