Hoop Notes: Bay Area week

Arizona prepares to play the Bay Area schools this weekend but limp into the week with a number of dinged up players. Kevin O’Neill held a press conference on Monday and updated the status of players like Bret Brielmaier, Jordan Hill and Chase Budinger.

*KO said that Bret Brielmaier was “not good” and is not expected to play this weekend.

*As of Monday morning, KO had not decided whether the Cats would go small or big against Stanford.

*The morning’s practice was very light due to so many guys being banged up.

*KO went out of his way to praise the team for helping Jerryd Bayless be successful against Houston.

*KO said it was a “big time game” for a player coming off an injury.

*One reason Zane Johnson was pulled from his redshirt was that he has gotten much better defensively. When he first arrived on campus his defensive positioning was “awful”.

*Jordan Hill will for sure miss practice on Monday and Tuesday, but is still not 100% for this weekend.

*KO mentioned that Jamelle Horne has missed time due to a few bad game performances, but has practiced well and should return to the rotation soon.

*Kirk Walters has not played the past few games, but KO insisted that Walters will play this weekend against the Bay Area schools.

*KO mentioned that Chase Budinger has been hampered by a nasty cold that keeps lingering.