Arizona fans flock to Las Vegas for final Pac-12 basketball tournament

TUCSON, Ariz. (13 News) - The Arizona Wildcats are preparing to enter their last Pac-12 basketball tournaments when they face the Southern Cal Trojans on Thursday.

It marks the last journey in the city that never sleeps, otherwise known as Las Vegas.

While the Wildcat faithful are hoping to end this era on a high note, many went to Vegas long before tipoff to take in everything the city has to offer.

“We’ve been coming (to the tournament) since it came to Las Vegas and so we knew that this was going to be the last one here as part of the Pac-12. So, we had to keep it going,” said Arizona fan Sam Gonzalez.

While there are many fans like Gonzalez who have made it a tradition to come to Las Vegas for the conference tournament, there are others making their way to Sin City for the first time because of the end of an era.

“We’ve always said ‘We got to get here’ and now we don’t have a choice,” said Michelle Wood. “This is the last year. So, we made it happen,”

Fans came from all over southern Arizona with some driving up early morning Wednesday to make it in time for the first tip-off of the tournament.

“We drove up this morning and got here about 12:15 to watch the first game,” said Wildcat fan Michael Tountas.

Some Arizona fans had a bit longer to travel than others.

“I came all the way from Alaska. Anchorage, Alaska. I’ve had no sleep. But I came because (it is) the last tournament and so we’re here to watch every single game,” said Arizona grad Lolli Morrow.

A common theme for the fans has been to enjoy not just the Wildcats but also to bond with other fans and experience the show.

“We came early for the festivities, and you know, just to start having a good weekend right away. Drinking and having a good time,” Gonzalez said.

While relishing in the fun of the tournament the Las Vegas atmosphere is something some fans said they will miss next year when the team moves to the Big 12 conference, whose tournament is in Kansas City.

“I’ll miss just the games in the arena, with all the teams here. If you like basketball. You love it. Win or lose,” Arizona fan Debbie Brown said.

However, despite the location change these fans said they will continue to cheer on the Cats even if it is at the northern-most tip of America.

“They could play in Alaska. We’ll go and cheer them on,” Arizona fan David Ncquerrey said.

But this weekend, for old time’s sake, these fans will turn T-Mobile Arena into McKale Center North one last time.

“It’s always what 80% Arizona and 20% anybody else,” Ncquerrey said. “Today there’s a lot of empty seats tomorrow there won’t be an empty seat in the house,” Morrow said.

The Wildcats game against the Trojans tips off at noon and the game will be on the Pac-12 Networks.

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