Sean Miller held a press conference Friday morning to preview Sunday's game against ASU as the Wildcats open up Pac-12 play and he touched on a number of topics ranging from his center coming back to going up against the Sun Devils.
* To start Miller opened up with the players who could be on the floor Sunday and who will not be. The UA head coach said that he anticipates Kaleb Tarczewski will play Sunday against ASU. The injured senior has spent time in a boot because of a foot injury but Miller said he will start practicing as the ASU game gets closer and he will not rush Tarczewski but he expects him to contribute in some way.
Miller said Tarczewski is expected to come off the bench and at this point there is no set amount of minutes he will play, but there has been no pain now that he has started working his way back.
* On the other side Miller continues to stay quiet when it comes to Elliott Pitts and he said Friday that there is no change with his status. He has missed a number of games going back to December.
* In its extended break Miller said he has been about everything when it comes to practice and what he has the team working on. Because there is no class right now he said he has not worried about how long the team has gone in practice and that has meant working on things until the UA head coach sees fit.
* As Pac-12 play begins it was the depth of the conference that Miller discussed again Friday. It is something he has mentioned quite a bit leading up to conference play and especially after the Long Beach State win. With the first three games on the road to start 2016 Miller said that will challenge his team and he believes all three could play in the NCAA Tournament and advance as well.
* Miller was asked about Justin Simon and his development and he said the freshman guard could be one of the guys who makes or breaks conference play. He commended the freshman for not missing a practice or any other team-related activity so far this season and added that when a highly-decorated freshman doesn't get an immediate role there are times when that player feels like he is not thought of in the same light. Miller said that is not the case with Simon and he knows how important he can be to the team.
* As far as the summer goes Miller said he will not be part of USA Basketball this year and mentioned that it is time for someone else to takeover that role.
* To start Miller opened up with the players who could be on the floor Sunday and who will not be. The UA head coach said that he anticipates Kaleb Tarczewski will play Sunday against ASU. The injured senior has spent time in a boot because of a foot injury but Miller said he will start practicing as the ASU game gets closer and he will not rush Tarczewski but he expects him to contribute in some way.
Miller said Tarczewski is expected to come off the bench and at this point there is no set amount of minutes he will play, but there has been no pain now that he has started working his way back.
* On the other side Miller continues to stay quiet when it comes to Elliott Pitts and he said Friday that there is no change with his status. He has missed a number of games going back to December.
* In its extended break Miller said he has been about everything when it comes to practice and what he has the team working on. Because there is no class right now he said he has not worried about how long the team has gone in practice and that has meant working on things until the UA head coach sees fit.
* As Pac-12 play begins it was the depth of the conference that Miller discussed again Friday. It is something he has mentioned quite a bit leading up to conference play and especially after the Long Beach State win. With the first three games on the road to start 2016 Miller said that will challenge his team and he believes all three could play in the NCAA Tournament and advance as well.
* Miller was asked about Justin Simon and his development and he said the freshman guard could be one of the guys who makes or breaks conference play. He commended the freshman for not missing a practice or any other team-related activity so far this season and added that when a highly-decorated freshman doesn't get an immediate role there are times when that player feels like he is not thought of in the same light. Miller said that is not the case with Simon and he knows how important he can be to the team.
* As far as the summer goes Miller said he will not be part of USA Basketball this year and mentioned that it is time for someone else to takeover that role.
