Arizona basketball: Cats focused after 'All-Star break'

Ryan Anderson hit the driving range without sunglasses or hat over the weekend, making him easier for a few autograph-seekers to spot.

Meanwhile, Kaleb Tarczewski opted to go poolside without protecting his face from anything.

“Kaleb came back looking bright orange, so he got a good tan in,” Anderson said, laughing.

It was “our All-Star break” last weekend, Anderson said, with the Wildcats off Thursday and Saturday after facing ASU last Wednesday.

That gave time for everybody to rest around a rugged Friday practice and, in Anderson’s case, take up a golf habit he picked up as a senior in high school.

Notably competitive on the court, Anderson may not really be that on the course.

“I just got out there for the fun of it,” he said. “I really like the driving range, to be honest. I just crush the ball and go home.”

Along the way, Anderson signed a few autographs for those who asked. Even if he wore a disguise, he said, “it’s hard not to recognize a 6-9 dude walking around,” and he hardly minded doing so, anyway.

“For the most part, people aren’t too bothersome,” Anderson said. “Fans never understand how much they help us on the court, so any little thing that I can do or our team can do to help our fans feel appreciated is nothing. If it’s a picture or a quick conversation or a sign-this-or-do-that, it goes a long way to show how much we appreciate them. They’re a big reason why we’ve been so great at home.”

Once the break officially ended on Sunday, with UA returning to a normal early-week practice schedule to prepare for Colorado on Wednesday, the Wildcats were notably focused, Anderson said.

To him, it was the ideal balance between rest and staying sharp for UA’s final four games of the regular season, all of which the Wildcats may have to win to win or share the Pac-12 title.

“Guys did a good job of getting off their feet and resting,” Anderson said. “It really showed in our practice yesterday. It was really a great practice. Guys came in with a ton of energy, ton of life.

“We came back, and now it’s time for the home stretch. We’re kind of rejuvenated and ready to go.”

It was UA’s first extended rest break since New Year’s, with the Wildcats having played two games every week since facing ASU on Jan. 3.

Miller said the weekend practices were actually more intense with everyone knowing they wouldn’t have to immediately focus on another team as much as working to get better on their own games.

In particular, Miller said a guy like guard Allonzo Trier benefited from the extra practices as he continues to work himself back into rhythm following a four-week absence because of a broken hand. Trier has now played in four straight games since returning, and appeared at full form only last week against ASU, when he had 20 points and eight rebounds.

“This period of time has been excellent for him, because he’s had some extra work and it’s not just, ‘Hey I’m back and I’m able to play in the games,’” Miller said. “He’s now been able to practice. It’s not just him, but it’s the chemistry and continuity you want to develop as somebody comes back from an injury.

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“We’re much further along right now in that aspect of things than we were even a week ago.”

Pitts’ future unclear

While junior forward Elliott Pitts has left the team for the season because of his unspecified issue, Miller also wouldn’t say Monday if he expects Pitts around next season.

But he also said he is aiming to sign four or five players in the April spring recruiting period, which suggests UA may be bracing for either Pitts to leave or Trier to turn pro.

“I would like to comment on that, but I can’t, other than what I’ve already said,” Miller said. “There’ll be a time that I can. I just can’t right now.”

Miller also said of filling any one spot that “we have so many positions open that it’s not really a factor.”

So far, Arizona has only one class of 2016 signee, forward Lauri Markkanen, and a commitment from guard Kobi Simmons, who will be able to become one of the extra signees Miller is anticipating in the spring.

Smith staying home

Miller said Ray Smith probably would not travel with the Wildcats this weekend, after he’s accompanied them nearly all of the season while recovering from a torn ACL.

Miller said making the trip would needlessly take Smith out of too many classes, especially since the Wildcats would rather have him go with them to his hometown of Las Vegas for the Pac-12 tournament, which will require at least another two days out of school.

“Potentially all of our guys are going to miss a couple weeks of class, and we would much rather have him accompany us to Las Vegas or beyond,” Miller said. “Much as we’d like to have him, (doing) the school work and then the rehab here is actually easier than traveling.”

Miller said Smith remains “on track” in his recovery from a torn ACL suffered in October.

Rim shots

* Miller said again Monday that Parker Jackson-Cartwright will continue as the Wildcats’ starting point guard, with Kadeem Allen’s role remaining roughly the same as a combo guard.

* Arizona moved to No. 9 in the AP Top 25 poll and No. 10 in the USA Today coaches Top 25 poll.

* Utah center Jakob Poeltl was named the Pac-12’s Player of the Week after averaging 22 points and 12 rebounds in the Utes’ sweep in Los Angeles last weekend.