Arizona Basketball: Best Wildcat Backcourt Tandems
By David Rosen
Over the years there have been many great Arizona Wildcat backcourt duos. Zona Zealots highlights some of them for you.
What defines a great point guard or shooting guard for the Arizona Wildcats? Let’s first look at what these positions actually mean to have a better understanding of each role.
One of the most important positions on a basketball team would be the one or point guard position. This individual is the leader or “general” on the floor, looking for opportunities to get other players involved. Whether it may be an assist or the main ball handler, the point guard is a key component to the team’s overall success.
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The second most important position on the floor is the two or shooting guard. This individual would be a good shooter, have good ball handling skills and be able to create their own shots. Also, when called upon, they fill in for the point guard position.
There have been some very talented backcourt Wildcat combinations. Let’s take a look at some of those.
Mike Bibby and Miles Simon 1996-1998
Probably the first duo that comes to mind would be these two. They played together for only two years (Mike Bibby left after his sophomore season), but what a time it was!
In Bibby’s freshman year and Miles Simon’s senior year, they worked together as a cohesive unit in beating three top seeds and winning the National Championship!
Bibby’s ball handling skills and shooting skills, combined with Simon’s floaters in the lane and outside touch, made them an unstoppable force. Also, each player was honored that year: Bibby was the Pac-10 Freshman of the year, and Simon was the Final Four MVP. The following year, Bibby would earn the Pac-10 Player of the Year.
Stats for each while they played together as Wildcats:
Mike Bibby:
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/6/2017.
Miles Simon:
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/6/2017.
Khalid Reeves and Damon Stoudamire 1991 – 1994
Scoring buckets! These two knew how to make that happen. For three seasons, Khalid Reeves and Damon Stoudamire played together and went on to become two of the most prolific scorers in Wildcat history. They also helped the Wildcats to the Final Four in 1994, where they lost to the eventual champs, Arkansas Razorbacks.
In the 1993-94 season, Reeves set a Wildcat record (and still owns it) for the most points scored in a season with 848 – wow! Reeves had a pure shooting touch and fit the perfect mold for a shooting guard.
Stoudamire complimented Reeves very well in the point guard position. He had a deadly touch from three-point range, finishing his college career with 242 made! Also, he was the only player in Wildcat history to score more than 40 points in two games. Impressive! Stoudamire averaged almost five assists and only three turnovers per game.
He even went on to become an assistant coach for the Wildcats from 2013-15. Once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat!
Having these two on the same team was quite the luxury for legendary coach Lute Olson.
Stats for each while they played together as Wildcats:
Damon Stoudamire:
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/6/2017.
Khalid Reeves:
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/6/2017.
T.J. McConnell and Nick Johnson 2013/14
These two Wildcats defined what it meant to Bear Down. Their love for the game, combined with their athleticism, made them quite the duo.
They both averaged over 30 minutes per game and played every game during the 2013-14 season. T.J. McConnell was (and still is) a true point guard. He had the ability to find a big man like Kaleb Tarzcewski and Brandon Ashley down low for an easy bucket. Plus, he knew how to command the floor like a general when the Cats needed it the most. He averaged a little over five assists and ten points per game while at Arizona.
Nick Johnson found ways to score. Whether it was a tough drive to the bucket or a shot from outside, he knew what needed to be done. He averaged almost 12 points and three assists per game. Johnson finished his Wildcat career with 1,333 points, ranking him 24th among the Wildcats all-time scoring list – that’s one heck of an accomplishment!
With these two truly talented guards, the Wildcats were able to start the 2013-14 season 21-0 and finish the year in the Elite 8.
Stats for each while they played together as Wildcats:
T.J. McConnell:
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/6/2017.
Nick Johnson:
Provided by CBB at Sports Reference: View Original Table
Generated 4/6/2017.
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These Wildcat duos were entertaining to watch, and we look forward to seeing many more duos wear that red and blue. Bear Down!