Brandon Randolph (concussion) questionable for Arizona’s season-opener vs. NAU

Randolph got hit in the head in practice this week

Arizona Wildcats guard Brandon Randolph missed Sunday’s exhibition against Chico State due to a concussion and head coach Sean Miller is unsure if he will play Friday in the team’s regular season opener vs. NAU.

“We’ll know more over the next couple of days, but hopefully his symptoms leave him,” Miller said Sunday. “We’re not going to put him out there if he has any symptoms. He has to be completely free of all symptoms to play. The other thing is we also want him to be able to practice and be symptom-free.”

Miller said Randolph got hit in the head in practice this week.

“We don’t really know if he’ll available on Friday, but if you assume all goes well, I think right around that time he should be good,” Miller said.

Arizona will already be without Dylan Smith and Rawle Alkins against NAU. Smith is suspended for the season opener for violating an undisclosed team rule, while Alkins remains sidelined until December with a broken foot.

Arizona fared well without all three players Sunday, shooting 65 percent from the field in a 91-53 win over Chico State.

“I know it looks the part, but get in foul trouble or god forbid one of the perimeter players gets hurt, we’re actually not very deep,” Miller said. “We’re looking to getting those guys back."

Smith will be available for Arizona’s game vs. UMBC on Sunday, Nov. 10 — the second game of the regular season.

If Randolph cannot play Friday, Emmanuel Akot will surely start at small forward in his place.

Akot started Sunday against Chico State, and had a solid all-around game, posting six points, seven rebounds, and six assists in 33 minutes.

Tip-off against NAU is scheduled for 6 p.m. MST, and it will be broadcast on the Pac-12 Networks.

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Follow Ryan Kelapire on Twitter at @RKelapire

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