Arizona Wildcats Basketball: There are No Words, Great Effort, Great Team

Arizona Wildcats Basketball: It’s hard to put into words what the fans, team and coaches are feeling, so we are going to try let them tell you.

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Basically the Wisconsin Badgers shot the lights out, seemed to make every three-point shot and free throw, and beat the Wildcats 78-85. Some early foul trouble for Kaleb Tarczewski and Brandon Ashley, as well as Stanley Johnson going down hard from getting slapped in the eye and making a trip to the locker room for evaluation and a rough second half all contributed to the loss.

Most experts agree, there was not much any team could have done to stop the Badgers. They will have to repeat their performance from tonight to be able to get back the Kentucky Wildcats.

Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) is looked at after suffering an injury against Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports

We could go into all the stats and back and forth, but you can get a regular game recap on everyone sports media website on the web. We thought we would do something different and let players, coaches, and fans speak for themselves (and ZonaZealots).

The Wildcats players were interviewed by Yogi Roth (@YogiRoth) in a very emotional video from the Pac-12 channel: T.J. McConnell on his fans “I love them all to death, I’ll always remember them, I’m going to miss them & Thank You!”

Brandon Ashley clearly was holding back all the emotions he could, but you can tell, this was a very hard loss for him. Gabe York could barely look into the camera, feeling badly they couldn’t make the final four happen for T.J. and his coach.

Stanley Johnson was also emotional, and seems that he was disappointed, it almost felt like he wanted to come back next year, wouldn’t that be something? And we are still awaiting Ivan Rabb‘s decision! Ivan just won the state championships for his high school team, and did it in the Cal Berkeley basketball arena. Grab a Kleenex, yes you, if are a big Wildcat fan that is:

Coach Millers Post Game Presser: What he said about his players, “There are a couple of them that have won 69 games in two years, have been in the top 10 for every day that they’ve dribbled a ball at Arizona” On the Elite Eight loss, “We lost to Wisconsin in two hard-fought battles at the Elite Eight. And if that’s a problem, I think you know what you can do.”

Arizona fans have a huge love affair with their now former senior point guard T.J. McConnell. And you can include

Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard T.J. McConnell (4) reacts following the 85-78 loss against Wisconsin Badgers during the second half in the finals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports

the staff at ZonaZealots as well. You could not ask for a more dedicated, mature, talented and humble person or player to lead your team. The relationship his team and coaches have with him is right from the heart, just like T.J. plays, right from the heart. His tears and emotions would make any fan young or old shed tears (us included). T.J. sent out three heartfelt Tweets to fans which received over 11,000 likes/retweets in total, we are not joking:

Just want to thank literally everyone in Tucson! You guys are the absolute best and it was an HONOR to be your Pg I love Arizona basketball
— TJ McConnell (@TJMcConnell) March 29, 2015