Photo by Ahsan Awan @quackarazzi
Arizona Wildcats Basketball: As we go into NBA Draft mode, we thought it would be a good time to review the Wildcats successful season in photographs.
Yes, we borrowed the idea from another blog site, but it was a great idea. This is ZonaZealots take on a season in review, don’t forget to scroll down or you might miss a great photo! Enjoy!
Let’s start with our beloved Coach Sean Miller. This year we didn’t see him taking his jacket off almost at all, except the one time where he took it off and then put it back on minutes later. His loosing of the tie didn’t happen so much this year as well. Maybe he is calmer while coaching? You be the judge!
Feb 26, 2015; Boulder, CO, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller yells from the sidelines in the first half against the Colorado Buffaloes at the Coors Events Center. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Next: And this..
The one time he was photographed taking off his coat, then putting it back on was during the UCLA Game, can’t say we blame him.
Feb 21, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller (L) takes his coat off during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at McKale Center. Arizona won 57-47. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 21, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller puts his coat back on during the second half against the UCLA Bruins at McKale Center. Arizona won 57-47. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: But Ended with this glorious shot..
The regular season ended with this glorious shot, well deserved coach:
Mar 7, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller cuts down the net after beating the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center. Arizona won 69-91. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Wilbur!
No Arizona Wildcat photo article is complete without Wilbur..
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Next: Gabe York had a great season
Gabe York had a fabulous season, getting better every game, think he will be the next leader of the team and fill T.J. McConnell‘s shoes?
Feb 13, 2015; Seattle, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Gabe York (1) drives to the basket against Washington Huskies guard Mike Anderson (11) during the second half at Alaska Airlines Arena. Arizona defeated Washington, 86-62. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Stanimal!
Stanley Johnson was a beast this year! Stanley now has a Wikipedia page so we picked up his highlights from last year for you. Hate to say it but this kind of makes the case for him to go to the NBA..in addition to this, he was up for the John R. Wooden Award.
- All-Freshman All-American Team USBWA (2015)
- Pac-12 Tournament All-Tournament Team (2015)
- District IX All-District Team USBWA (2015)
- Third-team USA Today All-American (2015)
- First-team All-Pac-12 (2015)
- Pac-12 Freshman Player of the Year (2015)
- All-Pac-12 Freshman team (2015)
- 2014 Maui Invitational MVP, All-Tournament Team[3]
- 2x Pac-12 Player of the Week (December 1, 2014, January 19, 2015)[4][5]
- NCAA Player of the Week (January 19, 2015)[6]
- Wayman Tisdale National Freshmen of the Week (January 18, 2015)[7]
- Wayman Tisdale National Freshmen of the Year Award Finalist[8]
Jan 17, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) shoots the ball as he is defended by Utah Utes forward Kyle Kuzma (35) and center Dallin Bachynski (31) during the second half at McKale Center. Arizona won 69-51. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: ZEWWWWSSSS
Kaleb Tarczewski was strong this year, he is debating whether to enter the draft, we think one more year as a Wildcat will be really good for him and the team, and he can mentor Chance Comanche, so there’s that.
This was our favorite picture of Zeeewwwwwwsssss, tough under pressure, never gave up even though the Pac-12 refs seemed to blow their whistle every time he sneezed. I often wonder how Frank the Tank, his coach and his Badgers would have felt about having the Pac-12 referees in their conference?
Mar 26, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Xavier Musketeers forward James Farr (2) falls on top Arizona Wildcats center Kaleb Tarczewski (35) during the second half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Next: BASH!
Brandon Ashley came back this season with a vengeance. In some of the games late in the season, he showed us he can dominate a game, and take the team on his shoulders for a win. Flashes of brilliance, and major dunks, we call him BASH and this must have been after one of those dunks against the Ute’s!
Jan 17, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Brandon Ashley (21) celebrates after making a shot against the Utah Utes during the first half at McKale Center. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: RHJ
Rondae Hollis-Jefferson just yesterday declared for the draft, he was the first to emotionally tell us how tough it is to walk away from Coach Sean Millers program. His coach alluded to the fact that RHJ wants to come back and get his degree, that’s admirable. In his declaration speech, he wanted us to know that he will make us proud, and that was very special.
Mar 28, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Wisconsin Badgers forward Frank Kaminsky (44) moves the ball against Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) 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
Next: T.J. The Floor General
It’s hard to pick the best T.J. McConnell photo, so many good one’s and a little emotional right now sifting through them, how about this one?
Feb 15, 2015; Pullman, WA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard T.J. McConnell (4) goes up for a basket against Washington State Cougars guard Que Johnson (32) and Washington State Cougars guard Ike Iroegbu (0) during the second half at Wallis Beasley Performing Arts Coliseum. The Wildcats won 86-59. Mandatory Credit: James Snook-USA TODAY Sports
Or this one? Shows the love he has for the team..
Mar 5, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) and guard T.J. McConnell (4) celebrates during the second half against the California Golden Bears at McKale Center. Arizona won 99-60. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
One more, just because.
Mar 26, 2015; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard T.J. McConnell (4) moves to the basket against Xavier Musketeers forward James Farr (2) and center Matt Stainbrook (40) during the first half in the semifinals of the west regional of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Staples Center. Mandatory Credit: Robert Hanashiro-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Jason Terry's number was retired..
Jason “The Jet” Terry’s Jersey was retired after he received his degree from the University of Arizona. Players paid tribute to him after every three they scored, they mimicked his signature flight jet run down the court showing “three” with both hands.
Feb 19, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; The retired jersey of former Arizona Wildcats basketball player Jason Terry is unveiled during halftime at McKale Center. Arizona won 87-57. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 19, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) celebrates after scoring against the Southern California Trojans during the first half at McKale Center. Arizona won 57-87. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Elloitt Pitts
Elliott Pitts: We should see much more of Elliott next year and his glorious three-point shots.
Mar 19, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Elliott Pitts (24) dribbles the basketball against Texas Southern Tigers guard Madarious Gibbs (3) during the second half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. The Wildcats defeated the Tigers 93-72. Mandatory Credit: Godofredo Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Dusan Ristic..
Dusan Ristic..making strides, received a several minutes to play this season.
March 12, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats center Dusan Ristic (14) shoots the basketball against California Golden Bears forward David Kravish (45, center) and center Kingsley Okoroh (22) during the first half in the quarterfinal round of the Pac-12 Conference tournament at MGM Grand Garden Arena. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Next: Parker Jackson-Cartwright..
Parker Jackson-Cartwright (PJC) showed us he is fast, drives hard to the basket and usually makes his lay up, and he is hungry. When he was out with a concussion, his absence was felt. We cannot wait to see what else he brings to the team next season.
Jan 24, 2015; Berkeley, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats guard Parker Jackson-Cartwright (0) drives the ball past two California Golden Bears defenders during the second half of their NCAA basketball game at Haas Pavilion. Mandatory Credit: Lance Iversen-USA TODAY Sports
Next: The bench..
The Bench…good looking bunch, and a hell of support squad for the team all around.
Next: The Seniors..
Matt Korcheck was on fire during the January 22nd Stanford game when Ristic fouled out and showed us what maturity and perseverance is all about. “We brought him out of the bullpen and I don’t know if I’ve ever been happier for a kid than I am for him,” said Coach Miller after that game.
Nov 11, 2013; Tucson, AZ, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Matt Korcheck (31) dunks the ball during the second half against the Long Beach State 49ers at McKale Center. Arizona beat Long Beach State 91-57. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Drew Mellon…We all wanted Drew to get a basket when the coach put him in each game, twitter was full of “Put Mellon in!” tweets. Here is Drew with Trey Mason after the Pac-12 Championship win!
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Next: Champions..
The Arizona Wildcats won both the regular season Pac-12 Championship as well as the Pac-12 Tournament, convincingly! Here are some memories…
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March 14, 2015; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) cuts down the net after the championship game of the Pac-12 Conference tournament against the Oregon Ducks at MGM Grand Garden Arena. The Wildcats defeated the Ducks 80-52. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; From left Arizona Wildcats forward Stanley Johnson (5) , guard T.J. McConnell (4) , forward Rondae Hollis-Jefferson (23) , forward Brandon Ashley (21) and guard Elliott Pitts (24) walk off of the court after beating the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center. Arizona won 69-91. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2015; Tucson, AZ, USA; The Arizona Wildcats walk through the student section after the second half against the Stanford Cardinal at McKale Center. Arizona won 91-69 to win the regular season Pac-12 championship. Mandatory Credit: Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Next: One Team..
One team who persevered, had great chemistry, had each other’s backs, and often spoke at length about how they respected each other and the coach. And even though they came up short of the Final Four, they won their first Pac-12 tournament and made their third trip to the Elite Eight under Coach Sean Miller. We will not forget this team, they were legendary.
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And it just wouldn’t be right to leave out these little Wildcat fans, who show up year after year ready to apply to the University of Arizona and join the ZonaZoo..BEARDOWN ARIZONA! BEARDOWN!
Next: What's next for the seasons Arizona Wildcat Basketball team?