"Mike was like a sponge," Olson says of his two-year starting point guard, now entering the second year of his NBA career with Vancouver. "Jason Gardner is the same. He wants me to stay on him. He wants to learn."

	Mike Bibby had no trouble stepping in at Arizona. Lute Olson hopes Jason Gardner has similar success.

And, like Bibby, Gardner is a lock to step into Arizona's lineup as a freshman and make a smooth transition from high school to NCAA Tournament-level play.

What is it about certain players and programs that makes it easy for first-year players to adjust?

Talent is the obvious answer, but it's not enough. First-year players, whether they're freshmen, junior college transfers or four-year transfers, need to fit the style of play, possess a passion for the game, have fundamentals down, listen to constructive criticism and respect authority to ensure immediate success.

"Sometimes you'll get a guy who knows it all and isn't receptive to the adjustment they have to make," Olson said. "Fortunately, those guys have been in the minority with us. We knew Jason Gardner would fit us perfectly. He's what we want in a point guard in our system."

Gardner simply has to push the ball in transition, jump-start the defense by pressing the ball and create movement in the offense. The Wildcats don't spend too much time on intricate halfcourt sets. But, even then, Gardner might be able to survive. He's got the tools of the trade: he can handle the ball, can get down in a defensive stance and has the instinct for a passing game.

UCLA freshman Jason Kapono won't be counted on to step in and be as integral a part of the team as Gardner, but he's expected to create from the wing and will start in the season opener. Kapono has made the adjustment within the first few weeks because of his innate understanding of the game.

"He's got tremendous basketball IQ and is fundamentally sound with great poise," UCLA coach Steve Lavin said. "Jason Kapono could go to any program -- Kentucky, Utah or Indiana -- and play right away. There are players who can contribute right away and there are others, like George Zidek who took a while to develop, who won't contribute until the end of their careers."

Kapono's savvy was cultivated by hanging out in the gym. A player like Zidek still had to work harder at being a gym regular, let alone a rat. Kapono hasn't had a problem with the preseason workouts. His body was already in condition to handle playing a ton of ball over the course of a day or week.

"That's the biggest adjustment -- coming to grips with the intensity level and doing it on a consistent basis," Kansas coach Roy Williams said of his key factor for a first-year player's success.

	“	It helps if the player has had a demanding coach who put obligations on them, haven't been spoiled, been the focal point of their team and played man-to-man defense. ”
		— Utah coach Rick Majerus

"The five-spot (center) is the easiest for a player to adjust to because it's the least cerebral spot," Majerus said. "The one (point) is the hardest because it's the thinking man's spot. It helps if the player has had a demanding coach who put obligations on them, haven't been spoiled, been the focal point of their team and played man-to-man defense."

It's a lot to ask of a first-year player but if the player doesn't mesh early, he's not going to have an impact at a school like Utah. Talent can change the adjustment to some degree, mainly if there are openings on the roster.

DePaul's trio of '98-99 freshmen -- Quentin Richardson, Lance Williams and Bobby Simmons -- would have likely been a hit in any year. But it made even more sense for the Blue Demons, who were coming off a single-digit win season.

"For us, it was a matter of necessity for them to adjust quickly," DePaul coach Pat Kennedy said. "Any school where there's a void of talent and a new coach takes over, the new kids are going to play."

But don't think there won't be problems. Terminology becomes an issue early in the season and can last for months. Players who just don't get it have trouble understanding the system. That's why a coach's son is the preferred choice.

"We assume too many things," Stanford coach Mike Montgomery said. "We have a lot of stuff to throw at them and we've got to go slow early (if they're going to adjust)."

Tennessee coach Jerry Green might have gone too fast for forward Vincent Yarbrough. He struggled to have an impact season a year ago. Whatever the case, Green is going slower this season.

"We're going to make everything very basic and be very deliberate the first four weeks," Green said of teaching his six newcomers. "We overloaded Vincent with too many things. It might be because he's so young. He's only 18 as a sophomore."

But Yarbrough should have been prepared after playing the yearlong AAU circuit. That summer play, if used correctly, should help a player get used to the physical pounding he'll take in the college season.

"These kids play 120 games, are on national television, stay in hotels like the Mirage in Las Vegas, eat in nice restaurants and play more games than NBA players," Lavin said. "By the time they get here, they shouldn't be overwhelmed and intimidated."

Most of the elite players aren't and that's why they'll always have the easier time adjusting.

"AAU helps a lot because you play against the best in your class," said Duke freshman point guard Jason Williams, an expected starter and impact first-year player. "Touring during the season and playing against all those teams and players in the CBA and NBA helps your body mature. You're playing with guys who are so much bigger."

Williams said he found out he wasn't as good as he thought last summer. His confidence was knocked down but not shot. If anything, it forced him to work harder, making the adjustment at Duke even easier.

"What it comes down to is this: if a kid is ready to play, he'll play," Georgia Tech coach Bobby Cremins said. "The only exception is unless a player goes to a place where everybody is back, like Corey Maggette at Duke last year. If a kid is ready, I'll play him in his first year."

Andy Katz is a senior writer at ESPN.com.