TUCSON — Dusan Ristic has already experienced life without Kaleb Tarczewski around, and it went pretty well.
When Tarczewski missed seven games with a foot injury last season, the Serbian big man averaged 2.1 points more per game and shot 6.5 percent better from the field — a full 60.9 percent — showing a veteran-like comfort level early in his sophomore season.
Now, it’s for real. Tarczewski is gone, off trying to make the Oklahoma City Thunder roster, and Ristic has a wide-open chance to become the Wildcats’ starting center as a junior.
Ristic started responding well before full-length practices started this week.