Jerryd Bayless leads the Wildcats in scoring average at 19.9, and his .513 shooting percentage is best among Wildcat guards.

kelly presnell / arizona daily star 2007

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Kevin O'Neill is not sure why Jerryd Bayless plays the way he does, why he has the look of competitive fire that belongs to the greats.

He could look to Bayless' older brother, Justin — who is 23 — and the basketball games the two played together. They usually ended in fights.

"I've always had that," the freshman guard said. "Ever since I was young, I've hated to lose. The battles with me and my brother in the backyard had something to do with it."

Sunday, the Phoenician scored a career-high 26 points on 7-of-12 shooting. He leads the team with a 19.9 points per game; his .513 shooting percentage from the field leads UA guards.

Bayless shot 60 percent from the field last week, totaling 47 points in wins against Cal State- Fullerton and Texas A&M.

Sunday, O'Neill was wowed by Bayless' competitiveness.

"The first time I met Jerryd I knew he was going to be like that," he said. "I can't explain it to you. Whatever it is, he has it."

O'Neill said there's no real common denominator for players who have that drive.

"I couldn't put my finger on anything that makes those people stand out that's in their background," he said. "But there are certain guys who are killers and certain guys that aren't.

"I don't think you can teach somebody to be competitive, but you can force them to become more competitive if you have some competitive people around them to show them the way."

Bayless said he has been comfortable all season but knew he was hot Sunday when he lost control of the ball for a second but still made a basket.

"I made those types of shots last year in high school a lot, so it wasn't anything new," he said. "But it was the first time I've really felt like I had it going since I've been here in college."

Bayless said he did not feel like he carried the Wildcats against the Aggies. O'Neill said Bayless' competitiveness is spreading as the UA prepares to play Illinois on Saturday.

"You hope that becomes something that is a little bit catchy," O'Neill said.

O'Neill said he did not watch No. 24 USC lose to No. 2 Memphis by four points Tuesday night — then admitted that he does not watch much college basketball for fun.

"To be honest with you, I'm more of a pro basketball watcher," he said.

O'Neill has already watched all seven of Illinois' games — and said he avoided the Memphis game, in part, because the Wildcats do not play the Tigers until Dec. 29.

"Other than that, I'm not going to sit around on a Saturday and say, 'I'd love to watch Duke and North Carolina duke it out,'" he said. "Those guys have great programs, they have great coaches, but I'm not getting off my couch to watch Duke and North Carolina.

"I'd rather watch 'Law & Order' than a lot of college basketball, to be honest."

O'Neill said focusing on his team makes his life easier.

"I know that sounds a little anti-social, which my wife tells me I am sometimes," he said. "I become easily distracted. From the time I was 15, I'd get distracted and do stupid things. I know my limitations, and I know I want to stay focused on what's ahead."

● O'Neill said "a couple of guys" will take a final Friday, while the team is in Chicago. The Wildcats leave tonight for Illinois and will practice Friday.

O'Neill said he was not worried about the tests affecting his players.

"If we aren't focused by now, we aren't going to be focused," he said. "I don't think that will bother our guys at all."

● Bayless donned a Red Sox hat with an "I Heart New York" T-shirt.

He can't like both rival cities, can he?

The hat has nothing to do with the Boston baseball team.

"The B — for Bayless," he said.