Seen and heard in San Jose: On net-snipping, high fiving and UA staffers' relief

SAN JOSE — Like his water-drenched, smiling teammates, Arizona senior wing Anthony Dell'Orso wore a black Final Four hat decorated with a snip of the SAP Center net into the locker room Saturday night.

He’s getting used to that sort of thing.

Less than four weeks earlier, the Wildcats snipped down the nets at McKale Center after beating Iowa State to clinch the Big 12 regular-season championship.

Then, eight days after that, they snipped them in Kansas City after beating UCF, Iowa State (again) and Houston in the Big 12 Tournament.

But this was something else. Taking the West Region nets means you’re going to the Final Four.

“It's hard to think that that's our third time doing it this year. It's a blessing. Perfect," Dell'Orso said. "It feels unbelievable. Every time you cut the net, it feels better and better.

"You know, the fans here was unbelievable. They made it feel like McKale. It felt like being at McKale again, cutting the net again. It's a crazy thing, and we still have two games left.”

The Wildcats repaid the love after the game when they celebrated at the center court podium, snipped nets — and then ran around the perimeter of the arena floor slapping high-fives with fans reaching over the rails to greet them.

“It was Brayden’s idea, honestly,” forward Koa Peat said of freshman Brayden Burries. “He’s really big — we’re all big on the fans. Just that love and support they show us, we’ve got to show it back and give it in return. That’s what we did. We’re just so thankful for them.”

Hard-headed Mo

After taking a beating in Arizona’s Sweet 16 win over Arkansas Thursday, UA center Motiejus Krivas was knocked backward early in the second half Saturday, falling so hard that the sound of his head hitting the floor was audible in the lower rows, so much so that gasps were heard.

But after lying on the floor to recover, Krivas didn't leave the game. And afterward, there he was, sitting in the locker room, wet and happy, having shaken it all off.

“Maybe I’ll lose a couple of brain cells," Krivas said, "but I feel great."

Staffers celebrate

While none of the UA players were even born the last time the Wildcats reached a Final Four, mostly having only heard of their five previous Elite Eight losses, the moment was not lost on staffers Justin Kokoskie and Brian Brigger.

Kokoskie has been the UA’s men’s basketball athletic trainer since 2002, before all of UA's five previous Elite Eight losses, while Brigger was on a personal 0 for 4 streak in Elite Eights.

The Wildcats’ equipment manager since 2012, Brigger was a part of Xavier and Pitt teams that lost in the Elite Eight, as well as the Sean Miller-coached UA teams that lost in the West Regional finals of 2014 and 2015.

“It’s awesome,” Brigger said, after helping carry the West trophy to the locker room. “It’s excitement. It’s awesome.”

Lloyd named COY finalist

Arizona’s Tommy Lloyd was named one of four finalists for the Naismith Coach of the Year, though UA point guard Jaden Bradley was dropped from Naismith Defensive Player of the Year consideration.

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The Naismith Award announced four finalists for its coach, player and defensive player awards during the week, with Michigan’s Dusty May, Duke’s Jon Scheyer and Nebraska’s Fred Hoiberg joining Lloyd as the four finalists for Naismith Coach of the Year.

The remaining candidates for the Naismith’s Defensive Player of the Year include Kansas’ Flory Bidunga, Florida’s Reuben Chinyelu, St. John’s Zuby Ejiofor and Houston’s Joseph Tugler. Bradley had been named to a 15-player late-season watch list for the award.

The four finalists for the Naismith Award for best overall player are Duke’s Cameron Boozer, Arkansas’ Darius Acuff Jr., BYU’s AJ Dybantsa and Michigan’s Yaxel Lendeborg.

All-West team

After winning the Big 12 Player of the Year award, and the conference tournament MVP honors, Jaden Bradley scooted over only slightly for the West Regional awards.

Bradley was one of five players named to the all-West Regional team, while Peat was named the MVP after scoring 41 points combined in the Wildcats' wins over Arkansas and Purdue.

Others named to the all-West Regional team included Trey Kaufman-Renn and Braden Smith of Purdue, and Tramon Mark of Texas.

Shaq’s back

Having performed after the 2025 Big 12 Tournament final, and after Arizona’s Red-Blue Showdown last October, Shaquille “DJ Diesel” O’Neal performed around a Wildcat event again.

Thousands of people, most appearing not to be NCAA basketball fans, showed up to listen to his set on Friday at downtown San Jose’s San Pedro Square.

The square, actually a long street full of restaurants and bars, hosted UA fan gatherings before both Thursday and Saturday’s game at the Old Wagon Saloon and Grill.

Supply and demand

An hour before tipoff Saturday, lower-bowl seats were being offered for sale as low as $239 per seat when bought in pairs, a price that was lower than any seat for the Wildcats’ second-round game against Utah State last week in San Diego.

But losses by Arkansas and Texas undoubtedly decreased demand, while Arizona, Utah State, Kansas and St. John’s all had followings for the second-round games in San Diego.

The big number 

25: Years since Arizona's last Final Four appearance.

Quotable

"Sometimes people don't understand those great teams. They just cause different problems." — Purdue coach Matt Painter, on trying to defend Arizona

Also quotable 

"All these dudes, I was literally a spectator like you were in that second half. That's what it felt like." — Lloyd, referring to his players outscoring Purdue by 22 points after halftime