Parrom had started one game previously in the season and saw around 20 minutes of playing time. When he was given the start in mid-February, the senior was averaging 8.0 points per game, and—after starting the remaining eight contests—brought his scoring up to 8.3 points per game.

After being rocked by personal tragedy in 2011, Parrom finished the 2012-13 season shooting 49 percent from the field—including 40 percent from three. Two years ago, the senior lost his mother and grandmother and suffered a gunshot wound when visiting his home in the Bronx.

“I believe as you get closer to the end that the players on your team that are your guiding force are your seniors,” Miller said. “They have the most to gain, the most to lose… When you have someone like [Parrom] on your team, it gives your team a lot of character and a lot of courage, and it’s these moments that you appreciate him.”

Coming into the NCAA tournament, the Wildcats seem to have turned their defensive struggles around—at least in their first round matchup against Belmont. With a 23-point contribution from Lyons, Arizona held the Bruins to 30 percent shooting from the arc in an 81-64 blowout to advance to face No. 14 Harvard, where the Wildcats will look to extend their tournament push.

“Nobody wants the season to end, in large part because of Kevin Parrom, Solomon Hill, and Mark Lyons,” Miller said. “Those guys have represented Arizona in a first class manner, and they’re great kids.”

—Staff writer Hope Schwartz can be reached at hschwartz@college.harvard.edu. Followe her on Twitter @HopeSchwartz16.