Arizona Wildcats: Past, Present, Future

College sports history buffs may feel a thrill up their leg in the knowledge that the University of Arizona is now a member of the Big XII. When the Wildcats and the Texas Tech Red Raiders begin competing on the gridiron and the hardwood in 2024, there will be a renewal of an old conference rivalry that began in 1932 and extended through 1957. During that period the two schools were members of the Border Conference, which became defunct in 1962. When the Wildcats and Red Raiders meet in 2024, it will be for the first time as conference foes in 67 years. Strange and wonderous it is how what comes around so often goes around.

The Red Raiders utterly dominated the football series between the two schools, and, surprising though it may be, hold a four-game edge in the basketball series as well. Chances are good Texas Tech won't find the going so easy in football henceforth, and may experience something of a reversal in basketball.

Now Arizona is hardly the Alabama of the Southwest, but they're not the pushovers they were in the first half of the 20th century. Through the year 1979, the Wildcats appeared in a grand total of four bowl games. From 1985 through 2017, they played in 17 bowls. Obviously, the proliferation of bowls played no small part in Arizona's surging bowling frequency, but so did their membership in the Pac-10, which began in 1978. Just as Texas Tech got a boost from joining the Big XII, so too the Wildcats benefited from stepping up in class.

Arizona's enormous success in basketball is, of course, common knowledge. Less well known, perhaps, is the fact that the Wildcats were basketball nobodies until Lute Olson showed up in 1983. Prior to his arrival Arizona made it to exactly three NCAA tournaments. Since then, the Wildcats have been a fixture, making 34 tourney appearances, four Final Four appearances, enjoying one national runner up season, and one national title.

What's more, Arizona has kept the ball rolling since Olson's retirement in 2007, making 11 appearances in the Big Dance, although they have not gone to a Final Four since Olson's departure. At any rate, Arizona, along with Gonzaga and UCLA, is one of the premiere basketball programs west of the Great Plains. Texas Tech, and every other basketball program in the Big XII, will have their hands full with the Wildcats.

SOME FACTS ABOUT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA

Arizona Stadium: 51,000

2022 Average Football Attendance: 44,200

2022 Football Record: 5-7 (3-6)

Football Series Record versus Texas Tech: 5-26-2

Greatest Arizona Football Players: Ricky Hunley (LB), Vance Johnson (WR), Max Zendejas (K), Chuck Cecil (S), Anthony Smith (DE), Darryll Lewis (CB), John Fina (OT), Tedy Bruschi (LB), Chris McAlister (CB), Lance Briggs (LB), Rob Gronkowski (TE), Art Luppino (RB), Byron Evans (LB), Ka'Deem Carey (RB), Antoine Cason (CB)

Notable Football Coaches: Pop McKale, Darrell Mudra, Larry Smith, Dick Tomey, Rich Rodriguez, Kevin Sumlin

McKale Center: 14,700

2022 Average Basketball Attendance: 14,100

2022 Basketball Record: 28-7 (14-6)

Basketball Series Record versus Texas Tech: 24-28

Greatest Arizona Basketball Players: Sean Elliott (SF), Deandre Ayton (C), Aaron Gordon (SF), Lauri Markannen (SF), Gilbert Arenas (CG), Mike Bibby (PG), Andre Iguodala (SF), Richard Jefferson (SF), Steve Kerr (SG), Khalid Reeves (PG), Miles Simon (CG), Damon Stoudamire (PG), Jason Terry (CG), Luke Walton (SF)

Notable Basketball Coaches: Pop McKale, Fred Enke, Lute Olson, Sean Miller

Lubbock to Tucson: 635 miles

Tucson Population: 543,000

Tucson Elevation: 2,400 feet

University of Arizona Student Population: 49,000

Highly Regarded Restaurants in Tucson: 5 Points, Bobo's, Cup Cafe, LaCo, Baja Cafe, Tito and Pep, Tumerico