Why 2017-2018 was a Successful Year for Arizona Athletics

College Athletics is extremely competitive, and that notion shouldn’t surprise anyone, but we explain why 2017-18 was successful for Arizona Athletics.

Winning matters, and let’s face it, as fans we can fundamentally agree that it’s better when Arizona Athletics wins, versus when they lose. It measures success and is ultimately the end goal in College Athletics.

Well, after some discussion yesterday on social media that suggested 2017-18 wasn’t a particularly great year for Arizona, I figured I would give my reason as to why this past year was a successful one for the Wildcats.

Let’s first start with the glaringly obvious, Arizona is perceived to be a great basketball school, and that’s where we get most of our publicity and notoriety. We can thank Lute Olson and Fred Snowden for setting the standard.

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This past year, with arguably the best freshman in all of college basketball, a talented roster and a winning coach, expectations were high and rightfully so. That was until an FBI Investigation came to light and brought a dark cloud over the program.

Former associate coach Emmanuel “Book” Richardson would be placed on leave, drama would continue throughout the season, injuries would happen, as well as a suspension. We also can’t forget, that during that time, we were also “graced” with the now debunked story ran by ESPN’s Mark Schlabach.

Despite all that, the Wildcats added another Pac-12 Regular season Championship AND another Pac-12 Tournament Championship. Arizona also went 20-1 at home in McKale.

However, all that was seemingly outweighed by the bad. The team was bounced in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Losing to Buffalo was certainly a low point, and left many fans feeling dejected or angry. The hopes of a potential Final Four run dashed away early on.

We also can’t ignore the tumultuous end to 2017 for Arizona Football. After starting the season 2-2, then enters a spark plug in Khalil Tate.

Perhaps the missing piece to the Wildcats’ puzzle, Arizona would reel off four-straight wins, including an upset of then No. 15 ranked Washington State. Arizona entered the Top 25 and things are looking good for a strong finish.

Well, that is until Arizona proceeded to lose four of its next five games, including the bowl game to Purdue.

Days later, rumors of a sexual harassment investigation surfaced and rocked the program. Then head coach Rich Rodriguez would then be fired, creating another negative buzz for Arizona Athletics.

Lastly, we can’t help but look at Arizona Softball. An elite program that has seemingly been knocked from its pedestal in recent years.

For the eighth straight season, the Wildcats will be watching the College World Series from home. This year, the Wildcats were eliminated in the Super Regionals by their conference rival, UCLA.

However, as we look at the Athletics Department as a whole, was it really a disappointment? Here’s why I don’t think it is.

Championships are the standard, and should be strived for. It measures tangible success in a way that wins and losses simply don’t, and to an outsider, here’s how it looks.

• National Championship(s)– Arizona Women’s Golf won the schools’ 19th overall National Championship, and first since 2012, when Arizona Baseball defeated South Carolina to win the College World Series. This was also the programs third title.
• Conference Championship(s)- The Arizona Basketball team once again won a regular season Pac-12 title, as well as a Conference Title

Here are a few more measures of success:

• Postseason appearances-
  • Softball once again made a deep tourney run, but ultlimately fell short
  • Football made a bowl game despite losing, and put together a winning season when many anticipated the Wildcats to struggle in 2017
  • Men’s Basketball made another NCAA Tournament appearance, their 35th in program history
  • Soccer made the postseason for the third time in the past four seasons. Coming a long way from their 1-16-2 season in 2011.
  • Women’s Golf made a deep tournament run, winning the National Championship
  • Track & Field has had success in the postseason thanks in large part to freshman thrower, Jordan Geist
  • Men’s Golf making the NCAA Regionals
• All-American Nominations
  • Deandre Ayton and Allonzo Trier named AP All-Americans in Basketball
  • Academic Progress Report
    • Men’s Cross Country & Women’s Golf posted perfect scores of 1,000

    Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, the Wildcats are also winners of the 2017-18 Territorial Series Cup!

    Considering what Arizona Athletic Director Dave Heeke inherited, 2017-18 was actually pretty successful.

    Ryan. I have to say there were many positives and it’s unfair to the student athletes and coaches to make this type of generalization. I Need to stick up for our programs. Lots of good. I will remember the success and progress made in 17-18 - much success #BearDown @AZATHLETICS

    — Dave Heeke (@Dave_Heeke) May 29, 2018

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    At Zona Zealots, we are proud of the way our Wildcats battled and competed this season, and only hope those success continue into 2018-19! Bear Down, Arizona!