The realities of running a major college basketball program come to life after the season’s final game. Not only will Arizona lose two seniors, but sophomore Marcus Williams is expected to leave for the NBA.

“”It would be a shock to me if he came back,”” said UA head coach Lute Olson.

It would indeed be shocking, considering Olson no longer has a scholarship to offer Williams with five freshmen coming in next season and Kirk Walters almost certainly returning for a second senior season after playing a total of three minutes this season. (Walters suffered from a concussion and mononucleosis.)

Currently, Williams is not guaranteed to be a first-round pick in June’s NBA draft. He sits at No. 20 on NBAdraft.net but while he

averaged more points in his sophomore season, his 3-point and free-throw shooting percentages, as well as his assist-turnover ratio, decreased.

Williams has had all the politically correct answers, saying he still had to sit down with family members to make a decision. Olson thinks the NBA has been in the back of Williams’ mind all season.

“”Since last year, I think that’s been a big part of his mindset,”” Olson said. “”I don’t know where he’s gonna go. I know that he has potential. Has he had the kind of year that would project him way up? I don’t know. That’s up to the NBA.””

Seniors Mustafa Shakur and Ivan Radenovic have hopes of playing in the NBA. Both project as second-round picks, but there’s no guarantee either will be selected.