Arizona-Utah pregame: Is Alex Barcello ready to help?

SALT LAKE CITY – Parker Jackson-Cartwright may be one of the biggest keys to Thursday’s UA-Utah game, with a sub-6-foot matchup against Justin Bibbins and the responsibility of running the team in what could be the most hostile environment the Wildcats have faced yet.

But the Wildcats may also need some help at the point from Alex Barcello, which they haven’t really had since before he sprained his ankle a month ago.

It’s been an odd rehabilitation for him so far.

Barcello hurt the ankle between UA’s game at Texas A&M (Dec. 5) and Alabama (Dec. 9). He played three ineffective minutes against Alabama, when the problem appeared to worse than believed, and then was held out for an entire week – and didn’t play at all against New Mexico on Dec. 16.

Barcello played 11 minutes against North Dakota State on Dec. 18, scoring four points, but then was held out against UConn three days later.

Barcello returned again against ASU last week but played only six minutes, with one rebound, one turnover, no assists and no points.

UA coach Sean Miller indicated that should change going forward.

“Alex Barcello, in my mind, he was hitting his stride (before the injury) and now he’s working his way back,” Miller said this week. “He’s completely healthy but now he has to regain that confidence”

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SI.com moved Rawle Alkins into the first round of its projected 2018 mock NBA Draft, though Allonzo Trier still is outside it. Deandre Ayton remains its projected No. 1 pick. (SI also knocked an inch off of the heights UA has listed for both players).

The Salt Lake Tribune and Deseret News both had stories about Bibbins in advance of Thursday’s game.

It’s still probably too early to look, but ESPN’s Bracketology has UA a No. 4 seed in the Midwest, starting in San Diego.

When asked about injuries this week, Utah coach Larry Krystkowiak compared his approach to Utes football coach Kyle Whittingham, who doesn’t reveal much. Then Krystkowiak went on some tangents:

“Am I a little softer than Whitt?” Krystkowiak said. “Where’s he at right now? Hawaii, vacationing? Dirty dog. But how ‘bout the Utes representing the Pac-12 when it came to the these bowl games. Enjoy the sun, Whitt, if you out there. This is usually the time of year when he sends me texts and wants to golf. I’m like, `Wait a minute, bro, I got a job to do.' Then I return the favor in September and ask him.”

Utah was the only one of nine Pac-12 teams to win its bowl game.