Arizona Basketball: Why the rivalry between the Wildcats and Sun Devils in basketball is one-sided

Why the basketball rivalry between the Wildcats and Sun Devils is one-sided, as compared to the football rivalry. Time to find out why.

The history between the University of Arizona Wildcats and Arizona State University Sun Devils is full of pettiness, that extends outside just athletics. The best example is when Arizona students were suspected of burning “No. 200” at the 50-yard line of the ASU’s football stadium. This was in protest of ASU becoming a real, state university.

The hatred for each other burns brightest on the football field, but what about basketball? How much does the rivalry come into play with this sport?

Arizona Wildcats

For those in need of a history lesson, here it goes…

Era Before Lute

The two schools began playing in basketball in 1913, and consistently into 1928. Thanks to University of Arizona then head coach, Pop McKale, the game became a staple. It was officially played for the Territorial Cup in 1939.

They even continued their play consistently before both schools even joined an athletic conference! Then, they both joined the Border Conference, and Arizona led the series during that time (1931-1961).

Both schools then joined the WAC in 1961 and ASU gained the upper hand during this time until 1978. While Arizona did gain notoriety during this time because of the hire of Fred Snowden, the second African American head coach hired in Division One athletics at the time. His biggest accomplishment was an Elite Eight trip in 1976. Arizona State achieved this success with Ned Wulk as their head coach.

Then came…

The Lute Era

After his lone, 4-24 season, the program went and swung big on Iowa head coach Lute Olson, who had taken that team to a Final Four just four years prior. In Lute’s second season, a streak of 23-straight NCAA tournament appearances started.

A basketball factory for the NBA draft started as well, with numerous names like; Sean Elliott, Gilbert Arenas, Steve Kerr, Jason Terry, Mike Bibby, Richard Jefferson, Channing Frye, Andre Iguodala, and many others coming through the program and excelling. Olson lost to ASU just six times, and won 43 times.

The rivalry then turned for the worse twice under Olson. Kerr’s father was tragically killed as an ambassador for the U.S. in Lebanon, and ASU students were taunting him about the death in a game in 1988, and Kerr, with tears in his eyes, dominated the game.

The next time was when Lute was dealing with his then wife, Bobbi, who had cancer and eventually, tragically passed away. ASU students taunted Olson about his wife, so Lute just pointed to the scoreboard, with Arizona having the game well-in-hand.

Olson responded to ASU coach, Rob Evans, complaining about how classless it was, by saying, “after listening to that stuff for 21 years it was time they got a response.” ASU was mired in mediocrity, even while having future NBA players on their team like Eddie House, during this entire stretch, not gaining any of the success Olson brought to the Arizona program.

Post Lute Era

Lute officially retired in 2008 and Arizona had “down years” under interim coaches. ASU had more success during this time thanks to James Harden, by going to an NIT and an NCAA tournament.

Then comes in Sean Miller in 2009, and quickly he brought Arizona back to being relevant. Since then, Arizona has dominated the Pac-12 conference, bringing Arizona back to being an NBA factory, with Deandre Ayton, Allonzo Trier, Lauri Markkanen, Stanley Johnson, Aaron Gordon, Rondae-Hollis Jefferson, TJ McConnell, Derrick Williams, and Solomon Hill among the most notable players that have come through the program with Miller coaching.

Against ASU? Miller has compiled a 14-5 record against. Bobby Hurley has been coaching ASU for four years now and is just 1-7 against Arizona Basketball all-time, with his first win coming this past January 31 in OT in Tempe.

Future and Conclusion

ASU has a good coach in Hurley, but Arizona has a great one in Miller. Hopefully, these two can go at it for a long time, just because both are some of the most entertaining coaches in all of college basketball. There is a sense that ASU fans are jealous of Arizona’s success in basketball, which makes sense because, on paper ASU should be the better program (bigger city, more resources, etc.).

However, ASU hasn’t been able to unlock whatever potential they may have because they are the only program in the Pac-12 that has never been to a final four. Arizona has cracked the code, but a consistently good ASU team would make the rivalry that much better.

We wish the Wildcats good luck in their game this weekend in the next chapter of this rivalry! Bear Down!