Arizona-Gonzaga pregame: More drama around Wildcat basketball

LOS ANGELES -- Another drama-filled week for Sean Miller and the Arizona Wildcats winds up today at the Staples Center.

During a publicity call earlier this week – before Parker Jackson-Cartwright suffered a high ankle sprain that will likely keep him out until January – Miller said this:

“Like any coach, you pray for continued good health,” Miller said. “We need some good fortune where we can keep our roster intact.”

Maybe Miller gets Allonzo Trier back today; maybe not. While UA still won't comment on his status or even confirm whether or not he's in L.A. (as he appears to be), we’ll know soon enough if he's playing.

The context of Miller’s above comment was in that he still believes the Wildcats have great potential if they can ever get some continuity going.

“That’s the one exciting thing -- we have tremendous upside,” Miller said. “In their best attempt they’re just not as well versed. Every time we’re able to show them something they didn’t do well, when we have a chance to add a week of practice, they improve.

“We have size, a number of quick players, but our guys have to embrace that (defensive) side to know we have to win some games when the basketball is not going in. We’ve played some solid defense.”

UA is among a number of Pac-12 teams with big games today.

Before the Wildcats and Zags tip off at 3:30, UCLA will play at Kentucky (10:30 a.m., CBS).

Stanford will play at Jerod Haase’s alma mater, Kansas, at 1:30 p.m. on ESPN. That game will lead into the UA-Gonzaga game.

BYU will face USC in the second half of the Staples Center doubleheader (6 p.m., ESPNU).

Also today:

ASU will host UNLV (6 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)

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Cal will host Alcorn State (2 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)

New Orleans will visit WSU (4 p.m., Pac-12 Networks)

Colorado will play at Portland (8 p.m., no TV)

Oregon State will play at Charlotte (5 p.m., no TV)

Bobby Hurley is hoping the Sun Devils “circle the wagons” instead of playing shoddy defense.

USC may go small at times while adjusting to Bennie Boatwright’s loss.

Here's the school-produced game notes from Gonzaga and Arizona.

The Seattle Times printed an excerpt from Bud Withers' book on Gonzaga basketball, this one talking about Nigel Williams-Goss and his transfer from Washington.

Our full pregame coverage is attached to this post.