Twenty-five consecutive tournaments can make a fan like me pretty arrogant. Still, I can’t remember the last time I prepared for a tournament game thinking that it’d be “OK” if Arizona lost. It’s not that I don’t think the ‘Cats can win on Friday — this squad has proven itself the epitome of the phrase “puncher’s chance.” But I imagine I’d be somewhat content with the season if it ended on Friday. Defeatist attitude? Maybe. Lowered expectations? Obviously. But c’mon, there’s a reason Arizona is a 9-point underdog.
In retrospect, the 1994 semifinal match up against eventual champ Arkansas should have provided a similar pre-game sentiment. But considering the Wildcats were led by future NBA Rookie of the Year Damon Stoudamire and the ‘94 tournament’s top scorer, Khalid Reeves — not to mention the fact that we won each game prior by margins of 26, 13, 12, and 20 — it was impossible to discount that squad.
Then, of course, you have the fabled 1997 team. Surely, facing three number one seeds within a six game do-or-die tournament would allow even the most demanding of fans to prepare themselves to shrug their shoulders and say, “well, it was a hell of a year.” But that team won it all, so no, I don’t remember doubting. Ever. Even when that team underachieved to a fifth-place finish in conference play. Even when Simon was suspended earlier in the year. Nope, I never doubted. Ever.
All right, I had my doubts then too. But comparing this year’s team — or any Arizona squad — to the 1997 Wildcats is unfair, unrealistic, and uniformed. Which is why I felt so silly making such a comparison in 2007.
It’s funny looking back at my expectations for the ‘07 squad of Mustafa, J-Mac, Chase, Marcus, and Ivan. Ranging from ridiculous to just plain desperate, it was obvious that people didn’t think the Lute Era had much gas left in the tank (it did, after all, end up being his final season). I even went as far as to write:
“…Lute can’t coach forever. There, I said it. One day, the Lute Olson era will end. I all but guarantee he’ll return for next season [ED. NOTE: OOPS!], but after that, all bets are off. And where does that leave us? Afraid. What if, after all the years of continued success, the 1997 National Championship is all we truly have to show for it? Who does that rank us up with? Michigan State? Syracuse? Aren’t we better than that? And what about Lute’s successor? Will he be able to recruit kids based on Arizona’s “top tier status” alone?”
Perhaps those last few sentences best explain the reason for my current sense of “satisfaction.” After two years (and probably more) of distracting myself with ridiculous scenarios that would result in Arizona’s triumph over evil, it’s almost time to answer that terrifying question of Lute’s successor. The 2009 Wildcats went above and beyond to make this season a relative success. Now, should they be forced to step aside and let the circus that is Arizona’s Next Basketball Coach take center stage, I’m “OK” with it.
After Arizona lost to Purdue in round one of the 2007 NCAA Tournament, I wrote in defense of my parallels between ‘97 and ‘07 that “like an alchemist trying to make gold from scalp metal, so must a fan find silver linings in scrap seasons.” Well, shockingly, 2009 will never be considered a scrap season in my mind. So I can just go ahead and apply my silver lining-nonsense to dream coaching/recruiting scenarios (For the record, John Vincent Calipari leaves Memphis for Tucson and brings John Wall and DeMarcus Cousins, among others). For once, maybe I can watch Arizona play under realistic expectations. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll be delightfully shocked with the results.
It wouldn’t be the first time — see, back in 1997… (Ugh, there I go again.)
