While college football season is in full effect, Tucson will always be a basketball town. Sure it may not be as popular as UNC or Kansas, but Arizona hoops are unique in its own way and you should definitely partake in it. Here is what I have learned so far and what you need to know if you are new to Arizona basketball.
Get there as early as possible
Think of how early you got to the football game and add at least an hour to that. Otherwise, you might sit high enough to reach the ceiling and you will not get t-shirts. If you want to sit in the front rows and get wristbands you will probably need to get there three or four hours in advance for the best seats. Otherwise, you can still catch t-shirts if you are in the middle rows and have decent hand-eye coordination.
Bring something to pass the time
Whether it is homework, a Sudoku puzzle, or an Iphone app, you will need something to pass the time before the game. If you want a decent seat, you will have an hour or so of downtime and it can go by really slowly. Now is the time to finish math homework or make new friends as you await the beloved Wildcats.
We do not leave at halftime
Unlock football season where we leave once one team goes up double-digits, you are at the basketball game from start to finish. If you leave during a blowout, you might miss something incredible such as Jacob Hazzard nailing threes on senior night. There might be more opportunities for t-shirts during blowouts so you might as well stay unless you drove.
Pay attention in the Zona Zoo
After players from the opposing team fouls out, they try to use Arizona’s left-right chant against them. They will strategically wait until a player is shooting a free throw, then sit on the bench while the crowd yells sit down. Eventually, they handed out papers warning the student section about this trend so hopefully it does not happen again this season.
Go to the Pac-12 Tourney
After experiencing it last year with my friends, we are already planning on making another appearance during next year’s spring break to support Arizona. If you are able to make the trip, I highly recommend it if you are a basketball fan. A weekend of hoops in Las Vegas with some of your closest friends is always a swell idea.
Have fun
There are probably a handful of teams that have as much atmosphere as an Arizona basketball game and you should take all of it in. In my three-year tenure in Tucson, the Wildcats have only lost one home game and few things are more fun than winning. Even if you are not that into basketball, cheering on your school with your friends in a sold out arena is what college hoops is all about. Arizona is expected to be extremely good this season and you should support your school as they try to get a second championship.
