First let me say this: I commend Jennie Finch for making it to the final of the Bear Down Leader competition. What an athlete, what a commodity for the school, what an unbelievable career. I’ll stop there but I could continue for about another 100 or so words.

Heck, I’ll give you that she’s the face of UA – even if she’s a decade removed from being a student-athlete. She’s still got name recognition and marketability.

But if she’s the face of the program – pretty as it is – Sean Elliott IS the program. If McKale Center is the house that Lute built, Elliott is the guy who help build it. He put it on the map and has kept it there. Without Elliott’s player-of-the-year status and killer instinct (yes, he had it behind that baby-faced smile) UA wouldn’t be anywhere near where it is (was?) in college basketball the last 2 ½ decades.

He’s smart like a fox (how in the world did he beat even smarter Steve Kerr in this poll?) and yet he’d never really want you to know it. Heck, I’d vote Kerr for governor if he ran. Elliott beat him.

Elliott should be able to get by Finch.

I’ll take the heart and soul of the entire program over the face of it – anytime. And I’m a sucker for a pretty face, but I also love to win.

Earlier on TC.com: Anthony Gimino: Finch should be the Bear Down Leader

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