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It's an eight-man rotation with objectively likable personalities, and it's arguably the best team in program history — one of five UA teams to reach the Final Four, and the first one since 2001.

However, we had to ask. 

The question was asked on X, the social media app sometimes referred to as Twitter, and one name stood above the rest. 

It wasn't the starting point guard at "Point Guard U," Jaden Bradley, the Big 12 Player of the Year. 

It wasn't any of the standout newbies — Koa Peat, Brayden Burries and Ivan Kharchenkov — who are considered some of the best freshmen to play for the Wildcats. Bryce James — LeBron's kid — also wasn't the most popular amongst fans. 

Out of the 217 responses, 90 either mentioned Tobe Awaka or flat-out said the Arizona forward was their favorite player. For those doing the math, that's 41% of votes. The other responses were a mixed bag between Bradley, Burries, Kharchenkov and reserve wing Anthony Dell'Orso. 

So, why is Awaka the people's champion? Is it because he's built like an NFL tight end? Is it because when you say his last name 10 times fast, it sounds like a game of Pac-Man? 

One fan, Sam, said Awaka is "not the best player on the team ... (but) he is so fun to watch and tough as hell." 

Arizona fan Mike Valdez said Awaka "plays like an old school Dennis Rodman on the boards and get points down low as well! Nasty work. I love his hustle." UA fan Chris Vizcarra said, "the energy and fire he plays with can’t be matched."

"I think people just respect the effort he plays with and the physicality he plays with," Arizona head coach Tommy Lloyd said of Awaka. "I think it really stands out."

Awaka is the muscle of Arizona's roster. Don't believe it, just look at the scratches on his arms, with each scratch resembling a hard-fought rebound. The rebounding department is Awaka's forte. The 6-8, 255-pound Awaka has the fifth-most rebounds by a Wildcat in a single season — the most by a bench player. 

"I think people can kind of identify (with Awaka)," said Lloyd. "They see that blue-collar approach he has to the game, and I think that's something we all respect.

"I have sung Tobe's praises a thousand times and I'd do it a thousand times again. He's an amazing individual (with) high, high, high character, about all the right things, and I'm just really thankful that we got the opportunity to coach him. Thankful that his talent and perseverance and work ethic really propelled us to be able to get to a Final Four."

Awaka credited his toughness and drive from his parents, Sunny and Henrietta Awaka, who immigrated to the U.S. from Nigeria. 

"To see how hard they work, how they scratched and clawed to create a good life for me and my siblings," Awaka said. "I also think my faith in God and Christ. Being able to endure and overcome suffering, putting faith in something greater than yourself." 

Awaka is the oldest of four siblings, and faith and academics were priorities growing up in Hyde Park, New York. Awaka joins a list of fan favorites from New York, which includes Bradley, Khalid Reeves, Mark Lyons, Lamont "Momo" Jones and Rawle Alkins. 

Awaka's upbringing is how he became a bookworm. Awaka has read about a dozen books since the season started, and the genres range from "fiction, theology, investing, philosophy," he said. 

"The bulk of my reading was done during the winter break," Awaka said. "I had a lot of free time then. Other than that, I've been sprinkling it in and picking the best times to read."

During Arizona's first trip to the Final Four in 25 years, when Awaka wasn't even born yet, the UA forward is reading "The Way of Baseball" by Shawn Green. Lloyd recommended the book to Awaka, and had Green speak to the team during the first and second rounds of the NCAA Tournament in San Diego. 

"It's a really great read," Awaka said. 

Awaka's college basketball journey, which started at Tennessee in 2022, is its own great tale. The Volunteers played against the Wildcats at McKale Center when Awaka was a true freshman; Arizona won, 75-70. Lloyd "never heard of him" until there was a "loose ball-rebound situation." 

"Two of our big guys went for it, two of Tennessee's big guys went for it, everyone fell to the floor, and there's Tobe standing there with the ball," Lloyd said. "I went, 'Oh, my God, who's that guy?' ... When his name went into the portal, we were all-in. For us, he's been an incredibly important piece to our identity. If you want to be effort, physicality and toughness, just put a picture of Tobe Awaka in the dictionary, because he's been that for us." 

Awaka struggled to come up with the title of his book, and said, "Get back to me on that." 

The summary of the book, in Awaka's words: "It'll probably be more so about personal growth, just learning to grow by myself and the people around me. That'll probably be the basis, for sure." 

Awaka's favorite memory in Tucson the last two years was the reception at McKale Center when the Wildcats beat Purdue to win the West Region and punch their ticket to the Final Four. Roughly 1,000 fans went to McKale Center in the wee hours of Sunday morning to congratulate the team on its Final Four run.

Said Awaka: "We came back and the bus pulled up in front of McKale and the fans were out there. It was a surreal experience. It was 1:30 or 2 in the morning, so it shows how much Arizona basketball means to the city of Tucson."

Some of the loudest cheers were for the people's champ, Awaka.

"I'm just grateful," Awaka said in Indianapolis. "I feel the love. They're a family, and they've picked me up a lot. It means a lot to reach people and touch people in that way. I love Arizona, I love Tucson and I love the fans. "I couldn't be more grateful for all they've done for me."

Following Arizona's 91-73 loss to Michigan in the Final Four, Awaka, who had 8 points and 9 rebounds in his last game as a Wildcat, said Arizona's historic season "was one of the best basketball experiences of my life."

"I couldn't have asked for a better staff, better teammates to be around. The way they picked me up throughout the culmination of the season really helped me become a better person, a better teammate. I'm forever thankful."