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.
Greg Hansen
Columnist
