Wild About '88: Chapter 33: Joe Turner gets start on Senior Day.
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.)
March 5, 1988 vs Washington.
Before Arizona’s final home game of the regular season, the McKale crowd honored their senior heroes in a pre-game ceremony.
Tom Tolbert, Craig McMillan, and Joe Turner were all introduced along with their parents on the floor while Steve Kerr was accompanied by Bobbi Olson.
Turner got a nice surprise after warmups when he learned he would be starting in place of junior Anthony Cook on Senior Day.
“I felt like this is my chance. I felt good about going out there. I didn’t feel any pressure or anything,” Turner said.1
Struggling Washington took advantage of Arizona’s heart felt pre-game festivities and trailed by only one at the break.
“We were thinking about things other than what we had to do,” McMillan said. “The ceremonies, the signs, the sentimental stuff — we appreciated it all but it did distract us.”2
Arizona regrouped taking a 14-point lead early in the second half.
“Sean really started creating things in the second half,” Olson said.3
Elliott would lead all scorers with 25 points but Olson was impressed with a big guy who had frustrated him most of his short Wildcat career.
“Tolbert had far and away the best defensive game he’s had since he’s been here. He not only did a good job defensively, he was a tower of strength on the defensive glass, which is good to see as we’re headed toward tournament time,” Olson said.4
Tolbert finished with 13 points and 12 rebounds.
Arizona would finish off their conference regular season slate with an 89-71 victory. Finishing with a 17-1 conference record.
The Wildcats headed to the Pac-10 Tournament at 28-2 and No. 3 in the country.
Next up: March 11, 1988 vs Cal in the first round of the Pac-10 Tournament.
Blog content and original interview quotations © Waterfoot Films 2023.
Jay Gonzales, “Arizona wins by 18 after lethargic start,” The Arizona Daily Star, March 6 1988, Page One and Seven—Section E.; Corky Simpson, “And coach of the Cats…Steeeeeeve Kerrrrrrr,” The Tucson Citizen, March 7 1988, Page One—Section B.; Memories ‘88, Dana Cooper.
Jay Gonzales, “Arizona wins by 18 after lethargic start,” The Arizona Daily Star, March 6 1988, Page Seven—Section E.
Corky Simpson, “And coach of the Cats…Steeeeeeve Kerrrrrrr,” The Tucson Citizen, March 7 1988, Page One—Section B.
Jay Gonzales, “Arizona wins by 18 after lethargic start,” The Arizona Daily Star, March 6 1988, Page Seven—Section E.
Jay Gonzales, “Arizona wins by 18 after lethargic start,” The Arizona Daily Star, March 6 1988, Page Seven—Section E.