[Goose]

This seems to be true, although I don't understand it at all. Tucson is a good-sized city with great weather (fall--spring, anyway) and lots of amenities. There are NO pro teams, no academic hurdles and the entire city rallies around the 'Cats. Perhaps the fact they're known as a hoops school could factor in but the notion that recruiting there is difficult doesn't seem valid.

Tucson is great, and the people are great. U of A is also a good school. However, if you are from LA (or anyplace similar) and want an urban setting, it just isn't. (thank goodness in my opinion, but...) Worse still, ASU is currently getting all the state money, period. It is a ginormous school in the most populous city of the state. U of A is perceived (and even more importantly, perceives themselves to some degree) as on a down slope to oblivion. Tucson is "old Arizona", which I actually prefer, but lots of people regard it as a backwater. So far, basketball has been able to get around this, but for how long is not certain. The "one and done" aspect, along with lots of drinking possibilities, make it possible to get 5 basketball players. Football players are looking at 3 years minimum, and you need more of them.
ASU has recruiting issues as well, but they at least have a much larger metropolitan area and a "new" campus to attract students. Also, FWIW, if you are an athlete looking for a place where your "name" will count for something after you graduate, Arizona is just too small for lots of guys. Utah has similar problems, but at least there is only one PAC-12 school in the state.

[Goose]

This seems to be true, although I don't understand it at all. Tucson is a good-sized city with great weather (fall--spring, anyway) and lots of amenities. There are NO pro teams, no academic hurdles and the entire city rallies around the 'Cats. Perhaps the fact they're known as a hoops school could factor in but the notion that recruiting there is difficult doesn't seem valid.

Tucson is great, and the people are great. U of A is also a good school. However, if you are from LA (or anyplace similar) and want an urban setting, it just isn't. (thank goodness in my opinion, but...) Worse still, ASU is currently getting all the state money, period. It is a ginormous school in the most populous city of the state. U of A is perceived (and even more importantly, perceives themselves to some degree) as on a down slope to oblivion. Tucson is "old Arizona", which I actually prefer, but lots of people regard it as a backwater. So far, basketball has been able to get around this, but for how long is not certain. The "one and done" aspect, along with lots of drinking possibilities, make it possible to get 5 basketball players. Football players are looking at 3 years minimum, and you need more of them.
ASU has recruiting issues as well, but they at least have a much larger metropolitan area and a "new" campus to attract students. Also, FWIW, if you are an athlete looking for a place where your "name" will count for something after you graduate, Arizona is just too small for lots of guys. Utah has similar problems, but at least there is only one PAC-12 school in the state.