Usually, these things end with smiles.
With Sean Miller as coach, the Wildcats have typically held their Senior Day ceremony after the game. A risk considering the possibility of conducting it after a loss.
To this point, that hadn’t been an issue for Miller’s Wildcats.
• In 2010, Arizona beat USC by two on Nic Wise’s final night.
• In 2011, UA beat Oregon 90-82 for Jamelle Horne.
• In 2012, it was a two-point win over UCLA for Kyle Fogg, Jesse Perry and Brendon Lavender.
• In 2013, it was a 15-point win against ASU for Kevin Parrom, Solomon Hill, Mark Lyons.
• In 2014, UA beat Stanford by 13 in Jordin Mayes’ last home game.
• In 2015, Arizona handily beat Stanford by 22 when T.J. McConnell kissed the court goodbye.
• In 2016, Gabe York had a career night as the Wildcats beat Stanford again, this time by 32. Kaleb Tarczewski and Ryan Anderson also played their last home games.
Miller said speaking to the McKale crowd after the game that he’s always thought “what happens if we lost?”
He told the media after the game that he’s continued Lute Olson’s tradition of doing the ceremony after the game, though he never quite understood why it was done after the game instead of before.
You get where this is going…
Saturday, Arizona lost on Senior Night, though it wasn’t a particularly busy night in that regard, as Kadeem Allen is the lone senior the Wildcats will lose this year.
Unfortunately, it’s a game that ended with the Wildcats down three, with the ball and the clock winding down …and Allen airballed a potential game-tying 3-pointer.
Arizona will likely also lose Allonzo Trier and Lauri Markkanen to the draft, along with the possibility that Kobi Simmons or Rawle Alkins leaves early.
As for Allen, Miller started getting choked up as he lauded his lone senior this year.
“In all of the years I’m a coach,” Miller said. “I’ve never seen anybody grow up more than this guy.”
Allen finished Saturday’s game with seven points, two rebounds, two assists, one steal and one turnover.
