Arizona basketball: Kadeem Allen to play vs. Sacred Heart, Allonzo Trier still out

After missing Tuesday’s home-opener versus Cal State Bakersfield with a left knee injury, Kadeem Allen will return to the lineup Friday when the Arizona Wildcats (2-0) host the Sacred Heart Pioneers (1-1).

Allen suffered a knee sprain against Michigan State in Honolulu, but played through it and eventually hit the game-winner in that contest.

However, the injury prevented him from practicing when the team returned to Tucson, forcing him to sit out Tuesday’s game.

Miller said the injury likely wasn’t a long-term injury, but also that the team was not going to rush him back. The timetable for Allen’s return was never specified, but apparently his condition improved enough for him to return Friday.

Allen will come off the bench, however, as Parker Jackson-Cartwright, Rawle Alkins, Lauri Markkanen, Kobi Simmons, and Dusan Ristic will start.

Simmons, who started in Allen’s place Tuesday, is averaging 15.5 points per game.

Allen’s return means the Wildcats are back to having eight healthy scholarship players, plus he adds scoring and is arguably the team’s best defender.

It remains to be seen how many minutes he’ll play off the bench, though, as Miller said on his pre-game radio show that Allen is not 100 percent.

Allen scored ten points and had three steals against Michigan State — his lone appearance of the year.

Allonzo Trier, who’s missed the first two games of the year for unspecified reasons, is in street clothes and will not suit up against Sacred Heart.

Friday’s game is set to start at 8 p.m. MST and the game will be televised on the Pac-12 Network.

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