Three years is too long of a drought for Arizona Basketball

Arizona Basketball: Three straight years of not being in March Madness is too long for a storied program like the University of Arizona.

From November to February, everything in Tucson circles around Arizona Basketball. On game night, a ‘Sea of Red’ floods McKale Center in hopes of watching the Wildcats come away victorious.

Each game, the fans, players, and coaches put their heart and soul into knowing that come selection Sunday, this might be the game that keeps us from making it or just puts us in the field of sixty-four.

Arizona Wildcats

However, for the past three years, it has not mattered come selection Sunday which is unacceptable for a blue blood program such as Arizona Basketball.

The NCAA and FBI investigations on the University of Arizona Men’s Basketball have been the toxic relationship that should have ended years ago, but after such a long period of time, it has become the new normal.

It is almost like it is just widely accepted because it is the “Go-To” excuse for the failures of the program when it comes to not making the NCAA Tournament. It is on every comment section on social media “We are still rebuilding from the effects of the investigation”. Those days need to end now and the pity party can not go on any longer.

The passing of responsibilities from all parties involved is disgraceful and needs to be addressed immediately. There also needs to be more clear decisive decision-making when it comes to the future of the program.

A prime example of this is slapping on a one-year post-season ban without knowing if it will affect the result of the investigation. It seems like this Athletic Department is just throwing ideas out there and hoping that they work.

Oh and coach Sean Miller, let’s just leave him in limbo about his job status because there is not enough uncertainty already surrounding the program. Coach Miller is in elite company when it comes to the pace of Pac-12 games he has won and has owned the school from the North. Not to mention his recruiting success, Pac-12 championships, Elite Eight runs and sending players to the NBA, etc. One of them of which was the number one overall pick in the draft in DeAndre Ayton.

Here we are though, undecided on a coach who I might add was not even included in the allegations against the program like ESPN originally reported. Resign the coach, what are we waiting for?

As it stands right now, Arizona Men’s Basketball is in a three-year drought from making the NCAA Tournament. Two years were due to the effects of the investigations aka the “Go-To” excuse. This year was because the school administration wanted to take a stab in the dark and slap on a post-season ban just because they had the slightest feeling it might help. Are we sure it will? Eh, not really! For all we know, the NCAA could add another year or years at any point nowadays once the hammer comes down. But what is “March Madness” anyways?

Not to answer my question, but March Madness is EVERYTHING! It is the reason the players endure such a long season, wake up early for practices, study film while also preparing for that final exam. It is the reason why coaches spend time traveling to visit recruits, coming up with game plans, and staying up late just fix one play in the offense. It is the reason fans drive hours upon hours just to see the big game or waste a day away in front of the television watching the Arizona Wildcats play basketball. All for a chance to build off the memories of 1997 and win yet another championship!

I can’t say this what I envisioned when it came to the downfall of Arizona Basketball not being a fixture in the tournament. These choices and decisions made by management have put some cracks in the foundation and walls in the home that Lute Olson once built. What once was a stable home for all involved with the program has become a rocking boat taking on water in a thunderstorm out in the middle of the ocean.

It is way past due to fix what has gone wrong and plug the gaps needed in order to return to prominence in college basketball. I repeat, there is no better way to do that than returning to the national stage and making it back into March Madness. I hope and pray as an athletic department they can figure this whole situation out soon as for a Wildcat fan we need to return to Arizona Basketball we have known and loved it for so long. It might be a bumpy ride but as always Bear Down and Go Cats!