Arizona center Dusan Ristic won his first-ever Pac-12 Player of the Week award Monday after leading the Wildcats to a home sweep of Colorado and Utah.
Ristic averaged 19.5 points and 7.5 rebounds over the Wildcats' two games last week while shooting 84.2 percent from the field and also making all three 3-pointers he took against Utah.
Among others, Ristic beat out UCLA’s Aaron Holiday and USC’s Jonah Mathews for the award. Holiday averaged 21 points while shooting 52.6 percent from the field in UCLA’s wins over California and Stanford while Mathews averaged 17.0 points and made 8 of 11 3-pointers for the Trojans, who also swept the Bay area schools in Los Angeles.
Ristic is the third Arizona player to have won the award this season, with Allonzo Trier having won it after the first weekend of the season (Nov. 13) and Deandre Ayton winning it on Dec. 3 and Jan. 1.
Trier showed up for Monday’s weekly news conference and, of course, was asked about his reaction to that final 3-pointer Ristic lofted up against Utah on Saturday. The play had called for a high lob pass to Deandre Ayton in the post, as Miller indicated with his raised arms before reacting in displeasure when Ristic made the 3 instead.
“I’m happy it went in for his … his safety,” Trier said, smiling, “because if it didn’t, boy, it would have been a long, I don’t know ... it wouldn’t have been good.”
Trier said he had seen the clip of Miller’s displeased reaction.
“Yeah, it was ugly,” Trier said. “He wasn’t feeling it at all. But we’ll take it.”
Despite his initial reaction, Miller said Monday that he’s “thrilled” Ristic is showing the kind of confidence he has been lately.
“I’ve never seen him have more confidence,” Miller said. “It’s something that players have to gain within themselves. We can help them a number of ways as a coaching staff but hard work over a long period of time, success in games -- consistent success -- that allows young kids to feel good about the next game and who they are.
“It makes them feel really good about all that they’ve sacrificed, that it’s worth it. Because they’re seeing the benefits in the game.
“I don’t think with Dusan we’re gonna live and die by a 23-footer for a game winner by him. There’s plenty of other shots, including a shot closer to the basket by him, that would be better for our team. But it does say a lot about him feeling it and feeling good about himself. You’d rather have a guy with great confidence who’s a really good player than the contrary.”
Having been teammates with Ristic for three seasons now, Trier also said he’s noticed an increased ability in Ristic, too.
“He’s always been able to score the ball back to his basket and do things offensively,” Trier said. “I think he’s another guy who has moved up the chart, allowing him to do be able to do some more different things. We understand what he brings to our team and he’s really good for us so we have to utilize him the right way.”
Miller said Rawle Alkins has been cleared to practice and he will likely play at Washington State on Wednesday unless soreness in his right foot flares up again.
"I’m hoping we can get Rawle back today," Miller said at Monday's news conference, "have him have a couple of good days of practice and implement him into that game, and just take that next step."
