Arizona Wildcats: T.J. McConnell comes home

The day after Christmas, Arizona Wildcats fans got another present, the chance to cheer on their beloved former Wildcat, T.J. McConnell when he returned to Arizona in an NBA uniform.

Wildcats fans around the nation have been showing up to NBA games in Arizona gear to cheer on their former basketball players, but it’s not been a big as it was for when T.J. McConnell came home.

The Suns played the slightly revamped Philadelphia 76ers in Phoenix at the Talking Stick Resort Arena.

The Suns lost Eric Bledsoe early in the game to injury, and the Sixers got power forward Carl Landry back in their line-up for the first time this season. The Sixers also recently made a trade for PG Ish Smith. Smith has played for nine different teams in the sixth year of his NBA career including playing previously for Philadelphia. Also former Suns and Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni joined the team as Associate Head Coach. Don’t quite understand how his job is any different than an assistant but  it is what it is.

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Smith has played for nine different teams in the sixth year of his NBA career including playing previously for Philadelphia. Also former Suns and Lakers head coach Mike D’Antoni joined the team as Associate Head Coach. Don’t quite understand how his job is any different than an assistant but it is what it is.

This isn’t the best news for T.J. McConnell because he will most probably get less playing time. But knowing T.J., he will make the most of any situation and has proved to park the defense and the offense when he is on the court.

So far McConnell has played in 32 games and started in 16 this season averaging 6.4 points, 1.2 steals, 4.9 assists and 4.3 rebounds.

Dec 14, 2015; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bulls guard Derrick Rose (1) looks to pass the ball against Philadelphia 76ers guard T.J. McConnell (12) during the first half at United Center. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports

The Sixers (2-30) were in last place in the Eastern Conference, and the Suns (12-20) were in 11th place in the West. The Sixers beat the Suns 111-104, but a big minority of the fans in the stands weren’t there necessarily to see the Suns win, they were there because they wanted to cheer on T.J. McConnell.

As reported by the Sixers organization, McConnell was looking forward to being back in his second home, Arizona, albeit 115 miles from the University of Arizona in Tucson.

"“I don’t know what the fan base will have out there, but I know there will be a few people out there from Arizona, so it will be good to see them,” McConnell said.  “I’m missing Arizona, miss the weather out there, even though this weather has been pretty good for the winter on the East Coast. But I just miss the people out there.  It’ll be good to be out there in front of them.”"

As his luck would have it, it was warmer in Philly (63 degrees) than Phoenix that day (54 degrees), but he did get more than he may have expected from Wildcats fans. He made sure fans knew their adoration didn’t go unnoticed.

Fans reciprocated:

"Suns may have lost to the worst team in the league but we got to see TJ McConnell play"

Trying to get tickets to see McConnell in Los Angeles at the Staples Center, you will have to pay a minimum of $135 per ticket for nosebleed seats, but it will be well worth it. Just ask half the Suns fans who came out the day after Christmas for a glimpse of one of the most favorite Wildcats of all times.

BearDown T.J.! Still working on tickets for Staples Center on New Years day, hoping you steal the ball from Kobe again, cuz that was too cool!