College of Idaho was paid $25,000 for Tuesday’s game, which is normal for an exhibition game. Coach Scott Garson told the Star last week that the school would take home about half of that after travel and other expenses.
The team flew into Phoenix on Sunday from Boise, Idaho. Their “charter”? A nonstop Southwest Airlines flight.
According to Garson, it’s the only time this year they’ll fly for a road game unless they make it to the NAIA Tournament.
This game — or the planning for it — wasn’t Garson’s first interaction with UA coach Sean Miller. Garson was an assistant coach at UCLA from 2006-13, and he remembers specifically interacting with Miller while on the recruiting trail, watching former Bruins guard Zach LaVine.
“He’s a great guy to talk to,” Garson said. “He really cares about other coaches. … He’s not just totally engulfed in what his team is doing.”
