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It took 30 years for a freshman — Derrick Williams in 2009-10 — to lead the Arizona Wildcats in rebounding after Frank Smith led the UA in that statistic in 1979-80.
Aaron Gordon can become the third freshman to lead the Arizona Wildcats in rebounding in Sean Miller’s five years with the program. Gordon leads the Arizona Wildcats with 9.3 rebounds a game, including two double-double performances to start his career against Cal Poly and Long Beach State.
Aaron Gordon leads Arizona with 9.3 rebounds a game
Since freshmen became eligible in 1972-73, the Arizona Wildcats have featured only five players who started their collegiate careers by leading the UA in rebounds.
None of them played for Lute Olson.
Gordon can become the second consecutive freshman to lead the UA on the boards. Kaleb Tarczewski led Arizona averaging 6.1 rebounds a game last season. Williams averaged 7.1 rebounds in Miller’s first season.
Fred Snowden recruited the other three freshmen to lead Arizona in rebounding. In the first season freshmen became eligible in 1972-73, Al Fleming led the Wildcats with 9.9 a game.
Bob Elliott averaged a team-high 10.7 rebounds a game the following season. Smith averaged 6 rebounds a game in 1979-80.
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Arizona (3-0) vs.
Fairleigh Dickinson (1-2)
Tip: 9:05 p.m. Tucson time
Television: ESPNU and WatchESPN (Dave Flemming/Sean Farnham)
Radio: Arizona IMG Sports Network (Brian Jeffries/Matt Muehlebach/Ryan Hansen)
Satellite Radio: Sirius 85; XM 85
Rankings: Arizona – No. 6 AP/5 USA Today; Fairleigh Dickinson – NR/NR
ARIZONA FRESHMAN REBOUNDING LEADERS
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Michael Wright averaged 8.8 rebounds as a freshman but did not lead the Wildcats in that category
Freshmen leading the Wildcats in rebounding is a sign of the times with turnover from players leaving early to the NBA. Olson recruited players good enough to lead the UA in rebounding as freshmen but experienced players emerged as leaders in that stat.
Five sophomores under Olson led the Arizona Wildcats in rebounding — Andre Iguodala in 2003-04, Channing Frye in 2002-03, Michael Wright in 1999-2000, A.J. Bramlett in 1996-97 and Anthony Cook in 1986-87.
Wright ironically averaged more rebounds (8.8 a game) as a freshman in 1998-99 than in the other two years of his UA career. Bramlett, however, led the Wildcats that season with 9.4 rebounds a game as a senior.
Frye averaged 6.3 rebounds as a freshman in 2001-02, but senior Luke Walton was slightly better with a team-best 7.3 a game.
Famous Fairleigh Dickinson alumni. The private institution in Hackensack, N.J., has produced some noteworthy business leaders, a couple of them in the sports industry. One alum most people know about is ESPN college basketball analyst Seth Greenberg.
I Tweeted to Greenberg to ask if he will cheer for his alma mater tonight. His reply: “Tall order for the Maroon Knights but a good paycheck for the program.”
Fairleigh Dickinson has also produced Home Depot co-founder Ronald Brill, Verizon president Dennis Strigl, Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf and Tampa Bay Rays founder and chairman Vincent Naimoli. These four guys can buy a university and field their own team.
Lute Olson is the oldest coach to reach 100 victories at UA and he is also has the most career wins with the program
Happy Birthday Coach. Miller, who needs a win over Fairleigh Dickinson to become the fifth UA coach to reach 100 victories with the program, turned 45 yesterday.
Miller is 99-43 with the Wildcats and 219-90 overall.
Olson was the oldest to reach the 100-win mark at 54 when the Wildcats defeated Washington State on March 3, 1988. He was 100-50. He went on to earn the most victories as an Arizona coach with a record of 589-187 from 1983-2007.
Fred Snowden, Olson and Miller will have reached the 100-win plateau in their fifth season. Snowden was only 40 when the Wildcats won at BYU on Feb. 17, 1977 to improve his record to 100-36. He finished with a record of 167-108 from 1972-82.
Fred Enke Sr. and Bruce Larson each reached 100 wins in their eighth season with the Wildcats. Enke is the youngest to reach 100 at age 35.
Enke improved to 100-34 with a victory at LaVerne on Jan. 5, 1933. He finished with a record of 509-324 from 1925-61.
Larson was 100-93 with a win over Eastern Michigan on on Jan. 7, 1969. He finished with a record of 136-148 from 1961-72.
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.@UofA's Aaron Gordon shows he belongs in the same class as Wiggins and Parker: http://t.co/mFKDTVLxFl (@ScottMGleeson)
— USA TODAY Sports (@USATODAYsports) November 15, 2013
Happy birthday to the best/my future college coach @UACoachMiller
— Stanley Johnson (@StanMan_41) November 17, 2013
Happy Birthday to @UACoachMiller. Cheers to a great year! pic.twitter.com/gipTkfCpBC
— Amy Miller (@abballwidow) November 17, 2013
ARIZONA COACHES AT 100 WINS
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Olson has the most career victories at Arizona because of his longevity and the Wildcats playing more games in a season than the days of Enke and Larson. Snowden could not build on his successful start, going 67-72 after reaching win No. 100 for the Wildcats.
Miller’s schedule of games resembles that of Olson so he has a realistic shot of passing Olson for career victories at Arizona by his 25th season or so.
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WILDABOUTAZCATS.net publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He also writes articles for Bleacher Report, Lindy’s College Sports and TucsonCitizen.com.
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