Busting Brackets
Fansided

Arizona Basketball: 5 reasons why Wildcats will win Pac-12 in 2019-20

By Holden Walter-Warner

PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: The Arizona Wildcats mascot cheers against the Texas Southern Tigers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images)
PORTLAND, OR - MARCH 19: The Arizona Wildcats mascot cheers against the Texas Southern Tigers during the second round of the 2015 NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament at Moda Center on March 19, 2015 in Portland, Oregon. (Photo by Jonathan Ferrey/Getty Images) /
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TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 07: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts during the NCAAB game against the Washington Huskies at McKale Center on February 07, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. The Huskies defeated the Wildcats 67-60. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
TUCSON, ARIZONA – FEBRUARY 07: Head coach Sean Miller of the Arizona Wildcats reacts during the NCAAB game against the Washington Huskies at McKale Center on February 07, 2019 in Tucson, Arizona. The Huskies defeated the Wildcats 67-60. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) /

5. Waning drama

This, of course, could be altered at a minute’s notice. It’s also impossible to quantify. But it would be nice to play a season without a scandal looming overhead at every moment.

The FBI scandal started in earnest almost two full years ago, with an announcement of charges on September 26, 2017. Arizona stuck by Book Richardson before ultimately firing him; the assistant is finishing a 3-month prison stint.

Meanwhile, the same scandal led to a wiretap revelation that Miller discusses paying Deandre Ayton to play for Arizona. Recruits decommitted as the coach’s job became jeopardized.

Arizona stuck with Miller through all of it. Entering his 11th season at Arizona (already!), he looks poised to reward them for their loyalty.

Demons still lurk. Just a couple of weeks ago, a new allegation came to light. According to a Yahoo! Sports report, Book Richardson told the FBI that he paid $40,000 to make sure Rawle Alkins remained academically eligible in high school. The former assistant made that claim over two years ago, but it hadn’t been reported previously.

Time will tell if this new allegation will lead to sanctions. Until then, Arizona will look to avoid scandal and simply go out and hoop.

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