Jawann McClellan says he might suit up and play against North Carolina but does not want to risk further injury on an exhibition trip.

lindsay a. miller / arizona daily star

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If Jawann McClellan is a bit gun-shy at this point, it is easy to see why.

McClellan, a UA junior guard, said Thursday he has decided not to play in the Wildcats' upcoming basketball exhibition trip to Vancouver, British Columbia, because he is still only four months removed from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

McClellan, who missed nearly all of last season because of academic ineligibility and a torn wrist ligament, said he simply did not want to take any chances this time around. He tore up his left wrist during only his second game back last season in a collision near the basket at Oregon that could be blamed on overaggressiveness.

"I didn't want to go because I don't want to risk getting hurt playing in Canada," McClellan said. "Maybe if we were playing North Carolina, I would suit up and play fine. But it's not about that. It's about trying to have the best year as a team we can have, and I don't want to hurt our team."

Besides, McClellan said, UA freshmen Chase Budinger, Nic Wise and Jordan Hill will get a chance to play more often in Canada without him eating minutes.

"College is hard," McClellan said. "When they get more reps on the court it makes it easier. They won't be as nervous as I was."

McClellan said he expected to begin practicing at full contact later in September and be fine for the opening of regular-season practices in mid-October. He said he no longer has problems with his wrist or the Achilles' injury that bothered him last fall when he sat out academically.

McClellan said he has dropped about 15 pounds off his 6-foot-4-inch frame, down to 210.

The rest of the Wildcats are expected to play during the five-game trip to Canada, though Daniel Dillon (foot stress fracture) and Ivan Radenovic (sprained ankle) have been limited in early practices that began Monday.

The Wildcats will practice today, take Saturday off, then practice Sunday through Thursday before leaving Friday for Vancouver. UA associate head coach Jim Rosborough said everyone except McClellan should be able to practice fully by Monday.

"We're just being very cautious with him," Rosborough said. "Everything's on schedule."

Run 'N' Fun

With an offense that is more spread out, more up-tempo and, so far, played with more smiles, the Wildcats expect to easily surpass the scoring average of 73.7 points a game last season — if August practices can foretell anything.

"It's going to show off our quickness and athleticism," forward Marcus Williams said. "We're going back to what Arizona used to do — scoring 85 or 90 points a game with a fast pace, outlet, dunk, three-pointer. Let's have the crowd go crazy and have fun games. A lot of fun out there."

Not only is there the addition of the strong-shooting Budinger and Wise, plus a potentially healthy McClellan, but some Wildcats also hinted that there has been some addition by subtraction. Former guard Chris Rodgers was kicked off the team for a month last season, and Hassan Adams was arrested twice off the court.

"Some people would say we had a little lack of'' chemistry, Williams said.

McClellan was a bit more blunt.

"We just play ball," McClellan said. "We have the players to run the offense, and we don't have head cases like we did last year."

The new look has forced the Wildcats to run — and pay attention — more than ever in practices so far.

"The whole team is learning new stuff now," Wise said. "Not just me."

No regrets

Radenovic said he was glad he decided to forgo a good chance to make — but not play regularly for — his Serbian national team in the FIBA world championship. Radenovic would have missed this month's practices, the trip to Vancouver and two weeks of school had he played for his home country.

"It's a good thing for me," Radenovic said. "I wouldn't have played much. So I told the (Serbian) coach we had big plans for this year (at Arizona). Here, I get to work out, play with the team and go to Canada for a few games."

Long summer

Not only did Dillon trade summer for winter by opting to spend two months at home in Melbourne, Australia, but he also spent most of his time there lifting weights and rehabilitating his left foot.

Dillon said he suffered the stress fracture the day before he left for home, having been working out twice a day with former UA guard Salim Stoudamire.

"They said (the stress fracture) built up because of that" twice-daily regimen, Dillon said. "And after that I did kind of a roll because it was under so much stress, and the bone kind of chipped."