Jun 11, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Golden State Warriors guard Andre Iguodala (9) shoots against Cleveland Cavaliers center Timofey Mozgov (20) during the third quarter of game four of the NBA Finals at Quicken Loans Arena. Mandatory Credit: David Richard-USA TODAY Sports
Arizona Basketball fans have been watching the NBA Finals, similar to how a proud parent watches their children win spelling bees or little league games. Has Arizona’s basketball season really ended yet?
With Bruce Fraser, Luke Walton, Steve Kerr and Andre Iguodala halfway to an NBA title, Wildcat NBA stories have been in full force on zonazealots.com and other Wildcat sites across the web.
I think it’s great because it sometimes feels like the Arizona Basketball season hasn’t ended yet.
One story I found interesting was by Javier Morales. He broke down Andre Iguodala’s five best games as a Wildcat. In three of the games, Iggy recorded a triple-double.
No one has had a triple-double at Arizona since Iggy left for the NBA 11 years ago.
I knew triple-doubles had happened at Arizona before, but I wanted to refresh my memory on who was on the short list.
Six Arizona players have officially recorded triple-doubles for the Wildcats. Here is the list of the greats who have accomplished this feat.
Next: Matt Muehlebach
During Matt Muehlebach’s freshman year at Arizona, fans knew him as one of the lovable bench Gumbies. As he got older he became a key factor for Arizona continuing to be an elite basketball school.
Arizona won the Pac-10 all four years Muehlebach was in Tucson. He is also the only 4-year player to go undefeated at McKale Center for his entire career.
In 1990 he was the co-MVP of the Pac-10 Tournament.
During that tournament Muehlebach had the first recorded triple-double in Arizona Basketball history. On March 9, 1990 against the USC Trojans, Muehlebach had 10 points, 11 assists and 10 rebounds.
Next: Chris Mills
(Above: This classic 1991 Arizona/UCLA matchup included two members of the Arizona Triple-Double club. Chris Mills and Matt Muehlebach)
Chris Mills
A key component of early 90’s Arizona basketball was transfer Chris Mills. He made an offensive impact from day one for the Cats. In his three Wildcat seasons he averaged 17.2 points per game.
During his senior campaign, Mills averaged 20.4 points per game and won the award for Pac-10 player of the year.
Mills became part of the Arizona Basketball triple-double club on Dec. 18, 1991. Against the Northern Arizona University Lumberjacks that night, Mills had 19 points, 10 rebounds and 10 assists.
Next: Damon Stoudamire
Casey Sapio-USA TODAY Sports
Damon Stoudamire
It’s been nice having Arizona legend Damon Stoudamire back in Tucson the past few years. During his time in Tucson he was of the smoothest players Arizona has ever seen.
He was selected to the All Pac-10 First Team three times and was named the Pac-10 Player of the year in 1995, along with UCLA great Ed O’Bannon.
Mighty Mouse’s triple-double came during his senior year in Tucson on February 25, 1995. The Cats were playing the Oregon Ducks at McKale Center.
Stoudamire was from Oregon. Every time he went to play the Ducks at the famous Mac Court, the Eugene fans would show their displeasure towards Mighty Mouse, for choosing Arizona over his home state.
In his final game against the Ducks, Stoudamire had the last laugh: he dropped 35 points that afternoon. He also added 12 rebounds and 14 assists to his stat line in Arizona’s 97-76 win.
Next: Luke Walton
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Luke Walton
When Bill Walton’s son came to town, I wondered if Arizona was just recruiting a name. I couldn’t have been more wrong.
Luke Walton was always a tough matchup for Pac-10 foes. At 6 ft 8 in, he could score, rebound and pass with precision.
Walton was named to the All Pac-10 First Team twice and was part of Arizona’s 2001 Final Four squad.
His triple-double moment of glory came on Jan. 17, 2002 at home against the USC Trojans.
Walton finished with 27 points, 11 rebounds and 10 assists in Arizona’s 97-80 victory.
Next: Loren Woods
Loren Woods
Like Chris Mills before him, Loren Woods was a transfer who made good at Arizona.
Woods was a defensive force in Tucson. If opposing players came into the paint when Woods was on the floor, their shot was probably going to get blocked.
Woods had two triple-doubles while playing for the Wildcats, and what makes them different from the other triple-doubles in Arizona history is they included blocks.
His first one was a doozy. It was Feb. 3, 2000 and before Woods missed the rest of the season with a horrific back injury, he collected a a triple double against the Oregon Ducks at McKale Center. Woods blocked three shots by three different Ducks near the beginning of the game. He finished with 16 points, 10 rebounds and 14 blocked shots.
His second one came the next season on Jan. 13, 2001 against the Washington Huskies. Woods had 13 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks during the Cats 89-64 win in Seattle
Next: Big Iggy Style
Andre Iguodala
Andre Iguodala wasn’t supposed to come to Arizona, but when Nolan Richardson was fired at Arkansas, Iggy packed his bags for Tucson and Sportscenter’s Top 10 would never be the same.
His raw athleticism and all around game made him a perfect fit in the NBA after he left Tucson.
Arizona Wildcats
Iggy had three triple-doubles during his two seasons at Arizona. With the most triple doubles in school history, that makes him the President of the Arizona triple-double club.
All of his triple-doubles came during his final year at Arizona when he was a sophomore.
His first one came on Dec. 9, 2003 against the Texas Longhorns at the Mecca of basketball, Madison Square Garden. In Arizona’s 91-83 win, Iggy had 13 points, 13 rebounds and 10 assists.
Just a few weeks later on Dec. 28, 2003, Iggy recorded his second triple-double. This time it was against Liberty in the Fiesta Bowl Classic in Tucson. In Arizona’s 96-67 win, Iggy had 13 points, 11 rebounds and 11 assists.
His final one came against arch rival UCLA on Feb. 14, 2004. Iguodala had 14 points. 11 rebounds and 10 assists against the hated Bruins. The Cats prevailed in a thrashing that day at McKale Center, 107-83.
Recent fan favorite T.J. McConnell came close a few times last season of becoming the newest Wildcat in the triple-double club. What do you think Arizona fans? Is there anybody on next year’s squad that might be a triple-double threat?
Bear Down!