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This year’s countdown to tipoff includes an overall look at the best play in Arizona Wildcats history, which will be determined in the days leading up to tipoff. Today marks 15 days until Arizona starts its 2014-15 season against Mount St. Mary’s on Nov. 14 at McKale Center. Along with the mentioning of the top plays, the countdown will once again display the top players who wore the number that corresponds with the day. The best play will be determined through a vote of readers in a bracket:
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
NOTE: In a first-round matchup, Mark Lyons’ game-winning shot against Florida in 2012 was voted over Salim Stoudamire’s winning three-pointer against UCLA in 2005. Lyons’ shot advances to the Sweet 16 to face the free throw that Sean Elliott made to break Lew Alcindor’s Pac-10 scoring record in 1989.
Why vote for Sean Elliott’s free throw against UCLA in 1989 that broke the Pac-10 scoring record held by Lew Alcindor: He could have broken Alcindor’s record on a jump shot or dunk with that quick first step of his, but the way Elliott placed his name atop the conference record books was appropriate. It was just him, alone on the free-throw line standing in an imaginary spotlight. The 13,641 delirious fans at McKale Center and his coach Lute Olson and teammates watched with great anticipation. UCLA, the school for which Alcinor excelled under John Wooden, was Arizona’s opponent. They should name February 18 “Sean Elliott Day” in Tucson. That’s the date in 1989 when Elliott, a native Tucsonan who graduated from Cholla High School, achieved the greatest individual honor in Arizona athletics history. He stepped to the free-throw line with 7:10 remaining after he was fouled by UCLA’s Trevor Wilson on a drive to the basket. Elliott and Alcindor (who finished his collegiate career in 1969) each had 2,325 points. As he calmly stepped to the line, the crowd became as silent as possible. He lined up his free throw and it was a swish through the hoop.
Why vote for Mark Lyons’ game-winning shot against Florida in 2012: Arizona trailed virtually the entire game, until the waning seconds, of its marquee game against No. 5 Florida at McKale Center. The Wildcats were in need of a point guard like Steve Kerr or Damon Stoudamire to take over. Nick Johnson, a sophomore, gave the ball to Lyons, a senior shooting guard-turned point guard after transferring from Xavier, with Arizona down 64-63. Lyons drove down the right side and made a running layup off the glass over the outstretched arms of 6-foot-9 Patric Young with 7.1 seconds remaining. Florida could not get a clean shot off and Arizona emerged victorious.
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ARIZONA’S TOP PLAYS LISTED IN THIS COUNTDOWN (Click on link to access blogs that pertain to the following)
— Derrick Williams’ no-look, three-point play beats Texas in 2011 NCAA tourney
— Determined Jason Terry upsets No. 3 Stanford with shot in the lane in waning seconds of 1999 thriller at McKale Center.
— Mark Lyons’ driving, one-handed shot in the waning seconds against No. 5 Florida in 2012 gives Sean Miller a signature victory.
— Nic Wise’s game-winning last-second shot in double-overtime against USC in 2010 puts satisfying cap to tumultuous career.
— Richard Jefferson’s tap-in at the buzzer off Jason Terry’s missed three-pointer beats Washington in 1999.
— Loren Woods’ three blocked shots in succession — like rapid fire, one after the other within a five-second span — against Oregon in 2000.
— Michael Wright’s shot in the lane with three seconds left topples No. 1 Stanford at Maples Pavilion in 2001.
— Eddie Smith’s game-winning three-point play with two seconds left caps a furious last-minute rally at ASU in 1985.
— Eddie Smith’s bank shot at the buzzer beats ASU 65-64 in Tempe in 1984 and sets Lute Olson’s dominant program in motion.
— Salim Stoudamire’s jumper with six-tenths of a second left beats ASU in Tempe in 2005.
— Nick Johnson gives Arizona fans Christmas Day gift with game-saving blocked shot against San Diego State in 2012.
— MoMo Jones’ 16-foot bank shot at the buzzer in 2010 adds to New York flavor of Arizona winning shots at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion.
— Chris Mills’ buzzer-beating jumper in regulation gives Arizona life in its 105-94 overtime victory over UCLA in 1991.
— Kenny Lofton’s behind-the-back, double-pump dunk caps rout of Oregon in 1988, ranks as one of college hoops’ best dunks of that season.
— Salim Stoudamire’s game-winning long-distance three-pointer downs UCLA in 2005.
— Derrick Williams’ emphatic blocked shot against Washington in 2011 saves game for Arizona.
— Khalid Reeves’ coast-to-coast game-winner with less the five seconds left beats Stanford at Maples Pavilion in 1992.
— Steve Kerr’s first shot after father’s assassination in 1984, a 25-foot jumper against ASU, gives him hero status in Tucson and contributes to Arizona’s emergence in the Pac-10.
— Sean Rooks’ last-second bank shot at Stanford in 1991 gives the Wildcats a 78-76 victory.
— Salim Stoudamire’s game-winning jumper against Oklahoma State in the 2005 Sweet 16.
— Sean Elliott’s free throw breaks Lew Alcindor’s conference scoring record in 1989.
— Craig McMillan’s McClutch shot at the buzzer from full-court pass from Steve Kerr against Oregon State in 1986.
— Arizona 6-10 center Bob Elliott’s 35-foot jumper at the buzzer beats Kansas State in 1973.
— Sean Elliott downs Duke with three-pointer over Danny Ferry in last minute in 1989.
— Miles Simon’s 65-foot bank shot as time expired to beat Cincinnati in Phoenix in 1996.
— Tom Tolbert’s no-look, twisting shot against North Carolina in the 1988 Elite Eight.
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POLLS STILL OPEN:
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For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
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CLICK ON BRACKET TO ACCESS BLOG TO VOTE:
GAME TWO
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GAME THREE
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GAME SEVEN
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GAME EIGHT
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GAME NINE
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GAME TEN
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GAME ELEVEN — SWEET 16
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GAME TWELVE — SWEET 16
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GAME THIRTEEN — SWEET 16
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GAME FOURTEEN — SWEET 16
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POLLS THAT ARE CLOSED:
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.
