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Special moment with T.J. McConnellkissing the block “A” on the court that bears Lute Olson’sname and had his coach Sean Millerwaiting for him by the bench for a hug.
T.J. McConnell on kissing the floor: "I respect this place so much, I love this place so much, I needed to do something like that."
— Jon Gold (@TheCoolSub) March 7, 2015
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Reminiscent of the Lute Olsonyears once again, Arizona feeling good as it heads to the postseason.
#arizonawildcats Sean Miller addresses crowd: "It’s an honor to be the coach, it’s an honor to play here and let’s keep doing this."
— Bruce Pascoe (@BrucePascoe) March 7, 2015
#Pac12Champions #CatHoops pic.twitter.com/V8dZ7hO99O
— David Kelly (@DavidKellyTNN) March 7, 2015
With incoming talent and returners like Gabe York, Parker Jackson-Cartwrightand Dusan Ristic, this streak has strong legs. Likely that McKale has also seen the last of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, Kaleb Tarczewskiand Brandon Ashley.
#ArizonaWildcats 28-3 overall (matching last year's record at same time) & they tie second-longest McKale win streak pic.twitter.com/g73fnJiVW4
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2015
Arizona making more believers out of the national media …
@SethDavisHoops : "When Arizona can score from the post in the halfcourt, they are national-championship good" Cites Tarczewski's emergence.
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2015
So @APlayersProgram just hung 47 on Stanford in the first half…Scoring + Defense = Prepping for #FinalFourRun
— Sean Farnham (@SeanFarnham) March 7, 2015
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Site founder and award-winning sports journalist Javier Moraleshas published his first e-book, “The Highest Form of Living”, a fiction piece about a young man who overcomes a troubled upbringing without his lost father and wayward mother through basketball and hope. His hope is realized through the sport he loves. Basketball enables him to get past his fears. His experience on the court indirectly brings him closer to his parents in a unique, heartfelt way. Please order it at Amazon (for only $4.99) by clicking on the photo:
Fitting that McConnell is the man in the middle …
#APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/3uovewx1LO
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 7, 2015
Walk-on love for senior Drew Mellon
#APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/xTGeC8IQCx
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 7, 2015
Tucsonan Matt Korcheckhonored following his last game at McKale Center
#APlayersProgram pic.twitter.com/b5gGoKoV3W
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 7, 2015
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An emotional embrace for the Pittsburgh natives
Sean Miller and T.J. McConnell embrace as McConnell walks off for last time at McKale #Pittsburgh #ArizonaWildcats pic.twitter.com/FdKe3tdNy1
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2015
This is why Miller puts all of that work in dating back to the early summer months evaluating recruits and preparing for individual workouts — the fruits of his labor. …
Sean Miller's turn https://t.co/oQCXtIUz1e
— John Marshall (@jmarshallap) March 7, 2015
VIDEO: @UACoachMiller Addresses the Crowd on Senior Day: http://t.co/Dyg9QHuI4y .
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 8, 2015
#APlayersProgram @UACoachMiller pic.twitter.com/5aonyKAhuO
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) March 8, 2015
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More fruits of his labor …
25+ regular-season wins, Pac-12 season title, top 10 rank in final reg-season poll = $120K in bonuses for Sean Miller.
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) March 7, 2015
Miller and Co. would love to replace those caps first with Pac-12 tournament champion caps
Pac 12 Championship hats on… pic.twitter.com/rwXpL9m1yg
— Steve Rivera (@SteveRivera95) March 7, 2015
Steve Kerrwas the best under Olson at a 2.64-to-1 rate from 1983-88
No Lute-era PG averaged 6 assists, with 3-to-1 asst-TO ratio in a season. T.J. McConnell is thru 31 games. #ArizonaWildcats
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) March 8, 2015
Kaleb Tarczewski’sjam came off a beautiful pass from McConnell. …
Zeus bringing the THUNDER for @APlayersProgram . #STANvsZONA pic.twitter.com/nZLO8dumXA
— CBS Sports CBB (@CBSSportsCBB) March 7, 2015
Classy moves …
Senior TJ McConnell came over thanked the clock/scorers before the game. Awesome. Official scorer said it was the first in his 20+ yrs.
— Nick Duddleston (@NickDudd) March 7, 2015
Miller ends @SportsRadio1290 postgame show thanking assts & all "from the video coordinator to dir. of basketball operations" for success
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 8, 2015
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Among a lot of great stats, this is the best of them all …
T.J. McConnell will finish @APlayersProgram career 35-1* at McKale Center. *Only loss while playing for Duquesne in 2011 (h/t @ZackBlatt )
— J.B. Long (@JB_Long) March 7, 2015
Who will Arizona get this kind of fire from after this season?
McKale Center is going to miss this … pic.twitter.com/mnzrtSa22F
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2015
To say the game got “chippy” is putting it mildly. …
Write your own caption for this one … pic.twitter.com/5kiqHLIGwJ
— Javier Morales (@JavierJMorales) March 7, 2015
Miller escorts Randle from the team huddle. #ArizonaWildcats pic.twitter.com/6IYoVzIJlH
— Mike Christy (@wildcatphotog) March 7, 2015
In the second half of the Pac-12, York has elevated his game to a point that has made Arizona unstoppable.
Gabe York past 5 games off bench: 12.3 points per game, 13 of 25 from 3-point range. #ArizonaWildcats
— Anthony Gimino (@AGWildcatReport) March 8, 2015
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No easy hugs? …
“ @jaykubs : best @UACoachMiller hug since @KevinParrom3 . pic.twitter.com/TZ0U8yh274 ” both hugs are amazing. We should gave a group hug next ! Lol
— Kevin Parrom (@KevinParrom3) March 8, 2015
Hollis-Jefferson appreciative in what probably was his last game at McKale …
Great team win the fans are amazing !!!!!!!! #APlayersProgram #BearAllTheWayDown
— R.HollisJefferson (@RondaeHJ23) March 8, 2015
Nick Johnsonsees you …
I see you @_Bash21
— Nick Johnson (@iRocket3) March 7, 2015
I see you @RondaeHJ23
— Nick Johnson (@iRocket3) March 7, 2015
And of course I see you @iPass4Zona
— Nick Johnson (@iRocket3) March 7, 2015
Tucson’s own Kenzie Fowler, former CDO and Arizona softball pitcher
Been going to MBB games since I was 5 and this is the loudest I've heard it in a long, long time. #BearDown
— Kenzie Fowler (@KenzieFowler19) March 7, 2015
Arizona routed Stanford 90-58 on Senior Day in 1998.
Remember senior day 1998 vs Stanford? #amazing @SteveRivera95 @AGWildcatReport @AJBRAMLETT @milessimon http://t.co/dLXagxqwHo
— Brett Hansen (@bretthansen5) March 7, 2015
— A.J. Bramlett (@AJBRAMLETT) March 7, 2015
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has also written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports .
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