Pennell knows a "tough patch'' could be coming

    Russ Pennell isn’t trying to fool himself or those who follow the Arizona men’s basketball team. In so many words, he has said UA is going to hit a rough patch at some point. He’s said it at least three times in the last couple of weeks since being named interim head coach in place of Lute Olson.
    He’s being as honest as he can, perhaps being realistic. It’s a reason why he’s tried and continues to make a concerted effort to have this team bond and get close.
    “How we handle those things (the rough times) will determine if we can still have success,’’ Pennell said.
    Pennell said part of his realistic view is because of UA’s schedule. Once again, it’s considered tough as it plays in the preseason NIT, at Texas A&M, against Gonzaga (in Phoenix) and against Kansas in Tucson.
    “This schedule was made with the thoughts of different personnel being here,’’ Pennell said. “I’m not dogging our guys; I love our guys, but probably, whoever made our schedule, knew that this would be our team, we probably wouldn’t have the schedule we have right now.
    “Does that mean I’m giving in? Absolutely not. We’re going to coach ‘em up and play as hard as we can. I’m hope we can grind out some great wins. But I also know who we are playing is pretty darn good. That’s going to be one of the challenges for us. If we don’t play (as well as they can). How are we going to respond? That’s the thing I don’t know yet. Our kids don’t know. We’ll go through this together.’’