I think we need to see how it plays out. The final chapters are still going to be written. Maybe we have a great run in March - if we don’t win it all but go down swinging in a great game where he plays well, it’d cement a really positive legacy. Or even if maybe this year is a struggle and he decides to come back as a senior and next year we are dominant again (FF or NC), then we’re talking 3 great tourney runs in 4 years, which would be new territory too.
A lot of a player’s legacy comes from circumstances, too. KEA and Napier are considered among our greatest winners and have great legacies - but they both were bailed out. KEA was 0-12 from the floor in what would have been the most disastrous loss in our history against Gonzaga (George Mason x10 - at least we had 2 titles when that one happened). Then he made tons of plays in the FF. Napier was having a really rough night against St. Joe’s before Brimah put back his miss for a three-point play. Then he was money the rest of the way. But if we lose to St. Joe’s, he’s maybe seen a role player on a national champion and is appreciated for staying with the program through probation, but probably not seen as much of a leader after being the starting PG on two first round loss teams.
Even Kemba - he was already a legend for bringing us back from the depths of 2010 - but if that Horne three in the corner goes in for Arizona, he’s probably in the same boat as Caron. Beloved and transformational, but in tier two.
Ben Gordon also had his ups and downs before the title run. Felt like he was struggling with the burden of being our main scorer and had some rough nights.
But AK’s baseline is two-time champion, who wasn’t ever just along for the ride. We never had a close game - but his buzzer beating threes at the half against Gonzaga and Miami were big for momentum. He had a couple other key moments - beating Illinois to the rim three times in that 30-0 run, a basket and foul to stop Miami’s final push. A three against Purdue when we separated.