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The Daily Wildcat

The Daily Wildcat

 

Senior Awards

Arizona+mens+basketball+guard+T.J.+McConnell+%284%29+signals+instructions+to+his+teammates+during+Arizonas+73-51+win+against+California+in+the+Pac-12+Tournament+Quarterfinals+in+the+MGM+Grand+Garden+Arena+in+Las+Vegas+on+March+12.+McConnell+was+the+heart+and+soul+of+the+highly+ranked+Wildcats+throughout+the+season.

Arizona men’s basketball guard T.J. McConnell (4) signals instructions to his teammates during Arizona’s 73-51 win against California in the Pac-12 Tournament Quarterfinals in the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on March 12. McConnell was the heart and soul of the highly ranked Wildcats throughout the season.

Best leader: T.J. McConnell 

by Roberto Payne

You can question his size or if he’ll ever make it in the NBA, but no one can question T.J. McConnell’s leadership and heart. During his three years at Arizona, no one was more of a team leader than McConnell. He seemingly knew just the right button to press at every turn and was a nearly identical clone on the court as Arizona men’s basketball coach Sean Miller. Rarely do you see one player capture the hearts of his teammates, an entire fan base and even the media. Taking a page out of legendary crooner Frank Sinatra’s book, McConnell did it his way.


Best turn around: Tra’Mayne Bondurant 

by Matt Wall  

Entering his senior season, news headlines devoured the story about how Arizona football senior safety Tra’Mayne Bondurant was no longer a part of the Wildcat program. Instead of giving up and quitting, Bondurant worked hard to regain his position on the team and became one of the Wildcats’ most significant players on defense, as he constantly came up with the timely interception or forced fumble. Bondurant is no doubt the best senior turnaround simply because he was at a crossroads. The path he took proved his mental fortitude was greater than any off-the-field issue could be.


Best Tweeter: Riley Moore 

by Nicole Cousins

Riley Moore is already known for his beachy curls and charismatic attitude, but the Arizona baseball senior catcher also has a knack for Twitter. When he’s not retweeting Arizona baseball or his favorite MLB team, the LA Dodgers, he’s making ploys at his teammates and posting motivational quotes.

A personal favorite is the video he posted of himself paying Bobby Dalbec $20 after hitting a home run in the ninth inning against ASU. Classic.

Then there’s his inspirational “We live, we learn, and we grow as a TEAM.” tweet after a loss against Rice on Feb. 22.

Either way, it’s worth it to give @riley_moore6 a follow. He only has slightly over 500, after all.


Hardest worker: Chelsea Goodacre 

by Ezra Amacher

In her senior season, Arizona softball catcher Chelsea Goodacre more than separated herself from the pack. The catcher leads the NCAA in RBIs heading into the last week of the regular season.

Goodacre made the most of her final year as a Wildcat by turning into one of the top sluggers in college softball. Along with the flashy RBI total, her 22 home runs took second in the Pac-12 behind teammate Katiyana Mauga.

She also got it done behind the plate, helping guide a young pitching staff while keeping up a .990 fielding percentage, one of the best on the team.


Best style: Drew Mellon 

by Justin Spears

Drew Mellon hasn’t logged too many minutes for Arizona basketball in his career, but that hasn’t stopped the Southern California product from having style.

Mellon instantly became a fan favorite in McKale Center with his majestic hair alone.

Nearly everyone on the Arizona roster has had a noticeable hairstyle. Players such as Stanley Johnson, with an afro fade with jet lines on the sides, or Rondae Hollis-Jefferson, with his Mohawk, still couldn’t match up against Mellon’s locks.

Mellon’s swagger mainly comes from the blonde combover haircut that he’s had his entire career at Arizona.

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