TUCSON, Ariz. -- The question was matter of fact, and it started Sean Miller's press conference this week: Is Kaleb Tarczewski meeting his expectations?
As was Miller's response: "Probably not right now."
Nearly two-thirds of the way into the season with two full seasons behind him, Tarczewski is seemingly still a work in progress. To his credit, Miller said, some of the things his 7-footer brings to the table "in terms of his overall value you don't see on the stat sheet."
Those intangibles include being physical, working hard and playing good defense.
"And that impacts a lot for our team," said Miller, whose 7th-ranked Wildcats are 20-3 overall and 8-2 in the Pac-12 Conference heading into games at Washington (Friday night) and Washington State (Sunday, FOX Sports 1).
But Miller acknowledged that there's more to be had.
Tarczewski has averaged fewer than three rebounds a game over the last seven games, and his confidence appears to have sagged. There's also the somewhat related issue of holding onto the ball when he gets it near the basket. He fumbled at least three attempts against Arizona State last weekend.
"Where his struggles at right now are on offense, catching the ball, finishing, having confidence," Miller said. "I think he's lost some confidence, but I believe he can get that confidence back. It's up to us as a coaching staff to help him get that confidence back. We're a better team when he can contribute 10 or more points in a game. He's certainly capable."
In Tarczewski's career, Arizona is 33-6 overall when he scores in double figures, but in the last 12 games he's scored in double figures just four times, averaging 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds.
Kaleb Tarczewski is averaging just 7.7 points and 4.2 rebounds in his last 12 games for Arizona.
One would think this weekend is an ideal opportunity for his numbers to improve. Washington (14-9, 3-8) will be without its top interior defender in Robert Upshaw, who was recently dismissed for undisclosed team rules violations. At the time, Upshaw led the nation in blocked shots per game at 4.5. Washington has lost four consecutive games since his dismissal.
"You know it's a hard situation," Miller said. "(Washington coach) Lorenzo Romar is one of the classiest people I have ever met. He's a wonderful man . . . I do know this that Robert Upshaw is probably a better person having gone to Washington having been under (Romar's) watch. Lorenzo is still working hard for him to move on. (Upshaw) had a lot to do with Washington's success. You don't relinquish that talent and stay the same. There has to be a growing process."
Without Upshaw, the Huskies have chosen to go smaller, using four and sometimes five guards.
"I'm sure they will hit their stride at some point," Miller said. "I just hope it's not against us."
Still, Miller and his players say the Wildcats need to focus on what they're doing, not the opponent. And that standard applies to Tarczewski and his confidence.
"In sports that happens once in a while," Miller said. "I think Kaleb will get that back."
Whether Arizona gets freshman guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright back is still unclear. Jackson-Cartwright, who is averaging 3.1 points in 10 minutes a game, suffered a concussion two weeks ago. Miller said he is making progress but needs to pass a post-concussion recovery test.
"If you rush (him) back, the repercussions are too significant," Miller said.
Jackson-Cartwright's absence gives more minutes to senior T.J. McConnell, who is playing perhaps his best basketball of his career. He's coming off a 25-point effort against Arizona State. He played 34 minutes. Junior Gabe York has been his backup.
"It forces me to play more minutes, and other people have to learn different positions to fill in," McConnell said. "Parker is a huge part of this team . . . we miss him, but we wish him a speedy recovery."
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