Photos: Arizona Wildcat fans gather in Tucson to welcome back the men's basketball team
Arizona men's basketball beat Purdue 79-64 in the West Regional final Saturday, March 28, 2026 in San Jose, to snap a streak of five straight losses in the Elite Eight. They are headed to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Fan gathered at McKale Center in the early hours of Sunday to welcome back the team.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcat fans gather at McKale Center, on March 29, 2026, to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcat fans gather at McKale Center, on March 29, 2026, to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Ari Guillen, 8, tries to keeps his eyes open as he waits for the men’s basketball team to return to Tucson after beating Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. Fans gathered at McKale center to welcome back the team on March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Charita Stubbs, head coach of the University of Arizona women’s volleyball team, gets the crowd going before the men’s basketball team arrives at McKale Center after beating Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. Fans gathered to welcome back the team on March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcat fans hold up their phones to grab photos and videos as members of the men’s basketball team make short speeches at McKale Center after beating Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. The team traveled back from San Jose on March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Forward Koa Peat greets fans at McKale Center, on March 29, 2026, who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Guard Brayden Burries greets fans at McKale Center on March 29, 2026, who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team after it beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final, sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Head coach Tommy Lloyd greets fans at McKale Center who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Arizona Wildcat fans take photos and videos outside of McKale Center as members of the men’s basketball team makes short speeches after beating Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Forward Tobe Awaka greets fans at McKale Center who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team on March 29, 2026, after it beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final, sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Center Motiejus Krivas greets fans at McKale Center who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Guard Jaden Bradley, left, walks intoMcKale Center after greeting fans who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. March 29, 2026.
Fans celebrate the Arizona Wildcats
Forward Ivan Kharchenkov greets fans at McKale Center who gathered to welcome back the men’s basketball team after they beat Purdue, 79-64, in the West Regional final sending them to the Final Four for the first time in 25 years. March 29, 2026.
Mamta Popat
Photojournalist
Arizona fans have been disappointed for the last 25 years. After the Wildcats reached the Final Four, UA fans had "tears of joy."
The players on this year's Arizona Final Four team weren't alive the last time the Wildcats went to the 2001 Final Four. Here's what was happening when they were born.