Wild About '88: Chapter 26: No. 1 Arizona bounces back against Cal.
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.)
February 6, 1988 vs. California
Poor Cal.
When Arizona lost its first game of the year, Cal was waiting for the Wildcats’ ire.
The Bears lost by 29 at McKale.
When Arizona lost to Stanford, Cal was on deck for what everyone thought would be another bloodbath.
Arizona had a comfortable lead early on but suffered some turbulence in the second half.
Leasing by 19 with 13 minutes to go, Arizona committed six turnovers in the next seven possessions.
Cal was able to cut the lead to eight with 5:40 to go.
Anthony Cook took the game over at that point, scoring Arizona’s next six points.
Arizona was not threatened again, taking a 74-62 victory.
Cook would lead the Wildcats with 19 points and 12 rebounds.
“We usually don’t play like that. We started pulling away, and then we started making a lot of mistakes, forcing shots and getting impatient,” Cook said.1
The Bay Area trip was a battle and the Wildcats were challenged physically.
Cal’s eager defense held Elliott to 15 points and he complained of suffering cheap shots against Stanford and Cal.
“We’ll send the tapes of both games to the conference office because a decision has to be made on what's assault and battery and what's regular defense. I'm concerned about somebody getting hurt,” Lute Olson said.2
Olson wasn’t stopping there.
“I've been coaching 31 years and I've never seen a guy take a beating like he's(Elliott) been taking. On the first step of his drive, can people put a forearm into his hip to throw him off balance? That's the decision that has to be made,” he added.3
No. 1 Arizona improved to 21-2 on the season with a 10-1 record in the Pac-10 conference.
Next Up: February 11, 1988 vs. Oregon.
Blog content and original interview quotations © Waterfoot Films 2023.
Jay Gonzales, “UA overcomes turnovers to defeat Cal: Golden Bears comeback stalls,” The Arizona Daily Star, February 8 1988, Page One and Two—Section B.; Jack Rickard, “Wildcat foes getting physical: Arizona, Elliott barge past Bears,” The Tucson Citizen, February 8 1988, Page One and Seven—Section B.; Dana Cooper, Memories ‘88.
Jay Gonzales, “UA overcomes turnovers to defeat Cal: Golden Bears comeback stalls,” The Arizona Daily Star, February 8 1988, Page One—Section B.
Jay Gonzales, “UA overcomes turnovers to defeat Cal: Golden Bears comeback stalls,” The Arizona Daily Star, February 8 1988, Page Two—Section B.
Jay Gonzales, “UA overcomes turnovers to defeat Cal: Golden Bears comeback stalls,” The Arizona Daily Star, February 8 1988, Page Two—Section B.