Arizona basketball injury news: Kadeem Allen expected to return vs. USC & UCLA; Dusan Ristic’s status not as clear

The Wildcats will likely be getting at least one starter back against the L.A. schools next week.

The Arizona Wildcats were without two starters in their win over the Washington Huskies on Saturday, but they will likely be getting at least one of them back for Thursday’s game against the USC Trojans.

Head coach Sean Miller said Saturday that he expects Kadeem Allen to return next week.

“We anticipate him making a full return this coming week,” he said.

Miller said something similar after Allen missed Thursday’s game versus Washington State, saying the point guard should be “full-go next week.”

Allen dislocated his right pinky finger in practice on Tuesday and he received seven stitches after “his bone popped out of his finger.”

Allen was in sweats when he sat out against WSU, but he went through warmups against Washington, initially making it appear as if he was going to play.

“In that situation, it’s important that you listen to the trainer, not Kadeem,” Miller said. “Kadeem just wants to play, but it wasn’t in Kadeem’s best interest to play. He could’ve really hurt himself, so we’re not going to put him at risk. Having him go through warmups was more about the future. It was good for him to go through warmups because we anticipate him making a full return this coming week.”

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While Miller seems convinced Allen will be back to face the L.A. schools next week, he was not as sure about Dusan Ristic’s status.

UA’s starting center suffered a “grade 1” ankle sprain against Washington State on Thursday which forced him to miss Saturday’s game versus Washington.

“Dusan has a mild ankle sprain,” Miller said. “He has a little bit of swelling. Grade 1. X-rays were negative.

“This is kind of the first time he’s gotten injured like this, it kinda knocked him back. My hope is here that the next few days he starts to see that he’s going to be okay, but I don’t really have a good feel for him.”

Chance Comanche, making his first career start, posted 11 points and seven rebounds in Ristic’s place. Parker Jackson-Cartwright is averaging 15.5 points and 3.5 assists in the two games Allen has missed.

“We need everyone,” said Lauri Markkanen after posting 26 points and 13 rebounds against Washington. “Having two guys out, everyone needs to step up, rebound the ball. Some guys need to score more. I think everyone stepped up. Everyone is not going to have a great offensive game every night, but we just fought through it and got the W.”

Five different Wildcats — Allen, Ristic, Jackson-Cartwright, Ray Smith, and Talbott Denny — have missed time due to injury this season.

“We can’t change injuries,” Markkanen said. “They happen to every team.”

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