Injuries continue to be the UA men's basketball team's biggest enemy. The most recent Wildcat to go down is junior forward Isaiah Fox.
The 6-foot-9 Fox was injured early in last Friday's 78-77 loss to the Florida Gators. After an MRI yesterday, it was discovered that Fox had suffered a meniscal tear in his left knee, which will require arthroscopic surgery today. Fox's return to the Wildcat lineup will not be determined until after the surgery to repair the tear is complete.
Team sources declined to comment on the extent of the Santa Monica native's injury and would not say if Fox practiced with the team yesterday.
"He hurt himself in Friday's game," assistant coach Josh Pastner said. "He's a tough kid, (and) for him not to play, obviously he was hurt."
Fox appeared in only six minutes of Friday's MassMutual Classic game against the Gators. During that stretch, he pulled down two defensive rebounds and contributed two points for Arizona off the bench.
Despite injuries suffered during a fall in Friday's matchup, Channing Frye did not miss any practice time. The 6-foot-11 center worked out with the squad yesterday, reporting only minor bumps and bruises.
"He's still sore, but he's OK," Pastner said of the junior center.
Frye didn't miss much playing time during the loss to the Gators, scoring 15 points in 35 minutes on the floor.
Arizona drops in polls
Last week's one-point loss to then-No. 8 Florida was felt today by the Wildcats, who dropped three places to No. 7 in the Associated Press poll released yesterday. Arizona subsequently fell further in Monday's ESPN/USA Today poll, down to No. 8 from last week's third spot.
The Wildcats, however, are taking the demotion in stride.
"The only stock we put into the polls is the final poll for the championship game," Pastner said.
Billy Donovan's Florida Gators jumped to No. 2 in both polls after squeaking out the 78-77 win over the Wildcats following a running jumper with 7.3 seconds left to play. Kansas came out on top of both polls after a week that saw the top four schools in the nation lose in a five-day span. The Jayhawks jumped into the nation's No. 1 spot after starting the year ranked No. 5.
Next game takes Cats to Gateway to the West
The Wildcats will head to St. Louis for the second time in as many seasons to face the Billikens Saturday. Arizona routed Saint Louis on Dec. 3 of last year to improve to 3-0 in the young season.
The 91-58 drubbing of Saint Louis came with five Wildcats scoring in double figures. Frye had 11 points and Hassan Adams and Fox poured in 10 apiece.
The Billikens will look to slow down the lightning-quick Wildcats, who led the nation in scoring last season - the first ever Pacific 10 Conference school to do so.
"They're going to slow the game down. They're a disciplined team," Pastner said of the Billikens.
Arizona won't be banking on another rout of the Billikens, according to the assistant coach.
"They're going to come out with their 'A' game," said Pastner of the Conference USA squad.
The Wildcats, who played before a sellout crowd of 6,800 in the Springfield Civic Center in last Friday's matchup with Florida, will travel to St. Louis for Saturday's 11 a.m. tipoff.