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Arizona freshman forward Koa Peat is recovering from a calf muscle strain and will miss at least the Wildcats’ next two games against No. 23 Brigham Young University and No. 2 Houston, the Wildcats announced Monday.
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According to a team statement, Peat will be re-evaluated next week and will return to the field “subject to clearance from medical staff.” Due to the schedule, his availability for the next period of time is uncertain.
No. 4 Arizona suffered the injury Saturday in Tucson’s 78-75 loss to No. 16 Texas Tech. Pitt did not play in the second half, which head coach Tommy Lloyd described after the game as a “second-half deal.” Tests are ongoing to determine the extent of the injury, Lloyd said.
“It hurt us a lot, but we did enough to win,” Lloyd said Saturday. “It’s definitely going to hurt our rotation, but that’s how it goes these seasons.”
Pitt, a former five-star prospect and projected first-round NBA draft pick, had two points and one rebound in 11 minutes before exiting the game. He had six points and five rebounds in Arizona’s loss to Kansas earlier this week, ending the Wildcats’ undefeated start.
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Without Pitt, Lloyd switched to a larger lineup in the second half against Texas Tech, starting Toby Awaka and Mortijus Krivas together. Awaka had 16 points and 12 rebounds, and Krivas had 10 points and 11 rebounds.
Arizona nearly rebounded despite Pitt’s absence, leading by seven points late in regulation, but struggled down the stretch. Now, the Wildcats must navigate a tough two games without one of their most important frontcourt players.