Anaheim, Calif. ? The official reason the ball wound up in Jason Gardner’s hands was time.
Arizona had only seven seconds to race downcourt and get off a final three-point shot that would send their West Regional final game with Kansas into overtime.
Gardner said he could not quickly get the ball to guard Salim Stoudamire, UA’s best three-point shooter, or the other option, Luke Walton.
But the fact that Gardner had the ball in his hands with the game on the line, with the season on the line, with his career on the line, was appropriate.
Gardner always ached to deliver in the clutch.
“I wanted to take that shot,” Gardner said. “You always want to take that shot.”
Most of the time during Gardner’s decorated UA career, he delivered. Saturday, he didn’t at the end and he made just 3-of-10 three pointers and Kansas hung on for a 78-75 win.
But, typical of his career, Gardner elevated his scoring when the Wildcats needed him to. He scored 16 of his team-high 23 points in the second half and also made all eight free throws he took. Walton pitched in 18 points and 10 rebounds when he had to.
Walton hit a particularly clutch three-pointer with 1:56 left that pulled Arizona within 74-73 despite the fact that he connected on just 36.6 percent from three-point range during the season.
But Walton was whistled for an offensive charge with 43 seconds, a foul that was just as deadly as Gardner’s misses.
Arizona trailed by the final 78-75 score at that point, but had enough time to get two possessions. Walton’s foul meant Arizona had only one.
Rick Anderson, Arizona’s third senior, added 11 points, but was mired in foul trouble throughout the game.
“You take a look at some of the shots (Gardner) hit down the stretch, and Luke Walton is not a great three-point shooter,” Arizona coach Lute Olson said. “But he got that look and knocked it down and I think that’s typical of those guys. That senior class has been the best.
“I mean, there’s no one that’s done a better job than those guys have done over the last two years. A year ago, when you look at it , they had nothing but freshmen there but they got them together and had them learn what Arizona basketball is about.”
None of Arizona’s underclassmen felt any differently.
“I just feel bad for the three seniors,” sophomore Salim Stoudamire said, fighting back tears. “They meant everything to us.”
