Arizona Basketball

Arizona Wildcats Best Play Bracket: Craig McMillan’s “McShot” advances to Elite Eight

By Javier Morales

Posted on November 4, 2014

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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:

Craig McMillan won his first junior college state title last year in his 14th season as head coach at Santa Rosa

Craig McMillan’s “McShot” against Oregon State in 1986 defeated Eddie Smith’s three-point play that capped a miraculous comeback at ASU in 1984 in a Sweet 16 matchup.

McMillan’s play received 61.5 percent of the vote compared to Smith’s 38.5.

Why McMillan’s play advanced: 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.”

OTHER SIDE OF THE BRACKET:

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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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POLLS STILL OPEN:

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CLICK ON BRACKET TO ACCESS BLOG TO VOTE:

GAME TWELVE — SWEET 16

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GAME THIRTEEN — SWEET 16

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GAME FOURTEEN — SWEET 16

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GAME FIFTEEN — SWEET 16

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GAME SIXTEEN — SWEET 16

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GAME SEVENTEEN — SWEET 16

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GAME EIGHTEEN — SWEET 16

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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.