Despite distractions, ’Cats are the top dogs
TUCSON — Arizona coach Sean Miller grabbed the microphone to address the McKale Center when, just for a brief second, his voice broke Saturday.
“It’s been a tough week,” the usually-fiery coach said.
It could not have ended any better for Miller, whose team clinched the Pac-12 regularseason title for the fifth time in six seasons thanks to a 66-54 victory over Cal.
“Devastating and the second word I would use is remarkable,” Miller said. “A lot lesser programs, teams, universities would have crumbled and we didn’t. That says something about us and our future.”
Miller’s future appeared to be in doubt after ESPN reported Feb. 23 that the coach was caught on an FBI wiretap discussing
a $100,000 payment to lure Deandre Ayton to the school.
Miller missed last weekend’s game against Oregon and sat out three practices as the school investigated. He vehemently denied the report in a statement Thursday and, just a few hours later, university President Robert C. Robbins announced Miller would keep his job.
The No. 19 Wildcats clinched a share of the Pac-12 title later that night with a victory over Stanford, setting up a chance to clinch it outright in the Arizona seniors’ final home game.
Instead of rolling over the last-place Bears, Arizona (24-7, 14-4) had a hard time shaking them, needing a 13-1 closing run to finish off Cal and a tumultuous week.
Ayton had 26 points and 20 rebounds, giving the Wildcats the lift they needed during an off night by second-leading scorer Allonzo Trier.
“Lot of emotions, an emotional week, a lot of things flying around,” Arizona point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright said. “Everybody was just drained mentally and physically.” Cal, bouncing back from a loss at Arizona State, had a chance to spoil Arizona’s party. The Bears (8-23, 2-16) matched Arizona shot for shot in the first half and miss for miss in the second, keeping the Wildcats within reach until the final four minutes.
Justice Seung had 17 points to lead the Bears, who ended the regular season with seven straight losses. “I feel really good about our guys’ effort, heart and determination against a very good basketball team,” Cal coach Wyking Jones said. “They followed the game plan, played with toughness and that’s all we ask of them.”