After getting swept on its most recent road trip to Los Angeles, the Washington basketball team will not have any time to catch its breath. Instead, the No. 20 Huskies have to gear up for another top-flight opponent.

Back in Hec Edmondson Pavilion against No. 7 Arizona (11-1 overall, 2-0 Pac-10), the Huskies (10-3 overall, 0-2 Pac-10) will have to right the ship quickly.

"We've got to get back to playing with confidence and get back to playing the kind of basketball we are capable of playing," said coach Lorenzo Romar. "In some ways, we've got to take the thinking out. When you're thinking too much, you get stagnant."

Sophomore Jon Brockman does not want his team to forget about its recent struggles. Playing top opponents can help a team desperately in need of experience, he said.

With three freshmen starters and a fourth who amasses numerous minutes, youth is no longer a viable excuse for a team 13 games into the season.

"There are no young guys anymore," said junior Ryan Appleby. "We've had big games at home and on the road. Everybody's had plenty of minutes and plenty of game experience to the point where we need to grow up."

Against the Wildcats — who have won 11 games in a row — the Huskies will have to grow up fast.

They cannot afford to turn the ball over against an opportunistic Arizona team, which could be a problem since the Huskies ranked last in the Pac-10 in turnovers.

If Washington is not at its best, the Wildcats will make this homecoming a miserable one for Romar and his team.

"You're talking about five guys in their lineup that will probably play in the NBA," Romar said. "That's pretty good. Everyone can shoot it, handle it and find the open man. That's a dangerous opponent when you put it all together."

Led by Seattle native Marcus Williams, Ivan Radenovic and freshman Chase Budinger, all of whom are averaging more than 16 points and six rebounds per game, Arizona has once again climbed back into the top 10.

Williams — who averaged 18 points in two games against the Huskies last year — will try to make it two in a row at Hec Ed after a double-overtime victory over Brandon Roy's team last season.

He will also try to overcome last year's meltdown at the free-throw line, which permitted Washington to steal a win in Tucson to close the season.

The other big storyline will be between the two McDonald's All-Americans — Husky freshman Spencer Hawes and Budinger — playing against each other for the first time.

Hawes took over as team leader in points per game, averaging 16.5 on the season. His late-game heroics against USC proved he can be the go-to guy for Romar's offense.

Budinger has made similar contributions to Lute Olson's team while ranking second on the team in minutes.

The magnitude of the game against Arizona is not at all lost on the Huskies.

"Every year they're in the top 10, 15 in the nation," Brockman said. "The fans always seem to get up for it, it's a big game on our schedule."

It could also be a chance for Washington to position itself for a Pac-10 title run.

Reach reporter Justin Chartrey at justinchartrey@thedaily.washington.edu.