Dickerson to Try Davis On for Size

Arizona swingman Michael Dickerson, who has been matched defensively in the past against Brevin Knight, God Shammgod and Jacque Vaughn, said he was surprised that Coach Lute Olson had decided to start the game with Dickerson defending UCLA point guard Baron Davis.

“Oh, I am? I thought I’d be guarding Toby [Bailey] or Kris [Johnson],” the 6-foot-5 Dickerson said Friday.

“I like playing point guards. Normally, I’m taller and I think my height gives them a problem--and my quickness. Normally, they see me coming and their eyes light up thinking they’ll be able to drive on me.”

Said Olson: “We’ve done [that] in the past few years, putting Dickerson on the point guard, because it gives us a little size advantage, it makes it tough for their point guard to spot open people.

“Dickerson also has good foot quickness, and he’s going to need that going up against a guard like Davis.”