Dusan Ristic only played one minute in the second half of the Arizona Wildcats’ loss to SMU on Thursday.
The Mustangs used small, athletic lineups and spread the floor, making UA head coach Sean Miller uncomfortable playing Ristic and Deandre Ayton — two 7-footers — concurrently.
With Ayton pouring in his fifth double-double in as many games, he was too valuable to take off the court, so Miller opted to bench Ristic.
SMU’s strategy worked, as it outscored No. 2 Arizona 36-29 in the second half on its way to a 66-60 upset victory.