When there is as much roster turnover as Arizona experienced from last season, with the Wildcats losing three starters and two key reserves, it would be easy to pass off the UA’s 2016 failures.
Four key Wildcats, after all, weren’t around for the last team’s first round-exit against Wichita State.
Parker Jackson-Cartwright remembers it well. He remembers how the team felt before, and worse, after.
“Maybe last year we did take it for granted and the result depicted that,” Jackson-Cartwright said, “but we’re back, and we’ve done everything up until this point to be successful.”
The Wildcats are a No. 2 seed facing a 15, and all projections favor the Wildcats. The long odds didn’t stop Middle Tennessee from upsetting Michigan State last year, or keep Florida Gulf Coast from topping Georgetown in 2013.
There’s been eight 15-over-2 upsets in NCAA Tournament history. In 1993, a Steve Nash-led Santa Clara team shocked Arizona 64-61.
“You know, it’s in the back of our minds,” Jackson-Cartwright said. “As much success as we’ve had right now, it can all be gone in a second. It’s day by day, and everyone’s capable in March of winning a game. We’re prepared.”
Alkins, for what it’s worth, thinks he’s ready for the challenge.
“I don’t look at it as pressure,” Alkins said. “It’s go hard or go home. We’re going to bring our A-game.”
