As if the Arizona bench wasn’t depleted enough. Nic Wise is academically ineligible for the spring semester, multiple sources told the Wildcat.

Wise, who sat on the bench in jeans and an Arizona polo shirt, was not available for comment yesterday, and UA head coach Lute Olson said Wise was out for “”personal reasons,”” which he wouldn’t elaborate on.

Sources said Wise may not be out for the rest of the season. The freshman might be able to clear up the class by turning in a paper, they said.

“”I’ve been through it, unfortunately longer than him,”” said guard Jawann McClellan, who was academically ineligible for the first semester last season. “”The NCAA has their rules, and I’m not agreeing them … but he has to just keep his head up.””

Wise was averaging 2.8 points in 9.3 minutes, while playing in 12 of the team’s 14 games. The Houston native had a career high of nine points against Samford on Nov. 22.

Wise’s potential subtraction would compound the losses of key bench contributors already this season.

Forward Bret Brielmaier is out for 3-6 weeks with a knee injury, center Kirk Walters is likely out for the season with effects from mononucleosis and guard J.P. Prince transferred.

Olson said he had no timetable on Wise’s return. Asked if Wise’s personal problem was academically related, Olson said, “”It’s personal.””

Wise and Daniel Dillon were the two guards Olson used most off the bench.

“”Nic will be back and I think it’ll be alright,”” Fendi Onobun said. “”It’s kind of disappointing that our bench is gone as far as with Bret and Nic, but we’ll be alright and we’ll pull through.””