Wild About '88: Chapter 11: UALR Can't Slow Down Arizona.
This season marks the 35th anniversary of one of Tucson’s most beloved teams of all time, the 1987-88 Arizona Wildcats that finished 35-3 and went to the program’s first Final Four. We will celebrate that team by recapping each game during that unforgettable season by referencing newspaper archives and interviews conducted during the making of the upcoming documentary film ‘Wild About ‘88: The Rise of Arizona Basketball.’
December 16, 1987 vs. University of Arkansas Little Rock.
So you’ve never heard of UALR, better known as the University of Arkansas Little Rock Trojans?
I hadn’t either.
Back in 1987, a Billy Tubbs disciple named Mike Newell had a nice run going with the school. They beat 10th-ranked Notre Dame in the first round of the NCAA Tournament in 1986 and in 1987 they advanced all the way to the NIT Final Four.
Newell had a plan in hopes for a major upset at McKale against the freshly minted No. 2 Wildcats. Arizona was now at its highest ranking ever in program history.
Newell wanted to shorten the game by taking lots of time off the shot clock on offense, limiting Arizona's possessions. If that was accomplished he was hoping for a tight score with around 8:00 left and would let it go from there.
His team succeeded in the first half by holding Arizona to only 12 shots, but the Wildcats hit 9 of them taking a 28-19 lead at the break.
UALR cut the lead to five with 16:05 left but Arizona went into ’88 mode and outscored them by 19 the rest of the way, winning 77-53.
Tom Tolbert and Steve Kerr led the Wildcats in scoring with 15 points each.
Kerr was also 5-6 from behind the arc and was honored with Pac-10 Player of the Week honors. Tucson’s golden boy finally committed a foul in this one, stopping his streak of five games without a foul.
After the game, Newell was miffed at the foul differential at McKale
“The fouls called tonight won’t be called in February,” Newell said. “They shot 33 free throws tonight and we shot 10. That won’t happen in the NCAA(Tournament).”1
The UALR head coach thought Arizona’s only weakness might be if they had to battle a physical team later in the season.
Olson didn’t see it that way.
“Syracuse is pretty physical. Michigan is extremely physical. And against Iowa at Iowa, we outrebounded them. We were beaten and battered and not much was called,” Olson said. “I don’t see us getting moved around all that much. We’ll handle it.”2
Even with Newell’s sour grapes, he knew Arizona was elite.
“I voted them No. 1 the last two weeks. They have outstanding chemistry and they’re well coached,” Newell said.3
The win moved Arizona to 8-0. Their best start in 56 years.
Next up: December 20 at Washington
Blog content and original interview quotations © Waterfoot Films 2022.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats impress UALR’s Newell,” The Tucson Citizen, December 17 1987, Page 3—Section D.; Jack Rickard, “Cats foil foes plans,” The Tucson Citizen, December 17 1987, Page one and three-Section D.; Ron Somers, “Cats beat Ark.-Little Rock for eighth straight victory: UALR praises the Wildcats,” The Arizona Daily Star, December 17 1987, Page One—Section D.; Jay Gonzales, “Cats beat Ark.-Little Rock for eighth straight victory: Kerr, Tolbert score 15 each,” The Arizona Daily Star, December 17 1987, Page One and Two—Section D.; Greg Hansen, “Visitors thought home cooking had a foul odor,” The Arizona Daily Star, December 17 1987, Page One and Two—Section D.; Dana Cooper, Memories ‘88.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats impress UALR’s Newell,” The Tucson Citizen. December 17 1987, Page 3—Section D.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats impress UALR’s Newell,” The Tucson Citizen, December 17 1987, Page 3—Section D.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats impress UALR’s Newell,” The Tucson Citizen, December 17 1987, Page 3—Section D.