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Arizona Basketball: Wildcats Player Nicknames Take 2

By Shereen Rayan

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What do you do when you forgot a whole bunch of Arizona Basketball player nicknames in a post? You ask expert Brad Allis to fill you in.

Zona Zealots staff assumed we knew everything, and published an article listing past, present and future Arizona Basketball players nicknames. Brad Allis of WildcatSportsReport.com schooled us, and he reached into his vault of Arizona Wildcats History so we could bring you more nicknames!

Related Story: Arizona Basketball: Wildcats Player Nicknames Past Present and Future

Did you know that the McKale Center is named for James F. “Pop” McKale? Here is more on this Arizona Hall of Fame Athletic Director and Coach McKale:

"Athletic director for 43 years, head football coach for 17 years, head baseball coach for 34 years, head basketball coach for six years and head track coach for seven years. President of the American Association of College Baseball Coaches (1950-51), inducted into Arizona Sports Hall of Fame (1959), won Tucson Conquistadores Award (1956), and inducted into Helms Foundation Baseball Hall of Fame (1953)."

For you newbie Arizona Wildcats fans, the term ‘Bear Down’ came from John “Button” Salmon. He did not play hoops but the statue was in front of McKale for 30 years, and the old basketball gym was Bear Down Gym.

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Salmon died after a terrible car accident took his life. As the story goes, some of his last words were, “Tell the team to Bear Down!” A message he wanted to get to the team who was in the middle of playing a football game.

Some things only an Arizona historian will know, things not necessarily on the internet. Allis gave us a list of nicknames we missed, and we wanted to make sure we get the list to you Wildcats fans, so you are well-educated on the subject. It wouldn’t be right to keep you hanging.

PLAYERS NICKNAMES WE MISSED 

  • Alex Jacobson = Tree (Basketball 2008-2012)
  • Andre Iguodala = Iggy or AI (2002-2004)
  • Bob Elliott – Big Bird (1973-1977)

    • Chase Budinger

    Apr 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jason Terry (31) celebrates making a three point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeat the Lakers 130-110. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports
    Apr 10, 2016; Houston, TX, USA; Houston Rockets guard Jason Terry (31) celebrates making a three point shot against the Los Angeles Lakers during the second half at the Toyota Center. The Rockets defeat the Lakers 130-110. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports /

    = C-Bud (2006-2009)

  • Coniel Norman = Popcorn (Basketball Reference has him under Connie Norman 1972–1974)
  • Dennis Latimore – DLat (2001-2005)
  • Ed Stokes – Easy Ed (1989 – 1993)
  • Eugene Edgerson – Mean Gene (1996-2001)
  • Gilbert Arenas – Agent Zero, Hibachi (1991-2001)
  • Hassan Adams = Hot Sauce (Basketball 2002-2006)
  • Jason Gardner (1999-2003) and Gilbert Arenas – Batman and Robin
  • Jason Terry = JT (in addition to The Jet 1995-1999)
  • Jawann McClellan = JMac (2004-2008)
  • Jerryd Bayless = The One (2007)
  • Josiah Turner – Josie (2011)
  • Joseph Blair = JB (1993-1996)
  • Kirk Walters = K-Dub (2003-2008)
  • Kyryl Natyazhko = KNat (2009-2012)
  • Lamont Jones = MoMo (2009-2013)
  • Laval Lucas-Perry = LLP (2008-2012)
  • Mark Lyons = Moog (2009-2013)
  • Matt Othick = Mo (1988-1992)
    • Apr 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) warms up before game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
    Apr 20, 2016; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward Richard Jefferson (24) warms up before game two of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /

    Michael Dickerson = Mike D (1994-1998)

  • Mohamed Tangara – Mo (2004-2008)
  • Mustafa Shakur = Golden Child (2003-2007)
  • Nic Wise = The Wizard (2006-2010)
  • Richard Jefferson = RJ (1998-2001)

    • COACHES

    • Archie Miller (Sean Millers brother, Dayton Coach)– Arch
    • Emmanuel Richardson = Book
    • Fred Snowden = Fox or Freddie the Fox
    • Lute Olson = Midnight Lute (given to him by Jerry Tarkanian), Technically “Lute” is a nickname as his given name is Robert Luther Olson.
    • Kevin O’Neil = KO

    MISCELLANEOUS

    • Kiddie Korps = Team that came from Fred Snowden’s first recruiting class,
    • McShot – Craig McMillan’s improbable game-winner against Oregon State
    • RJ – What the current players call the Richard Jefferson Gym, Arizona’s practice facility. Jefferson joked he was going to call it the “Not Gilbert Arena.”

    Related Story: Arizona Basketball: Wildcats Player Nicknames Past Present and Future

    Wow, huh? Take all that in…What’s your favorite? Any which one’s were a surprise or you weren’t aware of the players nickname? Let us know in the comments below or on Twitter @zonazealots…hope you had as much fun as we did. BearDown Brad Allis! Thanks so much for enlightening Wildcats fans and Zona Zealots. You can follow Brad Allis at @WSRBrad on Twitter and keep up the Cats on www.wildcatssportreport.com.

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