There’s plenty of celebrating going on at McKale Center these days. Photo by Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
This Arizona Wildcats basketball team has done what no other has done — spend seven consecutive weeks atop the Associated Press poll.
The 2002-03 team opened the season with six weeks at No. 1.
Sean Miller’s team received 61 of 65 first-place votes for the second week in a row, easily outdistancing No. 2 Syracuse.
“To be No. 1, man, there’s nothing like it,” said freshman Rondae Hollis-Jefferson. “It’s special. It’s special.”
The Wildcats (18-0) will have to beat Colorado on Thursday night and Utah on Sunday night at McKale Center in order to lead the polls for an eighth week in a row.
While some might talk about the building pressure of being No. 1 and undefeated, Arizona has neither downplayed the accomplishment nor dismissed it as unimportant. All of it has simply been embraced.
“Coach always talks about how when you get older it’s something you cherish more and more. We’re definitely not taking it for granted,” sophomore guard Gabe York said.
“We get better every single day in practice. I know that sounds cliché and stuff, but, honestly, the way everyone practices, it’s ridiculous to see how hard we go. I just think the ceiling is going to keep growing for us because of how hard we’re working.
“We’re not focused on being 18-0. We’re focused on trying to go 1-0 in the next game.”