Ray Smith, Allonzo Trier and Chance Comanche celebrate on Arizona bench (Stan Liu/Arizona Athletics)
In the past couple of weeks, Arizona Wildcats coach Sean Miller reportedly said he “believed” Allonzo Trier would play this season. At least, he “hoped” that was case.
As of Monday — and this remains a fluid situation — Miller used a different, seemingly less-optimistic, word to describe his thoughts on whether the sophomore guard would suit up for Arizona this season.
“I’m ambivalent,” he said Monday at his weekly press conference.
“I don’t have control of the situation. When you’re dealing with a crisis or adversity — and we’ve had plenty here over the last nine months — you finally settle into, what can I really control. For me, the purpose of every day is we have to coach Rawle (Alkins), Kobi (Simmons), all those guys.”
Miller was responding to a question about his comments on the College Hoops Today podcast with Jon Rothstein, published on FanRagSports.com.
Trier has not played because of an unspecified eligibility issue. The school has not commented on the nature of the problem.
Miller says in the podcast that Trier’s case is “kind of a once-in-a-lifetime situation.”
“We have our fingers crossed that at some point maybe he gets the green light,” Miller told Rothstein. “But at this point, I really can’t say when or even if it is going to happen. … In my mind, he would be one of the best guards in college basketball this season.”
Trier, who averaged 14.8 points per game last season, practices with the Wildcats and is ready to go if that green light ever comes.
“We are coaching Allonzo,” Miller said.
“Academically, he is in a great place. He does what he’s supposed to do. He practices hard every day. He is in great physical condition. But he’s not allowed to play and it’s not my choice. It’s just one of those situations that I wished was different, but it’s not.”
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