Allonzo Trier (Photo courtesy Arizona media relations department)
If you have been following Arizona Wildcats basketball on social media or on certain message boards in the past week, you know there are have been rumors about the eligibility of sophomore guard Allonzo Trier.
Coach Sean Miller was asked after Friday night’s Red-Blue Game if Trier was ready to go for the regular season.
“I can’t really respond,” Miller said. “I think you’re talking about the rumors that are out there, and I can’t respond.”
To a couple of follow-up questions, Miller repeated his answer: “I can’t respond to the rumors.”
He didn’t say much, but it’s what he didn’t say that is important. He didn’t immediately quash these rumors, or get defensive about the line of questioning. He didn’t say, “What rumors?” This looks like an on-going situation. That Trier has been practicing and that he played in Friday night’s game means nothing as to his eligibility moving forward.
The rumors gained some legs on Thursday night when former Arizona player and current TV analyst Corey Williams wrote in a now-deleted tweet that he had been hearing that “Trier will be suspended from the Arizona Wildcats shortly.”
(AllSportsTucson.com has been aware of potential problems surrounding Trier for about a week. From our sources, we have heard different versions of the general situation. We’re not going to repeat the details of any of the rumors we have heard, but it’s safe to say that the possible consequence is significant … as in, Trier’s season could be in jeopardy. Or some of it. Or not at all. As always in these situations, we’ll know when we know.)
Trier averaged 14.8 points per game last season, despite battling a hand injury that cost him seven games during the Pac-12 season. He shot 36.4 percent behind the arc and excelled on drives to the basket.
He is expected to be a big-time scorer for Arizona this season … but stay tuned.
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