Pity Arizona

Arizona’s men’s basketball team lost in the first round to 13th seeded Buffalo, who lost in the second round to 5th seeded Kentucky, who lost in the sweet sixteen to 9th seeded Kansas State, who lost in the elite eight to 11th seeded Cinderella Loyola of Chicago, who lost the semi-final to Michigan, who lost in the final to Villanova.  That makes Arizona the biggest loser of the tournament.

Consider this, Michigan could claim to be the second best team in the tournament – having lost to the eventual winner. Kansas, who lost in the semi’s to ‘nova, can make the same claim. Radford, who got shellacked by Villanova in the first round, could make the same (though far-fetched) claim. Arizona, uniquely, can claim nothing better than 7th. This tournament’s biggest loser. And at a 4 seed, perhaps the biggest biggest loser since Iowa earned some pity in 2006.

Previous biggest losers:

2018 – Arizona (4)
2017 – Mount Saint Mary (16)
2016 – Purdue (5)
2015 – New Mexico State (15)
2014 – Oklahoma (5)
2013 – Colorado (10)
2012 – Harvard (12)
2011 – Akron (15)
2010 – Oklahoma State (7)
2009 – California (7)
2008 – Belmont (15)
2007 – New Mexico State (13)
2006 – Iowa (3)
2005 – Winthrop (14)
2004 – Florida (5)
2003 – Dayton (4)
2002 – Boston University (16)
2001 – Princeton (15)
2000 – Appalachian State (14)