Budinger’s new beginning

Coaching change now suits forward

Arizona’s Chase Budinger, front, heads to the hoop ahead of Washington State’s Daven Harmeling in this file photo from Jan. 24. Budinger leads U of A in scoring at 19.1 points heading into tonight’s game against Kansas University in Tucson, Ariz.

? Arizona University standout Chase Budinger, who pulled his name out of the 2008 NBA Draft to play another season for veteran coach Lute Olson, was stunned — not ticked off — when Olson announced his resignation on Oct. 23.

“It was difficult when it happened,” Budinger, a 6-foot-8, 218-pound junior forward from Encinitas, Calif., acknowledged. “It took me a week to get over the hump and move on. It didn’t take too long to become focused on basketball and the season ahead.”

Budinger — who said it was “kind of selfish that people were upset after all coach Olson brought to the city of Tucson over the last 25 years and for the way he turned the school into a national powerhouse” — held no grudges despite the fact Olson also put the program in a bind before the 2007-08 season.

That’s when the Hall of Fame coach took a seasonlong leave of absence, leaving the head-coaching duties to Kevin O’Neill, who is now an assistant coach with the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies.

Instead of pouting, Budinger has put all his energy into learning interim coach Russ Pennell’s system.

Budinger has thrived in the system, taking a 19.1 scoring and 6.0 rebounding average into today’s 9:30 p.m. nonconference clash between U of A (7-3) and Kansas University (8-2).

“The offense is very good for me. We move the ball better. We run a mixture of the running game and halfcourt,” said Budinger, a 54.3 percent shooter who has made 25 of 43 threes for 58.1 percent.

“I have always I’ve been able to shoot threes consistently. This year, I’ve stepped it up more. I’ve taken good shots.”

Budinger hit six threes in 12 tries and scored 27 points in the Wildcats’ 76-72 overtime loss to KU last Nov. 25 in Allen Fieldhouse. The Jayhawks entered that game ranked fourth in the country; U of A was unrated and unheralded.

“That was the game people noticed I could step up in big games and knock down threes,” Budinger said, adding, “I remember it going in overtime. We were exhausted at that point, and they took over the game.”

Brandon Rush scored 17 points and grabbed eight rebounds in 37 minutes, while taking his turn on Budinger defensively.

It was an extended stint for Rush, who was coming off anterior cruciate ligament surgery.

“The doctors told me he could play 18-20 minutes. We only played him 37,” KU coach Bill Self said with a grin. “The doctors said he looked great, wasn’t tired at all (at halftime).

“Brandon nearly made a three-quarter-court shot to win it in regulation. I really remember Brandon more than anything else that game. Of course, Budinger hit some big shots. Thanks for reminding me,” the coach cracked.

Now, Budinger gets a chance to even the score in McKale Center, the Wildcats’ 14,545-seat arena.

“I wouldn’t call it a revenge game. It’s another big game for us,” Budinger said.

The Wildcats have defeated then No. 4-ranked Gonzaga, San Diego State, Loyola Marymount, Northern Arizona, Santa Clara, Mississippi Valley State and Florida Atlantic and lost to UAB, Texas A&M and UNLV.

“They are coming down to our floor this year. It will be a heck of a battle. KU is always a great team. We always want to beat them, and they want to beat us,” said Budinger, who likely will be matched against KU sophomore Brady Morningstar.

“Brady is the most equipped guy to guard him,” Self said. “I don’t know if he can lock him up. Travis (Releford) also could be a guy.

“Travis did a good job on Christmas the seven minutes he played,” Self added of Releford shadowing Temple’s Dionte Christmas in Saturday’s 71-59 KU victory in Allen Fieldhouse.

Morningstar says he’d welcome the chance to guard a star like Budinger.

“He’s good. Obviously the NBA guys like him. He’s one of the best players in the country,” Morningstar said. “It’s our first road game of the season. It’ll be a challenge. We have to come out ready to play.”

U of A also has double-digit scorers in center Jordan Hill (18.5 ppg, 11.9 rpg) and guard Nic Wise (13.6 points, 52 assists against 27 turnovers).

“Nic does a great job getting it started. He’s our floor leader,” Budinger said. “Without Nic, we are dead in the water. I think it’ll be a good game. It’s a big game. Nobody has to work or go to school, so it’s a great exposure game for everybody over the holiday. It’ll be fun.”