Wild About '88: Chapter 23: Arizona takes care of little brother in another record-setting win.
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.’ (Some interview quotes in this series have been edited for clarity.)
January 28, 1988 vs. Arizona State
In Arizona’s 99-59 win over the rival Sun Devils, the Wildcats handed Arizona State their worst loss in PAC-10 history. It was also the worst loss the Sun Devils ever had in 172 meetings against the Wildcats.
"I'd like to see ASU get better," Lute Olson said after the game.1
For the most part, his wish for the devils never came true.
When Olson arrived in Tucson, ASU was riding a nine-game winning streak against the Wildcats. By the time Olson retired he was 43-6 against ASU. That included a span in which Olson’s Wildcats only lost once to their rival in twelve seasons.
In this one, Anthony Cook and Sean Elliott both scored 15 points and the starters were able to play limited minutes giving way for another stellar night by the Gumby Squad.
The bench would score 42 points led by Jud Buechler’s 11 points.
"I never feel sorry for anybody, especially ASU. We were having too much fun to feel sorry. It was nothing personal. I like their players a lot,” Steve Kerr said after the Cats 40-point win.2
Arizona State head coach Steve Patterson was on three UCLA title teams helmed by John Wooden. He saw something familiar in the Wildcats that compared with some of Wooden’s great teams.
“There are a lot of similarities. They (the Wildcats) have a devastating effect. (There is) the crowd, the team depth. And they’re beginning to develop a mystique,” Patterson said.3
Craig Bergman topped off the night with another three-pointer at the end of the game. He’s 3 for 3 from downtown so far in the season. All coming at the end of games.
Bergman had a good sense of humor about his scoring, in small doses of minutes.
"I do think they should project my stats over 40 minutes. I'd probably be starting ahead of Sean Elliott,” Bergman said.4
All eleven Wildcats scored for the fourth time in the season.
No. 1 Arizona would improve to 19-1 and 9-0 in the Pac-10.
Next up: January 30, 1988 vs. No. 13 Illinois.
Blog content and original interview quotations © Waterfoot Films 2023.
Greg Hansen, “Arizona takes no prisoners, sheds no tears for opponents,” The Arizona Daily Star, January 29 1988, Page One and Two—Section C.; Jack Rickard, “Wildcats are devastating,” The Tucson Citizen, January 29 1988, Page One and Three-Section F.; Jay Gonzales, “Wildcats hang record defeat on ASU,” The Arizona Daily Star, January 29 1988, Page One—Section C.; Dana Cooper, Memories ‘88.
Greg Hansen, “Arizona takes no prisoners, sheds no tears for opponents,” The Arizona Daily Star, January 29 1988, Page One—Section C.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats are devastating,” The Tucson Citizen, January 29 1988, Page Three-Section F.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats are devastating,” The Tucson Citizen, January 29 1988, Page One-Section F.
Jack Rickard, “Wildcats are devastating,” The Tucson Citizen, January 29 1988, Page One-Section F.