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FINAL FOUR
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
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This bracket takes an overall look at the best play in Arizona Wildcats history. The best play will be determined through a vote of readers. In case of a tie-breaker, yours truly will make a determination:
The best four plays in history of Arizona basketball have been determined in this bracket:
— Craig McMillan’s “McShot” against Oregon State in 1986.
— Derrick Williams’ game-saving blocked shot against Washington in 2011.
— Sean Elliott’s clutch three-pointer in a showdown game with Duke in 1989.
— Miles Simon’s 65-foot miraculous bank shot that beat Cincinnati in 1996.
The Final Four became set with Elliott’s play topping Mark Lyons’ winning shot against Florida in 2012 by a vote of 58.8 percent to 41.2 percent. Simon’s prayer was voted for over Khalid Reeves’ coast-to-coast winning basket at Stanford in 1992, 66.7 percent to 33.3.
You can vote on Elliott’s clutch three-pointer against Duke vs. Simon’s 65-shot at the buzzer that beat Cincinnati in 1996 with this poll:
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
You can vote on McMillan’s “McShot” against Oregon State vs. Williams’ blocked shot against Washington with this poll:
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
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Perfect gift for any Arizona or college hoops fan this holiday season: A complete rundown of the Arizona basketball program as we might not know it put together by longtime Tucson sportswriters Steve Rivera and Anthony Gimino. Please e-mail Rivera, Gimino or ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com for ordering details.
CLICK HERE to read Javier Morales’ review
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To those who have ever worn our nation's uniform, THANK YOU. You make it possible for us to live free. #VeteransDay #USA #Respect
— Arizona Basketball (@APlayersProgram) November 11, 2014
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Why vote for Craig McMillan’s “McShot” at McKale Center against Oregon State in 1986:
Craig McMillan
Call it what you want — McClutch, McShot, McMiracle — the 1986 spectacular finish by Arizona against Oregon State and A.C. Green was so breathtaking it’s hard to put into words. In his sophomore season, McMillan made a last-second basket that beat the Beavers 63-62 in overtime on Jan. 23, 1986. With three seconds left, Steve Kerr threw a length-of-the-court pass on an out-of-bounds play that was deflected to McMillan and he swooped to the hoop to make the winning layup. Many fans in McKale stormed the court in celebration, in what was one of the rare times Arizona fans have reacted that way. “Some people were talking to me the other day about that play,” McMillan said during the 25th anniversary of Arizona’s 1987-88 Final Four team two years ago at McKale Center. “I didn’t do that much. The ball landed right in my lap.”
Why vote for Derrick Williams’ game-saving blocked shot against Washington in 2011:
Derrick Williams
Williams, playing through the pain of a broken right pinky, leaped up and swatted Darnell Gant’s shot into the stands, and then finished off Washington by stealing the inbound pass to preserve a wild 87-86 win for Arizona. Solomon Hill gave Arizona the lead on a putback with 24 seconds left, but the Wildcats traded a turnover by Washington with one of their own after failing to get the ball inbound. Taking the ball out under the basket with 2.2 seconds left, the Huskies got the ball to Gant in the lane. As Gant rose for his shot, so did Williams, who swatted the shot away into the stands.
Why vote for Sean Elliott’s clutch three-pointer against Duke in 1989:
Sean Elliott
The national TV game against Duke and Mike Krzyzewski did not faze Elliott, a senior, as he dribbled the ball up the court with one minute remaining and the game tied at 70. The crowd of 18,196 at The Meadowlands in New Jersey stood in anticipation of what Elliott might do next isolated against fellow All-American Danny Ferry of Duke. Elliott, only 5 of 20 shots at that point, pulled up for a three-point shot on top of the key, surprising Ferry, whose reaction to extend high toward Elliott’s release was too late. Elliott shot the ball at his zenith. It swished in to put Arizona ahead 73-70 with 53 seconds remaining. His two foul shots, in a one-and-one situation with 18 seconds left, gave the Wildcats the points that would make the difference in the 77-75 victory.
Why vote for Miles Simon’s 65-foot game-winning shot against Cincinnati in 1996:
Miles Simon
Simon’s incredibly long shot that banked in at the buzzer, giving Arizona a 79-76 victory over No. 5 Cincinnati, was significant in more ways than one. It also gave Lute Olson his 500th coaching victory. After Cincinnati missed a shot in the closing seconds, Simon picked up the loose ball at the top of the Bearcats’ free-throw circle, took one dribble and heaved it with two hands for the winning basket. “I’m not lying. When the shot went up, I sat down and put my hands in the air — I knew it was going in,” teammate Ben Davis told reporters after the game.
ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.
