With the start of November, we have officially reached college basketball season, and Monday was a unique day for Arizona Athletics. Both the women’s and men’s basketball teams would start their seasons on the same day, and both at home.
It was a good showing for both teams at McKale Center as they started their respective seasons with a victory. The UA women won 73-54 against UT Arlington, and the men’s team beat Canisius 93-64.
Last season, the women’s team averaged about 7,300 in attendance per game. It was a sparse crowd for the Lady Cats’ opener, but as the game progressed the crowd got more and more full.
For first-time season ticket holders, the Speranza family did enjoy the first game of the season. The early 4 p.m. tipoff did not interrupt their excitement.
“I believe our team played very well in every aspect of the game,” Lee Speranza said. “We got down the court very quickly.”
Even though it is a small crowd, the community feel is very much appreciated by Sierra Speranza.
“Yeah, it’s half empty but everyone there goes every time, and there’s a lot of good energy,” she said. “It’s exciting to see it become more popular.”
Ariana Speranza was solely focused on supporting the women’s team in their season opener.
“I actually didn’t know there was a men’s game tonight,” she said. “I was very excited to see the women’s team.”
However, tipoff was even too early for the ZonaZoo, as classes were either still going on or just ending. A few of the students, however, did make it for the entire game.
In the win, Jada Williams, Breya Cunningham, Isis Beh, and Sahnya Jah all finished with ten points. Cunningham led the team in rebounds with 10, and Skylar Jones led with four assists.
The women’s game ended at around 6:15 p.m., and they asked all fans to clear the arena. This included people who were sticking around for the men’s game, and even the ZonaZoo.
Fans were even asked to throw away any trash they saw into the appropriate bins. It did not take long for the arena to clear out. Doors would open back up at around 6:40 p.m.
Some of those who attended the women’s game stuck around for the transition into the men’s game. Wildcat fan Scott Mehl did appreciate the convenience of having both games going back to back.
“You park once, so then you can just go right into the games,” he said. “There’s a little bit of an intermedium between, you know, the times, but you can get some food and get ready to get back into the game.”
With around 75 minutes under tipoff for the men’s game, there was already a bigger crowd in the ZonaZoo. Safe to say the men’s game drew more of a crowd as almost the entire lower bowl of Mckale Center was filled.
For those who waited after the women’s game for the men’s game, it was worth the wait. The game started with a 13-0 run for Arizona.
With the game not being in doubt for most of the game, a once decent sized crowd turned into a sparse crowd.
Eleven minutes still remained in the game but some Wildcat fans decided to beat the traffic home. Credit to the ZonaZoo as a good majority stayed for the entire game.
In the end, Arizona won its 17th straight season opener behind the Caleb Love, Jaden Bradley, and KJ Lewis trio.
Love finished as the leading scorer with 17 points and led with six assists. Tobe Awaka finished with nine rebounds.
This won’t be the only time McKale Center hosts multiple UA events on the same day. On Nov. 23 the Wildcat volleyball team hosts Iowa State at 2 p.m., with the women’s basketball squad facing Grambling at 6 p.m., and in early 2025 there will be three more basketball doubleheaders.