Arizona’s run ends in Final Four loss to Michigan, putting bow on historic season

“Being a kid from Arizona, putting on this jersey, having Arizona across my chest. Like I said in the beginning of the season when I put Arizona across my chest, I’m going to go 110 percent every game and leave no regrets. ” For most college basketball teams, the season ends with a loss.

Regardless of how well a team’s slate of games plays out, and regardless of conference championship victories, only one team can come out on top in the end. Despite securing the highest remaining overall seed in the tournament, Arizona won’t be that team. The Wildcats ran into a juggernaut on Saturday in the Final Four of the NCAA men’s basketball tournament at Lucas Oil Stadium, putting an end to their historic season.

Michigan dominated Arizona from wire to wire in a 91-73 win, advancing to the title game on Monday where the Wolverines will face UConn, which beat Illinois in the other national semifinal. It was a season reminiscent of old times within the Wildcats program, pushing the bar of what’s expected, competing for a national championship year in and year out. “It was an awesome, awesome journey,” Arizona coach Tommy Lloyd said.

“It was as much fun as I’ve ever had coaching basketball. ” This year, although closer than the Wildcats have been in 25 seasons, they still came up short. A matchup that was deemed a pseudo-national championship game by analysts was never really close, with Michigan taking it to the Wildcats from the jump, outclassing them at their own game.