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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:
The matchup between Craig McMillan’s “McShot” as time expired against Oregon State and Salim Stoudamire’s winning shot against Oklahoma State in the 2005 Sweet 16 came down to a tie in the vote. Using my tie-breaking powers, I sided with McMillan’s shot as the winner and worthy of advancing the the Arizona Wildcats Best Play Final Four.
Stoudamire’s winning shot over two defenders also deserves Final Four consideration, but what sets McMillan’s play apart is the level of difficulty. A length-of-the-court pass was deflected into McMillan’s hands and he laid the ball in, all under one motion with no time to spare. Bang, bang, bang. That would be hard to duplicate.
Arizona fans know Stoudamire could do that shot over again against Oklahoma State. He made three game-winners that season, all of which were part of this bracket.
McMillan’s miraculous shot goes against another heavyweight — Derrick Williams’ game-saving blocked shot against Washington in 2011. Williams’ play was an overwhelming winner over Michael Wright’s game-winning shot over No. 1 Stanford in 2001. Williams had 67.9 percent of the vote against Wright’s 32.1.
You can vote on McMillan’s “McShot” against Oregon State vs. Williams’ blocked shot against Washington with this poll:
For mobile devices, PLEASE CLICK HERE to access poll.
Why vote for Craig McMillan’s “McShot” at McKale Center against Oregon State in 1986:
Craig McMillan
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.”
Why vote for Derrick Williams’ game-saving blocked shot against Washington in 2011:
Derrick Williams
Williams, playing through the pain of a broken right pinky, leaped up and swatted Darnell Gant’s shot into the stands, and then finished off Washington by stealing the inbound pass to preserve a wild 87-86 win for Arizona. Solomon Hill gave Arizona the lead on a putback with 24 seconds left, but the Wildcats traded a turnover by Washington with one of their own after failing to get the ball inbound. Taking the ball out under the basket with 2.2 seconds left, the Huskies got the ball to Gant in the lane. As Gant rose for his shot, so did Williams, who swatted the shot away into the stands.
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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:
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 TWENTY-ONE — 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.
GAME TWENTY-THREE — FINAL FOUR
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.
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