Can a team’s season be made by a strong run in the tournament, and conversely, can an otherwise successful one be ruined by a poor showing?   Such are the plights of ASU and UA.  But, on a whole, who had the better season:  the Sun Devils or Wildcats?  Burnsy says the Wildcats get the edge for getting to the Sweet 16, regardless of opponent.  In any case, you must respect the Wildcats for bouncing back from a terrible season that featured the likes of:

-    July 9th- Top incoming recruit Brandon Jennings opts to play in Europe, instead of for U of A.

-    October 23rd- Lute Olsen abruptly retires

-    October 24th – Top in-house candidate to replace Olsen, Mike Dunlap, turns down the interim job.  Former ASU assistant coach and broadcaster, Russ Pennell, accepts the interim tag.

-    October 30th- Abdul Gaddy, the #2 PG recruit in the nation, de-commits from U of A and opts to go to Washington instead

-    November 18th – U of A is handed an embarrassing 72-71 defeat to UAB, after Jamelle Horne commits an intentional foul in the closing seconds.

-    January 15th- a 23 point loss at UCLA, their worst to the Bruins since 1983

-    January 21st – A 53-47 loss to ASU

-    February 22nd- a 70-68 loss at ASU

-    March 12th – a 68-56 loss to ASU in the Pac 10 tournament