Instead, folks wondered openly about more abstract concepts. The question, they said, was how much impact a simple game where men in underwear put a ball through a hoop could have on a person's life. Ask Lute Olson. Lute's life partner, true love, and biggest supporter was gone. The Wildcats also lost their biggest fan.
Some people deal with a crisis by reprioritizing.
Some people would have said after such a loss, basketball seems like a silly game. But basketball and family were all Lute Olson had left. He threw himself into coaching. Then a funny thing happened. Arizona started winning.