DENVER - Since 2006, Chase Budinger and Jordan Hill haven't caught very many breaks.

They signed up to Arizona to play for Lute Olson in 2006-07 but arrived to find a program that was quickly headed in the wrong direction, and didn't get the college coaching and strength training of the typical elite level D-I program, which they thought they were going to.

They dealt with a dramatic 2007-08 campaign in which Olson took a season-long leave of absence and Kevin O'Neill took charge for a year.

They decided not to enter the NBA Draft that summer and they finished their UA careers in 2008-09 after Olson retired before the season, giving them a year to play for interim head coach Russ Pennell.

A reputation as a player not tough enough to handle the NBA helped cause Budinger to drop to the 14th pick of the 2nd round of the 2009 draft. He was selected by the Detroit Pistons, who promptly traded him to the Houston Rockets for a future second round pick and cash considerations.

Jordan Hill found a little more luck in the NBA Draft, being selected 8th overall by the New York Knicks.

Budinger and Hill's placing in the 2009 draft offered no preview to how their rookie seasons would play out. Budinger averaged 8.9 points and 3.0 rebounds in just over 20 minutes per game for the Rockets, making him one of the steals of the draft.

"I actually had a few coaches come up to me and tell me they messed up by not choosing me," Budinger told GOAZCATS.com in the locker room following Houston's 113-106 loss to Denver on Monday night.

As a rookie, Hill barely got off the bench for New York, playing 10.5 minutes per game for the Knicks before getting traded to Houston, where he was able to join Budinger. After averaging 4.0 points and 2.5 rebounds for the Knicks, Hill increased his stats to 6.4 points and 5.0 rebounds for the Rockets.

Now as second-year NBA players, Budinger and Hill are showing improvement on the court and enjoying life off of it, as the close friends from UA have been able to continue that bond in Houston.

On the court, Hill's second year as an NBA player has gone better. He's averaging 6.6 points and 4.3 rebounds, but is showing improvement, enough to the point that he's started three games in a row for the Rockets.

"I had to get my first year under my belt and now I feel more comfortable," Hill said. "I'm loving the Rockets and hopefully I can be here for a long time."

After a slow shooting start, Budinger is starting to come around as well. He's missed just six of his last 23 shots, averaging 15.7 points over that three-game stretch. For the season, he's averaging 8.4 points in over 19 minutes per game.

"It's starting to get good now," Budinger said. "I think in the beginning of the year I struggled a little bit shooting the ball but I'm starting to get my groove back the last couple games and I'm playing like I should be."

More importantly than Budinger's individual play, the Rockets are staying competitive despite losing All-Star center Yao Ming for the second straight season.

They're two games out of eighth place in the Western Conference playoff standings, and both Budinger and Hill are seeing increased roles for a team that needs their help to make the postseason.

At 22 and 23, respectively, Budinger and Hill are a handful of years younger than the average NBA age of 26.7, but they've both taken to the teachings of not only head coach Rick Adelman, but also veterans such as Shane Battier and Brad Miller.

"Me and Chase are both still learning," Hill said. "The team has a lot of veterans and we're picking up things a lot faster. We're just out here trying to do our best."

Budinger and Hill agree that the coaching changes at Arizona and the overall tumultuousness inside the program helped prepare them for the NBA.

That was hard to recognize at the time, but it's apparent now.

"I saw a little bit of everything through my college experience, from all different types of coaches," said Budinger. "I think it definitely prepared me for the NBA because no matter what coach I got, I was ready to handle anything."

"Anything can happen in the league," added Hill. "You can have one coach one day and another coach the next day. What happened at Arizona helped me prepare for it."

Challenges like academics and Kevin O'Neill don't compare to what Budinger and Hill face in the NBA. Basketball is a job at the next level, and life can be difficult on and off the court.

"The biggest adjustment is playing so many games," Budinger said. "It's an 82-game regular season plus preseason, and more if you make the playoffs.

"It's a lot of games and you have to prepare not only your body but your mind mentally because it's a grind. It's about six months of nonstop playing. I think this month we have 17 or 18 games."

"It's difficult being away from my kids," says Hill. "I just had a newborn baby girl and I don't get to see her much, but she's too young to understand."

The obstacles the ex-Wildcats face in the league are easier to overcome since they have each other as teammates.

That helps with their chemistry on the court, in social situations and in the locker room with veteran teammates.

"I give him buckets," Budinger said of Hill.

"(Screw) y'all. I give y'all both buckets," chimed in Brad Miller.

"Seriously, it's cool because we have so much chemistry and we know how each other plays," Budinger said. "We know where each other's hot spots are and we have a good comfort level."

"Just like when we were at Arizona, nothing has changed," agreed Hill. "Now I have somebody in Houston that I can hang with."

Budinger and Hill made it back to Tucson last February and both say they plan on returning when they can.

They both fondly remember their college experience.

"I miss the town," Hill said. "I love Tucson. I love everybody. When I first got down there, I didn't like it because…

"Because you weren't hanging out with me," Budinger interrupted. "That's what happened."

Hill laughed. "Then I loved Tucson."

"C-Bud had to show him around," Budinger said.

"You didn't show me nothing but frat parties," joked Hill.

Joking aside, Budinger says that despite the fame and money, there are aspects of college that he definitely misses.

"The one thing you have in college is the social life," he said. "In college that's where you make your closest friends and that's where you get your closest bonds with people. Social life, friends, stuff like that."

"Anyone who doesn't miss college is a nerd," Battier interjected.

After everything Budinger and Hill went through while in Tucson, their struggles were rewarded with a Sweet 16 run to end their UA careers.

It's their last memory of Arizona, but also their favorite.

"Getting to the Sweet 16 was pretty nice, especially when no one thought we should be there," said Budinger. "That was a really tough year and we just fought back. Making it to the Sweet 16 was a great memory for me."

"Definitely, making it to the Sweet 16," Hill agreed.

"Who'd you lose to in 2007?" Miller interrupted again.

"Shut up Brad," Hill replied.

"When we got there my freshman year," Hill continued, "We didn't get out of the first round…"

"Who'd you lose to?" asked Miller

"And then we didn't get out of the first round again our sophomore year..." Hill said.

"Purdue!" exclaimed Miller.

"Shut up Brad!" Hill yelled again. "Yeah, my favorite memory was the Sweet 16."

Since that Sweet 16 loss to Louisville, Hill and Budinger have followed the UA program closely. They watch games when they can and fully embrace the new coaching staff.

"I have them on my phone and I watch them as much as I can," Budinger said. "They've been doing great so far. They have a couple tough losses against some good teams but I'm happy for the guys. I still know a couple guys on the team and I really pull for them.

"Sean Miller is doing a great job and hopefully he can start a long NCAA tournament streak. He's starting to get his recruits that he wanted into the school and you can definitely see a change in the atmosphere of Arizona basketball."

The two Rockets stay in touch with a number of Wildcats, whether they be on the current team, in the NBA or overseas.

"I still talk to Jamelle (Horne) and Kyle (Fogg) as much as I can," Budinger said. "I try to give them pointers and check on them because I was with them for one and two years so we remain good friends and I'll stay in contact with them.

"I just saw Jerryd (Bayless) the other day. We keep in touch and plan on working out together this summer. I keep in touch with Channing (Frye) here and there, and Nic Wise over in Europe, I try to hit him up online whenever I can to see how he's doing."

"I talk to Nic here and there," Hill said. "Mike Dunlap I talk to here and there. Coach Olson texted me to see how I'm doing and he's going to try and make it to the game when we play Phoenix."

There are no shortage of former college players who don't embrace the schools they played for due to frustrating collegiate careers.

No one would blame Budinger and Hill for still being down about their experience in Tucson. However, they're thankful for their time at UA and vow to remain involved with the Arizona program.

"Oh definitely," Hill said. "That's my school. They took a chance on me when no one else would. It's a good school, I love it, and wish them the best of luck. I'll keep rooting for them."

"They're becoming a powerhouse again," said Budinger. "I think it's going to just get better, especially with some of the recruits I've heard are coming in that are topnotch players.

"I think they're going to keep getting better and make it back to the Final Four and national championship."

* Follow Josh Gershon on Twitter.

Click Here to view this Link.

Click Click Here to view this Link. Here to view this Link.