This is the 25th anniversary of Arizona’s 2000-01 team that advanced to the NCAA championship game against Duke at Minneapolis, Minn., and along with the celebration, comes some difficult and also uplifting memories from that season.
The late Lute Olson experienced the anguish of the passing of his wife of 47 years, Bobbi, to ovarian cancer midway through the season (on New Year’s Day, 2001), but at the end, he and his Wildcats were exalted by Arizona’s trip to the Final Four and national title game.
The team and its staff, including heralded assistant coach Jim Rosborough, will be honored during halftime of Saturday’s game at McKale Center between Oklahoma State and top-ranked Arizona.
Although Arizona lost to Duke in the championship in 2001, the Wildcats’ emerged as one of the best, if not the best, teams in program history because of the talent and ability to persevere through challenging times.
It was fitting the game against the Blue Devils was in Minneapolis because Olson built the foundation of his career in Minnesota, coaching high school basketball for five years and graduating from Augsburg College in Minneapolis in 1956.
Arizona finished 28-8 overall, 15-3 in the Pac-10. The eight defeats were indicative of some of the challenges the Wildcats faced, which included a three-week leave for Olson at the time of Bobbi’s passing and afterward. Rosborough took over on an interim basis and did a commendable job keeping the players competitive, as evidenced by a down-to-the-wire 71-69 loss at UConn on a controversial goaltending call against Loren Woods late in the game that proved to be the difference.
“It was a very difficult year emotionally,” Olson told reporters at the end of that season. “In terms of taking a look at the team, they came very close to reaching their potential. That’s always our goal when we start the year. Looking back at it, you are never completely happy if you don’t win the big prize.”
The Wildcats won 20 of their final 23 games.
“The community has been tremendous,” Olson said. “The kind of reaction has helped our entire family get through all this.”
Arizona passed by a billboard that read “Four Bobbi” after it reached Minneapolis for the Final Four.
“We keep saying that we want to do it for Mrs. O because it would be a great honor for her and coach, but also because she shared our faith that we could achieve this,” late forward Michael Wright said. “All the hard work and dedication has brought us from a miserable season to being on the verge of doing something great.
“It feels great because we know she’s looking down on us.”
More high moments: Olson recorded his 600th career win and his 400th victory at Arizona during the season.
Some other low moments: Woods was suspended for six games to start the season for taking a loan of an unspecified amount from his former high school coach and Richard Jefferson was suspended for a game because teammate Luke Walton’s dad — the late Bill Walton — purchased tickets for Jefferson and his son to an NBA Finals game.
Jefferson and Walton were among four of Arizona’s players with prolonged NBA careers, none better than Gilbert Arenas, a three-time NBA All-Star. Woods played six years in the NBA before flourishing overseas.
Jason Gardner, the point guard, is an Arizona legend who is the player relations director on Tommy Lloyd’s present staff. Gardner was a national player of the year in 2002-03 who was also a four-time All-American.
Wright, the enforcer around the basket, also experienced success overseas after he was a second-round draft choice by the New York Knicks. He sadly passed away in 2015, a homicide victim at Brooklyn, N.Y.
The following are one person’s opinion of the top 10 games the 2000-01 Wildcats played that season:
1. Arizona 80, Michigan State 61 (Final Four)
March 31, 2001: The Wildcats dismantled the defending national champions in the semifinals. Gardner sparked the offense with 21 points, and the Arizona defense held the Spartans to just 31% shooting from the field. Jefferson contributed 17 points while making 3 of 5 shots from 3-point range and he had eight rebounds. Arizona’s winning streak against No. 1 seeds in the NCAA tournament reached five games after the 1996-97 team beat three top seeds en route to the national title, and the Wildcats eliminated top-seeded Illinois in the finals of the Midwest Region before beating Michigan State. Arizona finished 17-0 in games in which it scored at least 80 points that season.
Quote to note: “I think what disappointed me the most was that we did some things that were very un-Spartan like today. But Arizona deserved to move on today.” — Michigan State coach Tom Izzo, whose team committed 15 turnovers that resulted in 25 points for Arizona.
2. Arizona 87, Illinois 81 (Elite Eight)
March 25, 2001: In a physical battle Bill Self’s Illinois team — in the rubber match of the third game between the two teams that season — Arizona set NCAA Tournament records for free throws made (43) and attempted (56). Arenasled the Wildcats with 21 points, whileWoods anchored the defense with seven blocks to punch Arizona’s ticket to the Final Four. Woods’ 24 blocked shots in six NCAA tournament gamses set a March Madness record. Gardner was steady with 18 points with five assists and only one turnover in 37 minutes.
Quote to note: “I love big, physical teams. I love body contact and things like that. It’s like Chicago ball. I grew up watching the Big Ten with people getting pounded and banging around.” — Chicago native Michael Wright
3. Arizona 76, Stanford 75 (Toppling No. 1 Cardinals)
March 8, 2001: In an intense game at Maples Pavilion, Arizona overcame the top-ranked Cardinal. A late-game surge and clutch play from Arenas (22 points) secured the upset. This victory proved Arizona could beat the nation’s best, especially away from home, and gave Olson’s team critical momentum heading into March Madness. Wright’s lefthanded layup with three seconds remaining gave the seventh-ranked Wildcats the victory.
Quote to note: “That was a great college basketball game, not only from the standpoint of how hard both teams played, but how into the game the fans were. We were very fortunate to win, and if Stanford would have won, they would have been the fortunate ones.” — Olson
4. Arizona 79, Illinois 76 (Maui Invitational Final)
November 22, 2000: Early in the season, Arizona asserted its No. 1 ranking by winning the Maui Invitational title over Illinois in the first encounter with the Fighting Illini. It was a classic foreshadowing of their Elite Eight rematch. Gardner tied his career high with 25 points to secure the trophy in Hawaii. His two free throws with 11.8 seconds left helped secure the win. Arizona won its three games at Maui with Woods, who was serving a six-game suspension for alleged NCAA rules violations.
Quote to note: “People were gunning for us just because we’re Arizona. Now that we’re No. 1, they’ll keep coming even harder.” — Jefferson
5. Duke 82, Arizona 72 (National Championship)
April 2, 2001: Though a loss, the championship game was the culmination of a memorable season. Arizona led by 35-33 at halftime, but second-half performances by Duke’s Mike Dunleavy Jr. and Shane Battier proved too much. Woods finished his college career with 22 points and 11 rebounds. Arizona was banged up with Arenas (shoulder) and Walton (broken thumb) not at full strength. Duke’s Jason Williams got away with one of the most infamous non-calls, riding Gardner going after a loose ball, preventing Williams from potentially fouling out.
Quote to note: “(Olson) told us how enjoyable it was to coach us, and how we will miss being with this team. Fans can react to this game and this season any way they want, but the people in this (locker) room will remember it as one of the best years in their lives.” — Woods
6. Arizona 66, Ole Miss 56 (Sweet Sixteen)
March 23, 2001: A defensive masterclass. The Wildcats struggled offensively but leaned on their frontcourt. Woods and Jefferson combined for 22 rebounds and multiple blocks, stifling the Rebels and proving Arizona could win ugly when the shots weren’t falling. The Wildcats, after making only five of their first 21 shots, hit 19 of their final 36 against the rugged Ole Miss defense, which held Olson’s team to their second-lowest scoring total of the season.
Quote to note: “We feel that we can defend with anyone. Sooner or later, our opportunities will come … Defense is the key to winning games.” — Olson
7. Arizona 105, USC 61 (The Statement Game)
February 17, 2001: After losing at UCLA in the previous game, the Wildcats demolished a ranked USC team. Arenas went off for 27 points in his trip to where he hailed from. Arizona regained its swagger and signaled it was back to being title contenders with the convincing win over the No. 23 Trojans. Arenas was 8 of 9 from the floor, made all five shots from 3-point range and was a perfect 6 of 6 from the free-throw line. The 6-foot-3 sophomore also had five assists and three rebounds.
Quote to note: “There’s a whole lot of motivation when I come to LA. Your friends who usually get to see you on TV get to come and see you live. It’s great.” — Arenas, a North Hollywood native
8. Arizona 101, Gonzaga 87 (The High-Scoring Showcase)
November 29, 2000: In one of the most entertaining games at McKale Center that season, Wright (25 points) and Jefferson led a track meet against a rising Gonzaga program in the home opener. Arenas, playing with a sore calf muscle that hindered him in a loss at Purdue in the previous game, scored seven straight points late in the second half to lead fifth-ranked Arizona over previously unbeaten Gonzaga. The Wildcats could not shake the Bulldogs until Eugene Edgerson hit a pair of free throws for an 82-80 lead with 5:31 left. Arenas scored the next seven points and Arizona never trailed again. Arenas and Jefferson added 21 points apiece.
Quote to note: “I was in the zone. I know what Michael Jordan feels like now. I don’t think I’ve made eight straight before.” — Edgerson on making all eight of his free-throw attempts in the game
9. Arizona 88, UCLA 63 (Rival Dominance)
January 20, 2001: One game after Olson’s return to the bench following a three-week leave fulling the passing of Bobbi, the Wildcats hosted their rivals and offered a dominant display. Arizona blew the game open with a 55-point second half, fueled by Arenas and Gardner. Arenas hit 4 of 7 shots from 3-point range and scored a game-high 22 points. Jefferson had 12 points and combined with Walton to smother UCLA’s leading scorer, Jason Kapono, into a 2-of-14 shooting performance.
Quote to note: “It was obvious that we became much more aggressive defensively as the game went on. If you defend long enough, things will work out, and they did because the harder we worked, the better we shot.” — Olson
10. Arizona 78, Cal 76 (The “Survival” Game)
March 10, 2001: Immediately after upsetting No. 1 Stanford, Arizona had to travel to Berkeley. Exhausted and facing a potential letdown, the Wildcats survived a late Cal rally. Woods’ 22 points helped them escape, clinching the momentum of a six-game winning streak needed to land a No. 2 seed in the NCAA tournament. Woods had 22 points and nine rebounds, Wright had 20 points and Arenas added 18. Jefferson made the second of two free throws with 12 seconds left to give the Wildcats a 78-76 lead. Cal’s Sean Lampley missed a 12-foot turnaround jumper at the buzzer.
Quote to note: “Tough games get you ready for tough contests down the line. What doesn’t break you, makes you tougher.” — Olson
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