Parker Jackson-Cartwright goes for a loose ball vs. Texas Southern. (Photo courtesy Chris Hook/Arizona Athletics)
This is clear: Arizona is another man down after it beat Texas Southern 85-63 in McKale Center.
It’s almost as if UA needs to play wrapped in Bubble wrap. It’s almost come to that point.
Now out is junior guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright, who suffered a high ankle sprain six minutes into the game. X-Rays were negative, but UA head coach Sean Miller said PJC will be out for “considerable amount of time.”
What next? He doesn’t even know who the eighth man will be for the next game.
“Someone can get hurt tomorrow … it’s just the way it is,” Miller added.
Here are three quick observations from Wednesday’s win, Arizona’s sixth of the season.
Arizona NEEDS Kadeem
Kadeem Allen is an underrated player. He can do it all and he’s a smart player, an almost rebuilt player after arriving from junior college three years ago.
“Sitting out I lost a lot and last year I tried getting it all back,” he said. “Last year, coach gave me a different role on the team and now being the only senior on the team I have to lead by example for the young guys. I always try to go out and play hard.”
Miller said Allen is hard on himself to be a good basketball player.
“He cares a lot,” Miller said. “Sometimes when he makes a bad player he gets down on himself. That’s his nature. Another is that he’s a relentless competitor. The stat sheet doesn’t really reveal all he did out there.”
He had 14 points, seven assists and six rebounds.
“He had one of his best games at Arizona,” Miller said.
He can play
What can be said of Lauri Markkannen that hasn’t already been said? The kid can play. And he can shoot. He went 7 for 9 from the floor, including hitting 5 of 6 beyond the 3-point line. He did however miss a free throw. And he’s almost automatic from the free throw line.
It’s almost a case when he shoots you almost automatically think it’s going to go in.
“He’s an excellent player; he’s an excellent offensive player, as about as good an offensive player as I’ve seen,” Miller said.
“He takes care of the ball as well. … Had he been able to stay out of foul trouble against Butler I think he would have had another big night. The only thing that has limited him so far is foul trouble. He was terrific tonight and I think our team has started to learn his value.”
Another player needed – maybe
It’s still not clear when or if UA will get the services of Allonzo Trier, who has missed every game this season.
Arizona added another walk-on on Wednesday in 6-foot-3 guard Kory Jones. He played basketball for Westfield High in Virginia. Miller said he might have to get another walk-on sometime soon, given the injury to PJC, but that’s not been determined.
At this point, Arizona only has seven active scholarship players and is in dire need of some good luck.
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