Arizona freshman reserve forward Sidi Gueye is questionable with an unspecified injury for its conference opener Saturday at Utah, according to UA's first Big 12 men's basketball player availability report.
Gueye was limited by a knee injury in the preseason but played three minutes in the Wildcats' nonconfernce finale on Monday against South Dakota State and UA has not detailed what he is facing this week. UA coach Tommy Lloyd has not been available for comment since Monday's game.
A 6-11 freshman from Senegal, Gueye has only played limited minutes in 10 of UA's 13 games and is outside the Wildcats' eight-player rotation, but Lloyd has said he told Gueye before UA's Dec. 13 game at Alabama that he wanted him to be ready to play in a high-level game in four weeks.
Arizona forward Sidi Gueye (15) looks to shoot the ball over an Abilene Christian defender at McKale Center, Dec. 16, 2025.
“Sidi has gotten off to a slower start here for a variety of reasons," Lloyd said last month, "but Sidi is really talented, he's a great kid, and he can catch up fast, so I want to get him in catch-up mode right now — physically, with his strength, his conditioning, his IQ and understanding of what we're trying to do."
Utah has listed Babacar Faye and Jacob Patrick as out. Faye is out for the season with a knee injury while Patrick has missed the Utes' past three games with an unspecified injury.
Under a new conference rule this season, Big 12 men's basketball teams are required to post player availability reports the evening before a game and again 90 minutes before tipoff.
In the Big 12, teams will be required to classify players as “available,” “game-time decision,” or “out." Reports will also be required during the NCAA Tournament, but in those, players will be assumed to be available unless listed as “questionable” or “out.”
Lloyd has been unusually outspoken against their implementation, saying not issuing reports protects players.
“They’re not protecting the players. What they’re doing is they’re protecting their financial interest, an investment in their sports,” Lloyd said. “This is solely because betting sponsorship is becoming a huge part of everything, and everyone wants a piece of it. They’re trying to get more friendly, for the books, the casinos.
“That’s it. There’s no other way to put it. I have no problem doing it, but I think we all have to just be honest with why we’re doing it.”
