Arizona Softball: Season Start is Right Around the Corner

Arizona Softball: Season Start is Right Around the Corner by Peggy McClain

Another year is in the books, and it was full of Arizona Wildcats Basketball and Football memories.

Sean Miller and the boys continued to put their stamp on the college basketball landscape and Rich Rodriguez led Arizona to it’s fourth straight bowl appearance for the first time in school history.

Let’s take a look at our Top 5 Arizona Wildcats moments of 2015.

5. The Golden State Warriors Win the NBA Championship.

Tucson’s favorite son, Steve Kerr, took advantage of an excellent opportunity in the Bay Area. After the 2013-14 NBA season, Kerr was being wooed by the Golden State Warriors and the New York Knicks. The basketball world was surprised when Kerr turned downed his mentor Phil Jackson and headed to Bay instead of the Big Apple.

In his first year as an NBA head coach, Kerr added to his impressive championship ring collection. With Kerr in charge and former Wildcats Bruce Fraser and Luke Walton helping on the bench, a new culture was born in Golden State.

Add the high-flying sixth man, Andre Iguodala to the mix and Arizona Basketball fans had a new NBA team to root for.

4. Arizona Upsets No. 10 Utah in Tucson

The Utah Utes came to Tucson with a legitimate chance in playing in the college football playoff. Those dreams ended when the Wildcats shocked the Utes in double overtime 37-30.

Anu Solomon was playing the best he had all year until he was knocked out of the game in the fourth quarter. Utah could not take advantage of the Solomon less Wildcats and the Cats duct tape defense kept Arizona alive until the second overtime.

Speedster Jerrard Randall had one complete pass after replacing Solomon, and it won Arizona the game.

On the first play of the second overtime, Randall found Nate Phillips in the end zone for a touchdown.

It was the catch of the year for Arizona when Phillips channeled his inner Odell Beckham, to make a phenomenal one-handed grab for the go-ahead touchdown.

3. Arizona Wins the New Mexico Bowl

Arizona fans didn’t want to go to the New Mexico Bowl, but when your team finishes 6-6 you take what you can get.

What Arizona fans were excited about was the return of Scooby Wright III, and he did not disappoint.

Scooby Snacks were being served in full force on that cold Albuquerque day when Wright picked up right where he left off from his banner 2014 season.

With 15 tackles and two sacks, Wright helped the Cats take down the New Mexico Lobos 42-37, in a virtual road game.

After the game Scooby had fought back tears when he announced, he was entering the NFL draft.

2. The Wildcats Make Another Run to the Elite Eight

After winning the Pac-12 regular season title for the third time in five years and finally getting the Pac-12 Tournament Championship monkey off their backs Arizona did what it always does. Made a deep run in the NCAA Tournament.

Unfortunately, the Wisconsin Badgers were waiting for the Cats when they reached the Elite Eight.

1. Arizona Wins the Pac-12 Tournament for the First Time in 13 Years

When Lute Olson was winning Pac-10 Titles and taking Arizona to Final Fours, one thing he didn’t care much about was playing in the Pac-10 Tournament.

He thought it was a waste of time, and so did a lot of Arizona fans.

Fast forward to 2015 and most Arizona fans felt much different.

That tends to happen when your team is the crown jewel of the West Coast for the past quarter century and the last time your team won a conference tournament was in 2002.

Arizona fans got their long-awaited wish when the Cats trounced Oregon 80-52, in the championship game.

Here’s to many more Arizona memories in 2016.

BearDown Arizona!