Final Four fever hits Tucson | Arizona Wildcats

TUCSON, Ariz. (KVOA) – Arizona basketball fans are in a frenzy as the men’s team heads to its first Final Four since 2001.

News 4 Tucson found fans bearing down across Tucson on Monday, including at a pop-up shirt shop at Broadway and Rosemont. That’s where Tucson native Rene Celaya and his girlfriend ran into former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, while getting a shirt.

“That’s what we do here, we love our sports and especially like I said it’s a basketball town,” Celaya told News 4 Tucson.

Kelly Sauer, her husband and their friends are behind the pop-up shop on Broadway. They sold U of A shirts back in 2001 and have been surprised by the demand so far.

“Our first order, we thought we’d have enough to get us through the entire week and it got us through a day and a half,” Sauer said.

More than 25 people were eagerly waiting for more shirts when that second shipment arrived Monday night. Fans are also swarming campus for shirts.

“I’ve got Final Four shirts for my son and grandson. I’m going to overnight it to them right now,” Jenny Dodson, a Wildcat fan, said.

U of A fan Adam Strong said the team represents more than just basketball.

“Generations have passed and people are raised to look at Arizona basketball as something that represents Tucson, as something that represents Arizona,” Strong told News 4 Tucson.

Sauer said her and her husband’s shirt shop off Broadway has been so busy she has not had time to figure out just how many shirts they’ve sold. She thinks the number may be approaching the thousands.

“Brings us all together and right now, I think that’s what Tucson needs right now with everything going on in the world and here we need some good vibes and some good love coming out of Tucson,” Celaya said.

Fans have five more days to let those good vibes percolate before the Wildcats take on Michigan in Indianapolis this Saturday.