March Madness Sweet 16 2017: Likability rankings

15. Arizona Wildcats

The Arizona Wildcats have a real chance to make it to the Final Four in their home state this year. It’s been 16 years since they last made their Final Four appearance and it’s the 20th anniversary of their National Championship victory.

Just because they rank low on the likability meter here, it doesn’t take away from everything they’ve done and the great players that have blossomed this season. It’s just the Sean Miller factor and that’s probably why he’s a successful coach.

Whether it’s his ability to get petty and call revenge timeouts or the scowl that overcomes him 24/7, it pushes the team on the lower end of the likability scale. Lauri Markkanen nearly raises the team higher in these rankings by himself because watching him play is like a work of art.

The good news for the Wildcats and other teams that rank low is that teams that aren’t always the most likable tend to be the most successful. Their ability to force uncomfortable matchups on their opponents and find Markkanen for open looks on the offensive end have made this team a real title contender.

Miller’s a fantastic coach but he’s not exactly Willy Wonka out their coaching. That’s perfectly fine and the Wildcats seem to feed off of it. That’s probably why they could end up winning another National Championship 20 years later.