Basketball
Members of Congress are caught up in the "March Madness" excitement as the Arizona Wildcats are viewed as the title favorite.
Representative Juan Ciscomani (R-AZ), whose district includes Tucson, posted on X Wednesday that he and his son, Juan David, had filled out their NCAA brackets and, despite disagreeing on a few matchups, landed on the same Final Four pick: the Arizona Wildcats to win it all.
It's hard to argue with them.
Arizona heads into the tournament riding one of the strongest seasons in recent program history.
The University of Arizona News reported that the Wildcats went 32-2 overall and 16-2 in Big 12 play, won the conference's regular season crown, and capped it off with a conference tournament title.
The run included a last-second shot from UofA’s senior guard Jaden Bradley to edge Iowa State, before the team held off Houston in the championship.
Bradley walked away as Big 12 Player of the Year, while head coach Tommy Lloyd was honored as the conference's top coach. Forward Tobe Awaka earned unanimous Sixth Man of the Year recognition.
Additionally, freshman Brayden Burries leads the offense with nearly 16 points per game, though Arizona's scoring is spread across the roster; seven players average at least 9 points per night.
Statistically, Arizona ranks among the nation's elite.
The team's scoring margin sits sixth in the country, and the analytics platform KenPom places the Wildcats second in overall efficiency. They rank fourth nationally in rebounding and eighth in opponent field goal percentage allowed.
Seeded first in the West region, Arizona opens tournament play Friday morning against Long Island University at Viejas Arena in San Diego, with tip-off scheduled for 10:35 a.m. on TNT.
A second-round game against either Villanova or Utah State would follow Sunday if they advance. The road to the title runs through the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight in San Jose, with the Final Four and championship game both set for Indianapolis in early April.
For Tucson and its congressman, the prediction is already on paper. Now it's up to the Wildcats to make it official.
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