Arizona keeps its focus on court
6:30 p.m. today, CBS
BOISE, Idaho — The strain of a tumultuous season could have caused Arizona’s players to cave under the pressure, coach Sean Miller to give up and walk away.
Instead, it hardened the Wildcats’ resolve.
Off-the-court issues. Injuries. Suspensions. When the ball went up in the air, none of that mattered. Banding together and winning became everything.
“Sometimes when adversity strikes it can really rally a group of people, can bring out a closeness that maybe you otherwise would not have felt,” Miller said. “And I believe that about our team.”
Arizona has been painfully close to the Final Four during nine seasons under Miller: A two-point Elite Eight loss in 2011; an overtime Elite Eight loss in 2014; a second straight Elite Eight loss to Wisconsin the following season; two trips to the Sweet 16, including a year ago.
This was supposed to be Miller’s best shot at finally breaking that Final Four barrier, the lone missing stanza on his resume.
Guards Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins opted to stay in Tucson after exploring the NBA. Serbian 7-footer Dusan Ristic was back for a chance to become the program’s all-time wins leader (he got it). Efficient point guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright returned for his senior season.
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