Arizona Wildcats men's basketball

Arizona Wildcats men's basketball
2024–25 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team
UniversityUniversity of Arizona
First season1904; 120 years ago (1904)
All-time record1,891–987–1 (.657)[1]
Athletic directorDesiree Reed-Francois
Head coachTommy Lloyd (4th season)
ConferenceBig 12
LocationTucson, Arizona
ArenaMcKale Center
(capacity: 14,688)
NicknameWildcats
ColorsCardinal and navy[2]
   
Uniforms
Home jersey
Team colours
Home
Away jersey
Team colours
Away
Alternate jersey
Team colours
Alternate
NCAA tournament champions
1997
NCAA tournament runner-up
2001
NCAA tournament Final Four
1988, 1994, 1997, 2001
NCAA tournament Elite Eight
1976, 1988, 1994, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2015
NCAA tournament Sweet Sixteen
1976, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017*, 2022, 2024
NCAA tournament round of 32
1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017*, 2022, 2024
NCAA tournament appearances
1951, 1976, 1977, 1985, 1986, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1992, 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999*, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008*, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017*, 2018*, 2022, 2023, 2024
Conference tournament champions
1988, 1989, 1990, 2002, 2015, 2017*, 2018*, 2022, 2023
Conference regular season champions
1932, 1936, 1940, 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1951, 1953, 1976, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2011, 2014, 2015, 2017*, 2018*, 2022, 2024
*Vacated by NCAA

The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team is the intercollegiate men's basketball program representing the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. They compete in the Big 12 of NCAA Division I and is coached by Tommy Lloyd. Arizona previously spent the past 50 seasons in the Pac-10/12.

The program came to national prominence during the tenure of former head coach Lute Olson (1983-2007), who established the program as among America's elite in college basketball. One writer referred to U of A as "Point Guard U"[3] because the school has produced successful guards like Steve Kerr, Damon Stoudamire, Khalid Reeves, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Gardner, Jerryd Bayless, and T. J. McConnell, among others.

From 1985 to 2009, the Arizona basketball team reached the NCAA Division I tournament for 25 consecutive years, tied for 3rd longest in NCAA history.[4][5][6] Despite having their 1999 and 2008 appearances later vacated by the NCAA, the media still cites Arizona's streak, and simply notes the changes.[7][8] The Wildcats have reached the Final Four of the NCAA tournament on four occasions (1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001). They have also made two appearances in the National Championship (won over Kentucky Wildcats in 1997, lost to Duke Blue Devils in 2001). In Pac-10 play, former head coach Lute Olson currently holds the record for most wins as a Pac-10 coach with 327.[9] In addition, the team has won 18 Pac-10/12 regular season championship titles and 9 Pac-10/12 tournament championship titles.[9] Arizona also holds the distinction of recording five out of the seven 17–1 Pac-10 seasons (one-loss seasons).[9] In 2022 Arizona became the first team in conference history to win 18 conference games in a season. No team has gone undefeated since the formation of the Pac-10/12.

Arizona ranks eighteenth all-time heading into the 2024–25 season with 1,889 wins and ranks eight by winning percentage at (.657).[10] Arizona has spent 39 weeks at No. 1 in the AP Poll, which is ninth-most all-time; 30 weeks at No. 2, ninth most all-time; 174 weeks in the Top 5, seventh all-time; 347 weeks in the Top 10, sixth all-time; and 611 weeks in the top 25, seventh all-time.[11]

  1. ^ "2022-23 DIVISION I MEN'S BASKETBALL RECORDS" (PDF).
  2. ^ "Colors | University of Arizona Brand Resources". Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  3. ^ Colemen, Van (2007-05-22). "Nation's No. 3 Junior Commits to Point Guard U". CSTV. Archived from the original on 16 March 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  4. ^ Witz, Billy (11 March 2010). "Arizona's N.C.A.A. Streak Quietly Ends". The New York Times. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  5. ^ Eisenberg, Jeff (11 March 2010). "Arizona's NCAA tourney streak ends with little fanfare". rivals.com. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  6. ^ Pascoe, Bruce (12 March 2010). "PAC-10 Tournament: UCLA 75, ARIZONA 69 Improbable bid to extend stellar NCAA run ends". Arizona Daily Star. Archived from the original on 15 March 2010. Retrieved 2010-03-14.
  7. ^ Everson, Dave (26 January 2009). "An Appreciation of Arizona's NCAA Streak". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  8. ^ Lundblad, Jeremy (18 March 2009). "2009 NCAA tournament: By the numbers". ESPN. Retrieved 2010-01-30.
  9. ^ a b c "Arizona Team Page". Pac-10. 2007-10-26. Archived from the original on October 28, 2008. Retrieved 2008-03-16.
  10. ^ "2023-24 MEDIA GUIDE" (PDF).
  11. ^ "College Poll Archive".