Craig McMillan says his miraculous McShot at McKale against Oregon State in 1986 was a play that fell into his lap (Tucson Citizen file photo)

Random thoughts about the Red-Blue scrimmage, including the disbelief that Derrick Williams was a power forward and Jesse Perry a post player when Arizona advanced to the Elite Eight in 2011 after watching the Wildcats’ interior presence at McKale Center on Sunday. …

Williams, 6-8 and 241, had the skills of a wing player in college, and Perry, 6-7 and 210, a power forward. Compare that scenario to what took place in the Red-Blue scrimmage with these guys manning the frontcourt — junior Matt Korcheck (6-10, 225), sophomore Angelo Chol (6-9, 225), and freshmen Kaleb Tarczewski (7-foot, 255), Brandon Ashley (6-8, 235), Grant Jerrett (6-10, 235).

The game’s boxscore shows they combined for four blocked shots, but it does not indicate the amount of shots that were altered or the incidences when a guard decided to pull up for a lower-percentage shot instead of taking the ball to the hole.

“Angelo, Kaleb, Brandon … the list goes on and on … we have a lot of big guys,” said Arizona wing Kevin Parrom, who in years past would be asked to play power forward at times. “It’s going to be very difficult (for opponents). It will be a tough matchup for the other team.”

Sean Elliott, honored along with the 1987-88 Final Four team throughout the afternoon, told the McKale crowd that he and Steve Kerr were amazed at the size of the Wildcats.

Arizona coach Sean Miller is more concerned about his perimeter defense with stopper Kyle Fogg exhausting his eligibility last season.

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Javier Morales took first place in the 2010 Arizona Press Club’s Metro Sports Reporting category

In case you missed it: The Top 10 Badass Defensive Players and the Top 10 Badass Offensive Players in Arizona football history

Other Semifinal Arizona Elite Eight Event:
>> Poll: 1996-1997 versus 2000-2001. Story: TucsonCitizen.com game story

First Round Arizona Elite Eight Event Matchups:
>> Poll: 1987-1988 versus 2010-2011. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1993-1994 versus 2004-2005. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1996-1997 versus 2002-2003. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1975-1976 versus 2000-2001. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis

EDITOR NOTE: The following is a fictional depiction of what could occur between the 1987-88 and 1993-94 teams.

Sean Elliott

Damon Stoudamire

Khalid Reeves

A couple of minutes after the thrilling finish of the 1996-97 vs. 2000-01 semifinal of the Arizona Elite Eight Event, the next two legendary Wildcat teams took the court at McKale Center and the lights from the rafters shook from the noise.

The scene at McKale conjured memories from when Arizona swept USC and UCLA for the first time in the arena in the 1978-79 season, the Wildcats’ first in the Pac-10 with Fred Snowden as coach. This was like Arizona beating Duke in 1987 or again in 1991 in double-overtime at McKale, multiplied.

You thought the roar at McKale Center after Derrick Williams’ game-saving block against Washington last season was deafening?

Drunk with emotion from the classic finish that just transpired between the 1996-97 and 2000-01 teams, Arizona’s fans were immediately treated to the sight of the program’s best player — Sean Elliott of the 1987-88 team — preparing to face the Wildcats’ best backcourt in history — Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves of the 1993-94 team.

The voice of the late Roger Sedlmayr, the arena’s former public-address announcer, was played when Steve Kerr of the 1987-88 team went to midcourt during the introductions of the starting lineups. The crowd’s imitation of Sedlymayr’s “Steeeeeve Kerrrrrr” announcement could be heard on Cherry Avenue a block away.

(more…)

Javier Morales took first place in the 2010 Arizona Press Club’s Metro Sports Reporting category

In case you missed it: The Top 10 Badass Defensive Players and the Top 10 Badass Offensive Players in Arizona football history

1987-88 Arizona Wildcats (35-3)
–Beat North Carolina 70-52 in the West Regional Final; lost to Oklahoma 86-78 in the Final Four. To note: The Wildcats of 1987-88 continue to hold school records for victories (35), points in a season (3,234), average margin of victory (22.9 points), field goals made (1,147), field-goal percentage (54.5 percent), three-point field-goal percentage (48.3), fewest foul-outs (only six), and fewest blocked shots by opponents (only 1.4 a game).

1993-94 Arizona Wildcats (29-6)
–Beat Missouri 92-72 in the West Regional Final; lost to Arkansas 91-82 in the Final Four. To note: The Wildcats made a school-record 279 three-pointers, which was broken last season by the 2010-11 club, which made 296. Starting backcourt Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves combined for 1,487 points (an average of 42.5 points a game).

Other Semifinal Arizona Elite Eight Event:
>> Poll: 1996-1997 versus 2000-2001. Story: TucsonCitizen.com game story

First Round Arizona Elite Eight Event Matchups:
>> Poll: 1987-1988 versus 2010-2011. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1993-1994 versus 2004-2005. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1996-1997 versus 2002-2003. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis
>> Poll: 1975-1976 versus 2000-2001. Story: TucsonCitizen.com analysis

EDITOR NOTE: The following is a fictional depiction of what could occur between the 1987-88 and 1993-94 teams.

VOTE ON HOW YOU FEEL THIS GAME STORY SHOULD END AT WILDABOUTAZCATS.NET!!!

Sean Elliott

Damon Stoudamire

Khalid Reeves

A couple of minutes after the thrilling finish of the 1996-97 vs. 2000-01 semifinal (still to be determined) of the Arizona Elite Eight Event, the next two legendary Wildcat teams took the court at McKale Center and the lights from the rafters shook from the noise.

The scene at McKale conjured memories from when Arizona swept USC and UCLA for the first time in the arena in the 1978-79 season, the Wildcats’ first in the Pac-10 with Fred Snowden as coach. This was like Arizona beating Duke in 1987 or again in 1991 in double-overtime at McKale, multiplied.

You thought the roar at McKale Center after Derrick Williams’ game-saving block against Washington last season was deafening?

Drunk with emotion from the classic finish that just transpired between the 1996-97 and 2000-01 teams, Arizona’s fans were immediately treated to the sight of the program’s best player — Sean Elliott of the 1987-88 team — preparing to face the Wildcats’ best backcourt in history — Damon Stoudamire and Khalid Reeves of the 1993-94 team.

The voice of the late Roger Sedlmayr, the arena’s former public-address announcer, was played when Steve Kerr of the 1987-88 team went to midcourt during the introductions of the starting lineups. The crowd’s imitation of Sedlymayr’s “Steeeeeve Kerrrrrr” announcement could be heard on Cherry Avenue a block away.

(more…)