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Special moment with T.J. McConnell kissing the block “A” on the court that bears Lute Olson’s name and had his coach Sean Miller waiting 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 Olson years 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-Cartwright and Dusan Ristic, this streak has strong legs. Likely that McKale has also seen the last of Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, Stanley Johnson, Kaleb Tarczewski and 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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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 Korcheck honored 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 Kerr was 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’s jam 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 Johnson sees 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.