It’s been a long season for Chase Budinger. Sure the summer AAU circuit and the high school basketball and volleyball seasons took a toll, but the freshman forward never needed the recovery time he does now.

The week off from games – and no practice on Sunday and Tuesday – helped Budinger recover, as have changes in his eating habits.

“”Personally I needed that rest,”” Budinger said. “”Physically my body’s been through a lot during the whole season. It’s not something I’m used to.””

Being away from home for an extended period for the first time in his life, Budinger found himself going to McDonald’s and eating junk food.

“”It was tough earlier in the year eating healthy,”” he said. “”I am stuck here on campus at the student union.””

With only three games remaining, the freshman experience has made Budinger wiser.

Instead of stuffing himself with burgers and fries, he eats sandwiches at the Highland Market downstairs from his dorm room. He has an omelet for breakfast with the team, eats at the training table, and right before he goes to bed he munches on a breakfast burrito.

“”I’m just trying to eat healthier,”” he said.

Budinger said he also tries to stay off his feet whenever he can, taking naps during his free time.

Budinger who came back from a four-point effort against Oregon State Feb. 8 to score 30 against No. 23 Oregon Feb. 10 said “”the bad stretch I had was mostly due to my legs.””

So Budinger has put a larger emphasis on stretching, getting in the cold tub, and icing.

But personal trainer Trent Suzuki told him, “”Don’t get too lazy,”” Budinger said.

So Budinger has been shooting for a half hour a day for the last two weeks because as he puts it, “”shooters need to shoot.””

And 1

UA head coach Lute Olson has been around long enough to understand player meetings are often useful in getting the team back on track. Olson said he thought the meeting was important for communication within the team.

“”I understand it was very open and everyone had an opportunity to express themselves,”” he said.

“”Sometimes you get so involved in just practice after practice and games that they don’t have enough time to just sit down as a team and communicate their concerns.””