Joining Jackson-Cartwright on the bench again was sophomore guard Allonzo Trier, who did not play for the 12th straight game because of his ongoing NCAA eligibility issue.
Even though the fall semester is now over at UA, Miller said that has “nothing to do” with Trier’s eligibility. Asked if Trier might be tempted to leave for pro ball since the semester is over, Miller said “no.”
The only public sign of possible progress is that Trier was cleared by the NCAA to travel with the Wildcats, Miller said earlier this month. Trier was not cleared to travel for UA’s games in Honolulu and Las Vegas in November but has since been able to attend UA’s Dec. 3 game in Los Angeles against Gonzaga and Saturday’s game at the Toyota Center.
Trier, Jackson-Cartwright and Talbott Denny (ACL) made up Saturday’s “sweatsuit crew” on the bench. Ray Smith, who tore his ACL early last month, did not make the trip because he is still recovering from surgery and it was considered not worth the risk of taking him on the Wildcats’ charter flight for the short trip.
