For the first time in a quarter century, the University of Arizona men's basketball team will take part in the Final Four. It is a dream come true, not just for the players and coaches, but for the countless members of Wildcat Nation throughout the world who never gave up hope.

Hundreds of Wildcat faithful gathered outside McKale Center at ALKEME Arena on an overcast, slightly drizzly Wednesday morning to send the team to Indianapolis as loudly and enthusiastically as possible.

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For everyone in attendance, this moment represents the culmination of years – sometimes decades – of unwavering support and the bonds that can only be formed through shared experiences.

"I've been watching every game in the tournament with my grandparents, and these are memories I wouldn't trade for anything in the world," said Julia Blumberg, a recruitment coordinator in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences.

Blumberg attended the send-off with fellow SBS employees Allison Ewing-Cooper, Anna Valencia and Debbie Bamford.

"We're like our own little team," Bamford said. "We're always talking about the Cats and how they did (and) how we think the next games will go. It's something we all look forward to."

For Rudy Maya, a U of A supporter for "oh, at least 60 years," he got to share the moment with his grandsons, Leland, 11, and Legend, 8 – two huge Tobe Awaka fans who admire his toughness and "how hard he dunks the ball," according to Leland.

"Moments like this don't come around every day," Maya said.

Fifteen feet away, a group of six U of A sophomores shared Maya's sentiment. Emerson Barker, Abigail Jurgens, Kylie Frank, Meredith Hamilson, Amia Sawyer and Lorrayne Gomez have attended as many games as possible during their two years on campus, and each believes their shared fandom of the Wildcats will keep them linked well after they complete their academic programs.

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"We were all at the GameDay event, and that's something I'll be telling my kids about someday," Hamilton said.

"The vibe in McKale Center is unbeatable," Jurgens said. "I get chills just talking about it."

Sophomore Emma Gilbertson and senior Micaela Cox showed their support for Ivan Kharchenkov with signs that read "I'm No. 8's tallest fan!!" (Gilbertson) and "Ivan No. 8" (Cox). Both superfans are members of the Pride of Arizona Marching Band and never miss a game.

"I will never forget watching us beat ASU," Gilbertson said. "That game was so close and so intense, but the way our guys closed it out let me knew we had what it takes to go all the way."

"I still get emotional thinking about Senior Night," Cox said. "It really felt like being part of history."

David Pfordt, a Class of 1981 alum from the Department of Hydrology and Atmospheric Sciences, and Richard Truex, a Class of 1979 graduate from the Eller College of Management's management information systems program, know a little something about history. Truex's parents bought season tickets when McKale Center opened in 1973 and has been to more games than he can count.

"I see something special with this group," Truex said.

"I couldn't agree more," Pfordt added. "We were around for 1997, and 2001, and all the great teams. I think this year's squad is as good as any of them. We're deep, we're tough, and we play as a team."

Pfordt echoed Tommy Lloyd's comments after the team's Elite Eight victory over Purdue, adding that "the good-looking guy with white hair" was looking down on Wednesday's send-off, beaming with pride as the Wildcats head to Indianapolis for another shot at the national championship.

"It's a special journey," said senior guard Anthony Dell'Orso. "In my opinion, it's probably the hardest to achieve because it's all sudden-death games. You create memories for life and moments that you can forever say you were a part of. Some remember the stats, but everyone remembers the win."

How to watch

Arizona takes on the University of Michigan Saturday at 5:54 p.m. on TBS and streaming on HBO Max. The winner moves on to face the winner of the game between the University of Connecticut and the University of Illinois in the national championship game on Monday. All games take place at Lucas Oil Stadium. More information can be found at the Arizona Athletics website.