2. Arizona played first- and second-round games against Utah and Cleveland State in 2009 at AmericanAirlines Arena in downtown Miami, the stereotypical NBA center. The Wildcats won both games and only 8,990 attended, leaving about 12,000 empty seats. It was hot, muggy and no one showed up, not even Arizona State All-American James Harden. He played in a round-of-32 game the night Arizona beat Cleveland State to advance to the Sweet 16. Harden shot just 2 for 10 from the field and missed all five 3-pointers he took in an exit loss to Syracuse an hour before coach Russ Pennell piloted Arizona to the Sweet 16 on the same floor.
Three NCAA Tournament venues that didn't measure up
-
Greg Hansen
Columnist
- Updated
Arizona's Jamelle Horne (42) goes for a dunk in the first half as Cleveland State's J'Nathan Bullock (35) and Norris Cole (30) look on during their second-round game of the NCAA Tournament at American Airlines Arena in Miami, Florida, Sunday, March 22, 2009. Photo by David Sanders / Arizona Daily Star
Greg Hansen
Columnist
