Shawn Gray spent his Tuesday afternoon at the University of Arizona BookStore. His purchase — a Sweet 16 T-shirt — could soon have company.
“I hope this isn’t the last shirt I buy this year,” he said. “If we make it through the weekend, I will be in line to buy another.”
Like many UA students and Wildcats fans, Gray is cautiously optimistic that Arizona will advance to its first Final Four since 2001. The No. 2 seed Wildcats will face No. 11 seed Xavier on Thursday, with the winner facing either Gonzaga or West Virginia in the Elite Eight on Saturday.
The Sweet 16 has been a hot topic on the Arizona campus all week. Students returned from spring break on Monday to find Sweet 16 gear for sale inside the bookstore and McKale shop. University Boulevard and Fourth Avenue restaurants and bars are sure to be jam-packed when the Wildcats and Xavier tip off.
Steven Massani, manager at No Anchovies, 870 E. University Blvd., is expecting big business.
“We are expecting full capacity by 5 p.m.,” he said. “We love the excitement around the game and the odds Arizona makes it through the weekend.”
UA senior Jake Abt believes the Wildcats have “too much talent” for Xavier.
“This time of year, you never know what’s going to happen,” he said, “but I like our odds.”
The Wildcats enter the game an eight-point favorite, but the Musketeers still worry some UA fans.
Xavier upset third-seeded Florida State in Saturday’s second round, and the teams have a history: The Wildcats beat the Musketeers in the Sweet 16 two years ago, only to fall to Wisconsin in the Elite Eight.
The Musketeers won their first two games in this year’s tournament by a combined 36 points.
“Xavier is as hot as anyone right now,” Gray said. “I am going to be as nervous as ever watching Thursday night.”
Randy Lee agrees. The UA junior says he believes many fans are overlooking Xavier because of its seed.
“I think because we have had so much trouble in the Elite Eight, people are quick to assume it will be a cakewalk till then, and at that point, we will truly face the test,” he said. “This time of year, the seed number that sits ahead of a team’s name is irrelevant; Xavier’s hot.”
