FOLLOW @JAVIERJMORALES ON TWITTER!
[rps-paypal]
[ezcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]
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:
Both of length-of-the-court magnitude — Miles Simon’s 65-foot shot at the buzzer that downed Cincinnati in Phoenix in 1996 and Khalid Reeves’ coast-to-coast game-winning shot at Stanford in 1992 — stand as two of the best eight plays in Arizona Wildcats hoops history.
Simon’s miracle shot vs. Reeves’ dash to a winning shot in 5 seconds against Stanford meet in the Elite Eight of our Top Plays Bracket.
In a Sweet 16 matchup, Simon’s shot topped Eddie Smith’s three-point play that capped a miraculous rally at ASU in 1985. Simon’s shot received 83.3 percent of the vote compared to 16.7 percent for Smith.
In the other Sweet 16 bracket, Reeves’ game-winning maneuver topped Steve Kerr’s first shot, a jumper from long range, against ASU two days after his father was assassinated in 1984. Reeves’ play had 56.5 percent of the vote compared to 43.5 for Kerr.
You can vote on Simon’s 65-foot game-winner against Cincy vs. Reeves’ court-length drive for the winning shot against Stanford with this poll:
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
Miles Simon
Why vote for Miles Simon’s 65-foot game-winning shot against Cincinnati in 1996: 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.
Khalid Reeves
Why vote for Khalid Reeves’ coast-to-coast buzzer-beater at Stanford in 1992: Reeves drove the length of the court and made a layup as time ran out to give No. 7 Arizona a 72-70 victory over rival Stanford. Stanford had a chance to win with 5 seconds remaining and Adam Keefe, an 83-percent free-throw shooter, on the line for two shots. But Keefe missed his first attempt and never shot a second because Brent Williams was called for a lane violation. Reeves, who scored 13 of his 19 points in the second half, took the inbound pass, dribbled quickly down the court and scored as time expired to give Arizona (16-3) its sixth consecutive victory overall and eighth in a row over Stanford (12-5).
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
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
[/ezcol_1half_end]
[ezcol_1half id=”” class=”” style=””]
POLLS STILL OPEN:
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
[/ezcol_1half]
[ezcol_1half_end id=”” class=”” style=””]
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
[/ezcol_1half_end]
CLICK ON BRACKET TO ACCESS BLOG TO VOTE:
GAME EIGHTEEN — SWEET 16
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
GAME NINETEEN — ELITE EIGHT
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
GAME TWENTY — ELITE EIGHT
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
GAME TWENTY-TWO — ELITE EIGHT
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
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.
