TUCSON, Ariz. -- Arizona forward Brandon Ashley will miss the rest of the season with a right foot injury, leaving the top-ranked Wildcats without one of their top players.
A junior, Ashley injured his foot while going up for a rebound early in Arizona's 60-58 loss to California on Saturday night. He spent the second half on crutches and in a walking boot, and head coach Sean Miller said Sunday that he is done for the season.
''[Saturday] night, early in our Cal game, Brandon Ashley suffered a foot injury that will end his season,'' Miller said in a statement Sunday. ''While we're all disappointed, we are also aware that Brandon needs our support and positive energy surrounding him. Someone once told me, the hottest heat forges the strongest steel. This adversity will ultimately make Brandon and our team stronger moving forward.''
Ashley has been crucial to Arizona's run this season, an athletic player who can score, rebound, hit shots from the perimeter when needed and guard just about every position on the court.
Now, the Wildcats (21-1) will have to figure out how to play without him.
''For us, we have to figure out from the bench perspective of getting a few guys who haven't played as much -- some maybe not even at all -- they have to start getting the opportunity,'' Miller said. ''That opportunity doesn't have to be 20 minutes a game, but it might need to be a four-minute window or a couple of minutes here and there.''
