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Arizona Basketball: Ranking Sean Miller’s first 6 teams

By Brad Malone

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Jan 12, 2014; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Arizona Wildcats head coach Sean Miller, guard Nick Johnson (13), center Kaleb Tarczewski (35), guard T.J. McConnell (4), forward Aaron Gordon (11) and forward Brandon Ashley (21) during a time out in the second half of the game against the USC Trojans at Galen Center. Arizona Wildcats won 73-53. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /

1. 2013-14 (33-5, Pac-12 Champions, Elite Eight)

Arizona showed it’s grit away from McKale Center early on by beating San Diego State, Michigan, and Duke. The Cats kept it rolling and started the year 21-0 and were ranked number one in the nation for eight straight weeks.

Mar 19, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Brandon Ashley (21) shoots the basketball against the Texas Southern Tigers during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 19, 2015; Portland, OR, USA; Arizona Wildcats forward Brandon Ashley (21) shoots the basketball against the Texas Southern Tigers during the first half in the second round of the 2015 NCAA Tournament at Moda Center. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports /

That ended when the Cats lost to Cal in the final seconds. The real damage was done earlier in the game when Brandon Ashley suffered a season-ending foot injury. Despite the Ashley setback, the Cats would win the conference and make another March run.

After marching through the first weekend of the tournament, the Cats were matched up against San Diego State in the Sweet Sixteen in Anaheim.

Southern California has been a home away from home for Arizona fans but with San Diego only 100 miles down the road, Aztec Nation brought a caravan of fans to Disneyland, and they were loud.

The Cats survived a scare by the Aztecs thanks to Nick Johnson’s 15 points in the final three minutes of the game.

The Cats moved on to the regional final to play the Wisconsin Badgers.

Sean Miller had to wait again for his Final Four dream as Bo Ryan instead made his first Final Four as a head coach, after the Badgers defeated the Cats in overtime 64-63.

It was an instant classic if you lived in Madison.

More wildcats: Arizona Basketball: Richard Jefferson Obliterates Bobblehead

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