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The Arizona Wildcats have claimed or shared 26 conference championships in their 110-year men’s basketball history. In 84 seasons as a member of a conference since joining the Border Conference prior to the 1930-31 season, Arizona has won a league crown an average of once every 3.2 years. The Wildcats’ 13 conference championships, including this year’s title, since joining the Pac-12 in 1978-79 are the most in the league. Here is some of the data of the 26 title teams (factoring players who lettered at Arizona according to the media relations department):
Matt Muehlebach is one of only three Wildcat letterwinners to win four conference titles
Total number of conference champion players: 232.
Multiple champions: 70 (including Jordin Mayes this season and in 2010-11).
Most conference titles: 4, Hillard Crum (1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49); Lincoln Richmond (1945-46, 1946-47, 1947-48, 1948-49); and Matt Muehlebach (1987-88, 1988-89, 1989-90, 1990-91).
Three-time champs: 20 (last Khalid Reeves and Kevin Flanagan, 1990-91, 1992-93 and 1993-94). The others: Thomas Ballantyne (1942-43, 1945-46 and 1946-47); Marvin Borodkin (1942-43, 1945-46 and 1946-47); George Genung (1942-43, 1945-46 and 1946-47); Fred Enke Jr. (1945-46, 1946-47 and 1947-48); John Padelford (1942-43, 1946-47 and 1947-48); Joe Cherry (1946-47, 1947-48 and 1948-49); William Mann (1946-47, 1947-48 and 1948-49); Tony Morales (1946-47, 1947-48 and 1949-50); Leo Johnson (1948-49, 1949-50 and 1950-51); Roger Johnson (1948-49, 1949-50 and 1950-51); Robert Honea (1948-49, 1949-50 and 1950-51); Anthony Cook (1985-86, 1987-88 and 1988-89); Sean Elliott (1985-86, 1987-88 and 1988-89); Kenny Lofton (1985-86, 1987-88 and 1988-89); Matt Othick (1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91); Sean Rooks (1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91); Wayne Womack (1988-89, 1989-90 and 1990-91); and Ed Stokes (1989-90, 1990-91 and 1992-93).
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Longest span winning a title: Five years (1943 to 1948), Padelford. He was part of 1942-43 title team, served in World War II, and won a title in 1946-47 and 1947-48 upon his return.
Conference titles by coach: Fred A. Enke 12 (Border Conference); Lute Olson 11 (Pac-10); Sean Miller 2 (Pac-10/Pac-12); and Fred Snowden 1 (WAC).
Most consecutively: Enke 6 (1945-46 to 1950-51) and Olson 4 (1987-88 to 1990-91).
Only Arizona coach to play for a conference champion: Bruce Larson, head coach from 1961-72, lettered with the Wildcats when they won the Border Conference in 1948-49 and 1949-50.
Best conference records: 17-1, five times in Pac-10 (1987-88, 1988-89, 1992-93, 1997-98 and 2002-03).
Hard Luck 5, highest career scorers without a conference title: No. 11 Chase Budinger, 1,697 points from 2006-09; No. 17 Bill Warner, 1,462 from 1969-71; No. 21 Joe Nehls, 1,409 from 1976-80; No. 22 Ernie McCray, 1,349 from 1958-60; and No. 24 Frank Smith, 1,329 from 1980-83.
Longest drought without a conference title: 21 years, from 1953-54 to 1974-75 (Arizona was an independent in 1961-62 transitioning from the Border Conference to the WAC).
Championship anniversaries: 20 years, 1993-94 (Pac-10); 25 years, 1988-89 (Pac-10); 65 years, 1948-49 (Border).
Best turnaround from previous season to win title: 1942-43, won Border Conference behind Genung, the team captain, with a 16-2 conference record after finishing sixth the previous season with a 6-10 record.
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PAC-10/12 TITLES SINCE ARIZONA/ASU JOINED LEAGUE IN 1978-79 SEASON
Number in parenthesis is amount of shared titles. Records from Pac-12 media guide.
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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.
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