Drama the norm for Arizona Wildcats program still chasing Final Four glory

Everything seemed to go right for the Arizona Wildcats in 1997, when they beat three No. 1 seeds on the way to a national championship. Talent, coaching, circumstance and chemistry all came together during a memorable March that resulted in arguably the greatest sports accomplishment in state history.

Those Wildcats couldn’t lose. The 21 UA teams to suit up since then seemingly can’t catch a break.

The latest drama has cast a shadow over arguably the best roster in Wildcats history, one that includes top recruit Deandre Ayton and returners Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins.

An FBI investigation into corruption in college basketball and recruiting resulted in last month’s arrest of UA assistant Book Richardson. Federal documents say Richardson took $20,000 in bribes from a sports agent in exchange for promises to deliver Wildcat players to the agent. The report said Richardson paid a recruit, presumed to be five-star guard Jahvon Quinerly, $15,000 to play at Arizona.

The focus has now shifted from coach Sean Miller’s pursuit of his first-ever Final Four to the future of the UA program. The university has launched an internal investigation into Richardson and the basketball program, and the NCAA is bound to follow.

And Arizona’s stacked roster has taken a hit. Alkins broke his foot the day of Richardson’s arrest and isn’t expected to return until December.

Here’s a look back at some of the turmoil Arizona has dealt with over the last two decades, and how it affected the Wildcats on the court:

Preseason ranking (AP poll): No. 1

The good: Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, Michael Dickerson, Miles Simon, A.J. Bramlett, Bennett Davison, Eugene Edgerson, Donnell Harris and walk-on Josh Pastner returned with hopes of repeating as champions.

The bad: A Kansas City Star investigation revealed that Simon had spent most of his UA career on academic probation. Donnell Harris missed a chunk of the season with a stomach ailment.

Finish: The Wildcats finished 30-5 after losing to Utah in the Elite Eight 76-51. The UA won the Pac-12 and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Quote: “They beat us every way possible.” — Bibby, after losing in the Elite Eight. 

Preseason ranking: No. 18

The good: Terry returned for his senior season, and a star-studded recruiting class that included Richard Jefferson, Michael Wright, Luke Walton, Rick Anderson and Ruben Douglas joined him. Terry was named Pac-10 Player of the Year, while Wright was named the conference’s top freshman.

The bad: Walton suffered a stress fracture in his right foot and missed the season. Harris was dismissed and Quynn Tebbs transferred, leaving the UA with just 10 scholarship players. Later, it was found Terry received more than $11,000 from agents.

Finish: The Wildcats lost to Oklahoma in the NCAA Tournament’s first round and finished the season 22-7. Arizona was a No. 4 seed in the tournament.

Quote: “You play all year for the tournament, and to be put out in the first round is a shock.” — Terry

Preseason ranking: No. 9

The good: Walton returned from injury, the Wildcats added Wake Forest transfer center Loren Woods and reloaded the backcourt with freshmen Gilbert Arenas and Jason Gardner.

The bad: Edgerson redshirted so he could student teach, and Indiana transfer Luke Recker left the program. Douglas left for New Mexico in November and Robertas Javtokas bolted for Lithuania in December. Jefferson broke his footand missed seven weeks. Woods missed the last month of the the season with a back injury. His replacement, Justin Wessel, hurt his ankle in the postseason.

Finish: The Wildcats won the Pac-12 title and earned a No. 1 seed in the NCAA tournament, but fell to Wisconsin 66-59 in the second round. Arizona finished the season 27-7.

Quote: “It was a bad game, but it was a good season. We should be better next year.” — Gardner, after Arizona’s NCAA Tournament loss

Preseason ranking: No. 1

The good: Arenas, Wright, Jefferson, Gardner, Walton, Edgerson and a healthy Woods all returned, forming one of the deepest, most talented lineups in the nation. The Wildcats advanced to the national championship game, where they lost to Duke.

The bad: Coach Lute Olson’s wife, Bobbi, died of ovarian cancer in January. Woods missed six games for taking money from his high school coach. Gardner and Arenas shot a combined 6 for 28 in the title-game loss.

Finish: Arizona went 28-8 after advancing to the title game as a No. 2 seed.

Quote: “Fans can react to this game and this season any way they want, but the people in this (locker) room will remember it as one of the best years of their lives.” — Woods, after losing to Duke

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The good: Arenas, Wright and Jefferson left early for the NBA. Walton, Anderson and Gardner returned and Olson added freshmen Salim Stoudamire, Channing Frye and Will Bynum.

The bad: Reserve guard Travis Hanour left the team before the season, leaving UA with only nine scholarship players.

Finish: The Wildcats lost to No. 2 Oklahoma in the Sweet 16, and finished the season 24-10.

Quote: “It was certainly a devastating loss, but we far exceeded expectations.” — Olson, after the NCAA Tournament exit.

Preseason ranking: No. 1

The good: Gardner returned for his senior season and won the Francis Pomeroy Naismith award for players 6 feet and under. Frye, Stoudamire, Anderson and Walton all returned, and freshmen Hassan Adams and Andre Iguodala contributed right away. Many said the roster was Olson’s best.

The bad: Bynum transferred to Georgia Tech in January. Walton missed a handful of regular season games with a foot/ankle injury and Isaiah Fox missed most of the season with a knee injury.

Finish: The Wildcats lost to Kansas in the Elite Eight, finishing the season 28-4. The team won the Pac-12 and was No. 1 seed in the tournament.

Quote: “It’s almost too hard to take. It’s over now.” — Anderson

Preseason ranking: No. 4

The good: Stoudamire, Adams, Iguodala, Frye and Chris Rodgers all returned, and the Wildcats added freshmen Mustafa Shakur, Ivan Radenovic and Kirk Walters.

The bad: Top recruit Ndudi Ebi opted for the NBA Draft rather than attend college. Forward Dennis Latimore transferred to Notre Dame.

Finish: Arizona lost to eighth-seeded Seton Hall in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. The Wildcats finished 20-10, the program’s worst record in 17 years.

Quote: “A 20-10 season is not acceptable. And just one round in the playoffs is not acceptable.” — Olson

Preseason ranking: No. 10

The good: Iguodala left early for the NBA, but the Wildcats returned practically everyone else — Stoudamire, Frye, Adams, Radenovic, Shakur, Rodgers, Fox, Walters — while adding freshman guard Jawann McClellan. Stoudamire had one of the best individual seasons in school history, averaging 18.4 points per game while shooting 50 percent from the field and from 3-point range.

The bad: Arizona had one of the worst collapses in NCAA Tournament history, blowing a 15-point lead in the final four minutes in the Elite Eight against No. 1 seed Illinois. The effects of the loss still linger in Tucson, 12 years later.

Finish: The shocking loss gave the Wildcats a 30-7 record. They won the Pac-12 and earned a No. 3 tournament seed.

Quote: “It was just an unbelievable thing to lose a game that way.” — Shakur, after the Elite Eight loss.

Preseason ranking: No. 10

The good: Adams, Radenovic, Rodgers and Walters returned. The Wildcats added freshmen Marcus Williams and J.P. Prince.

The bad: McClellan’s father died of a heart attack before the season. McClellan was declared academically ineligible, suffered an Achilles injury and played only two games. Adams was cited for disorderly conduct at a party  and later  was arrested on suspicion of DUI. Rodgers criticized Olson to the media, and the coach chased him out of practice.

Finish: Eighth-seeded Arizona lost to No. 1 seed Villanova in the second round of the tournament. The Wildcats finished 20-13.

Quote: “We have no one to blame but ourselves.” — UA assistant Jim Rosborough after the NCAA loss

Preseason ranking: No. 10

The good: Williams returned for his sophomore season, joining Radenovic, Shakur, McClellan and standout freshmen Chase Budinger, Jordan Hill and Nic Wise. Budinger averaged 15.6 points per game.

The bad: McClellan and Fendi Onobun opened the season with knee injuries. Williams missed some time with an ankle sprain. Walters missed most of the season due to mononucleosis. Prince transferred to Tennessee in December. Williams was suspended in January for a team violation. In March, guard Daniel Dillon was arrested on suspicion of DUI.

Finish: Eighth-seeded Arizona lost in the first round to ninth-seed Purdue. The Wildcats finished 20-11.

Quote: “Everybody’s calling us talented but soft. We played soft. They’re right.” — UA forward Bret Brielmaier, after losing in the tournament

Preseason ranking: No. 17

The good: Budinger, Hill, McClellan, Wise, Dillon and Brielmaier all returned. Olson added guard Jerryd Bayless and forward Jamelle Horne. Bayless led the team with 19.7 points per game.

The bad: Rosborough left Arizona’s coaching staff before the season due to differences with Olson. Kevin O’Neill replaced him, and rumors persisted he would be Olson’s eventual replacement. Just before the start of the season, Olson took a leave of absence for personal reasons and O’Neill was named interim head coach. Guard Laval Lucas-Perry transferred to Michigan in December.

Finish: Arizona earned a No. 10 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost to West Virginia in the first round. The Wildcats finished 19-15.

Quote: “I didn’t expect it to be like it was this year, I’ll tell you that much. I didn’t think it would be like this coming to Arizona.” — Bayless, after the Wildcats were eliminated

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The good: Olson announced plans to return to the sideline. NBA coach Mike Dunlap, former UA guard Reggie Geary and former ASU assistant Russ Pennell joined the Arizona staff after O’Neill and Pastner took other jobs. Budinger passed up the NBA Draft and returned, as did Hill, Wise and Horne. The Wildcats added freshmen Kyle Fogg and Garland Judkins.

The bad: Olson dealt with a public, messy divorce from his second wife, Christine. Olson, angry at fan criticism, called into a radio station and said fans who were unhappy should “turn in their tickets.” Highly ranked recruit Emmanuel Negedu was released from his letter of intent and signed with Tennessee. Five-star point guard Brandon Jennings committed to play at Arizona, then opted to play professionally in Italy. The NCAA opened an investigation of Arizona after a letter bearing Olson’s signature was used to solicit money from UA boosters for an elite-level prep basketball tournament. Olson announced his retirement on Oct. 23, and Pennell was named interim head coach. As a result of Olson’s departure, center Jeff Withey, a freshman, transferred to Kansas.

Doctors later said Olson’s retirement was due to health issues, including a heart problem, depression and a minor stroke.

Finish: Despite the turmoil and turnover, 12th-seeded Arizona upset No. 5 seed Utah in the NCAA Tournament and advanced to the Sweet 16, where the Wildcats lost to Louisville by 39 points. The team went 21-14 with Pennell in charge.

Quote: “When you lose, you lose. It doesn’t feel good to lose by darn near 40 points, but there’s still a finality about it either way.” — Pennell

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The good: Arizona hired Sean Miller away from Xavier following a protracted coaching search that initially focused on Tim Floyd. Miller convinced Solomon Hill to stick with the Wildcats and secured late commitments from Derrick Williams, Kyryl Natyazhko, Lamont “MoMo” Jones and Kevin Parrom. Wise returned for his senior season. Williams was a surprise star, averaging 15.7 points per game.

The bad: Arizona missed the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 25 years. Parrom missed 10 games due to a foot injury. BYU’s Jimmer Fredette scored 49 points against UA at McKale Center. Garland Judkins transfered to UTSA in January. Jones was suspended one game for “attitude-related issues.”

Finish: 16-15

Quote: “I will tell you this: The goal here is to get back to the NCAA tournament as quickly as we can.” — Miller

Preseason ranking: Unranked

The good: The Wildcats added junior college transfer Jesse Perry and freshman guard Jordin Mayes. Arizona shocked many by winning the Pac-12 regular season title and upsetting Duke in the Sweet 16 on the way to the Elite Eight. Williams was named the Pac-10 Player of the Year.

The bad: Arizona lost to UConn in the Elite Eight after both Williams and Horne missed 3-pointers in the final seven seconds. Following the season, Miller’s brother Archie, a UA assistant, was named head coach at Dayton.

Finish: Arizona won the Pac-12 and finished 30-8.

Quote: “Right now we’re hurting, but it’s a momentary thing. We made history, you know what I’m saying? We’re going in a really good direction.” — UA forward Brendon Lavender

Preseason ranking: No. 16

The good: Miller added five-star point guard Josiah Turner, guard Nick Johnson and big men Angelo Chol and Sidiki Johnson. Hill and Fogg were both named All-Conference selections.

The bad: Parrom was shot in the leg during an offseason visit home to New York. Jones transferred to Iona before the season, and Daniel Bejarano left midseason for Colorado State. Sidiki Johnson was suspended in November for violating team rules; he eventually transferred to Providence. Parrom missed the final two months with a foot injury. Turner was suspended indefinitely and eventually left the program.

Finish: The Wildcats lost in the Pac-12 Tournament’s championship game, missed the NCAA Tournament and lost to Bucknell in the first round of the NIT. The team’s final record: 23-12.

Quote: “Great teams have played in this, and once in a while you get in the NIT. Things happen, and you need to get over it.” — Hill

Preseason ranking: No. 12

The good: Nick Johnson, Hill, Mayes and Chol all returned and Arizona added Xavier graduate transfer Mark Lyons and a top-5 recruiting class highlighted by Kaleb Tarczewski, Brandon Ashley, Grant Jerrett and Gabe York. It upset No. 5-ranked Florida in nonconference play. Lyons and Hill were All-Conference selections and the UA made it to the Sweet 16.

The bad: Arizona lost to Ohio State in the Sweet 16 when LaQuinton Ross made a last-second shot after a poor defensive shift by Jerrett left him open. Jerrett left for the NBA despite only scoring 5.2 points per game in a reserve role. Chol transferred to San Diego State.

Finish: Arizona finished 27-8 in a saeason which they were a No. 6 tournament seed.

Quote: “Losing in this tournament, when you play all the way to the end, hurts more. But I think you leave with a lot of pride knowing that you played your heart out, and we really did that.” — Miller

Preseason ranking: No. 6

The good: Arizona added five-star recruits Aaron Gordon and Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, four-star prospect Elliott Pitts and Duquesne transfer T.J. McConnell to a roster that included Nick Johnson, Tarczewski, Ashley and York. Johnson won Pac-12 Player of the Year, Gordon was the league’s freshman of the year and Miller was coach of the year.

The bad: Ashley suffered a season-ending foot injury in February. The Wildcats lost to UCLA by four points in the Pac-12 Championship game and by one point to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight.

Finish: Arizona finished 33-5, won the Pac-12 and was a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Quote: “The thing about the NCAA tournament is it’s exhilarating when you win and equally devastating when you lose.” — Miller

Preseason ranking: No. 2

The good: Arizona lost Johnson and Gordon early to the NBA, but returned Tarczewski, Hollis-Jefferson, McConnell, York, Pitts and Ashley and added a stellar recruiting class that included Stanley Johnson, Dusan Ristic, Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Craig Victor. Johnson was named the Pac-12 freshman of the year.

The bad: Victor transferred to LSU early in the season.

Finish: Arizona finished 34-4, its last loss coming when Wisconsin shot 66.7 percent from 3-point range in the Elite Eight. The Wildcats won the Pac-12 and were a No. 2 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Quote: “I’m not going to apologize for being 34-4 and I’m not going to apologize for not making the Final Four, and neither should these guys.” — Miller

Preseason ranking: No. 12

The good: Arizona lost McConnell, Hollis-Jefferson, Ashley and Stanley Johnson but returned York, Tarczewski, Ristic and Jackson-Cartwright and reloaded the roster with transfers (Kadeem Allen, Mark Tollefsen and Ryan Anderson) and freshmen Allonzo Trier, Ray Smith, Justin Simon and Chance Comanche. York, Tarczewski and Anderson were all-Pac-12 selections.

The bad: Pitts sat out two months, then left the team in February after the UA suspended him for sexual misconduct. Smith, a five-star small forward, injured his knee before Arizona’s first game and missed the season. Trier missed a chunk of games due to a hand injury, and Tarczewski missed a month with a foot injury. Justin Simon transferred to St. John’s after the season.

Finish: The Wildcats lost to Wichita State in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. They finished 25-9 and were a No. 6 seed in the tournament.

Quote: “After working so hard for so long it definitely feels (lousy) to end like this.”— Tarczewski

Preseason ranking: No. 10

The good: Arizona lost Tarczewski, York, Anderson and Tollefsen, but added freshmen Rawle Alkins, Lauri Markkanen, Kobi Simmons, junior college transfer Keanu Pinder and Lipscomb transfer Talbott Denny. Trier, Markkanen and Allen were all-conference selections.

The bad: Trier missed the first half of the season after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs. Comanche was suspended for two exhibtions for academic reasons. Jackson-Cartwright missed six games with an ankle injury. Smith medically retired after suffering another knee injury.

Finish: The Wildcats were upset by 11-seed Xavier in the Sweet 16, finishing the season 32-5. Arizona won the Pac-12 and was a No. 3 seed in the NCAA Tournament.

Quote: “We just lost the game. There’s no other way to put it.” — Trier