So we think Arizona Basketball Men’s team’s biggest rival is UCLA, but what do the fans think?
ZZ Contributor Kevin Barney had this to add, “For me, UCLA is the basketball rivalry. A big part of it is competing for conference season champions year after year with UCLA and in the Pac-12 tournament in Vegas, Arizona – UCLA over the years have had some heated intense games down to the wire. In football, it’s still definitely ASU and on a more intense level than basketball. Even in softball, the rivalry with ASU has become more real and intense compared to basketball.”
Here are some responses to our question “Who do you think is Arizona Men’s Basketball bigger rival and why? UCLA or ASU?” on Twitter:
Who do you think is Arizona Men’s Basketball bigger rival and why? UCLA or ASU? (You may be quoted) pic.twitter.com/7yEKxM20nL
— ZonaZealotsFS (@ZonaZealots) January 30, 2022
Jonathan Stone (@ZonaFanatic) – “UCLA…better program. ASSU is mediocre at best!”
Deena (@Dlstoke) = “UCLA because of the talent. Even “bad” UCLA or Arizona teams are better than a “good” ASU team. Look at how alumni of each goes on to represent the NBA.”
Lauren Joffe (@thespinzone) – Lol this isn’t even a question.
Neil Gottlieb (@Neil_Gottlieb) – “UCLA for sure. ASU rivalry hasn’t been the same since the Lute Olsen and Bill Frieder days (those of us old enough to remember their great commercials!). Games were competitive and the state got into it. Marketed totally different then. Now, Hurley is a joke & games aren’t fun.”
Jerry Parker (@VegasLineShark) – “It’s obviously ASU. all these guys are gonna say they’re not worth being a rival but if you would rather lose to ASU than UCLA in hoops, then I disagree with you.”
Doc/A\sh (@docash) – “UCLA is a bigger rival in basketball. A rivalry needs to be competitive, and basketball never has been. I despise UCLA basketball MUCH more than Tempe Normal.”
Chris (@Binitman87) – “Has to be the dudes that fear eating. (ASU slogan fear the fork) being in the same state.”
Jenna Talls (@BeardownBenson) – “UCLA. 2 best programs in the PAC for the past 35-40 years. Crazy battles every game. 27-23 UCLA since 2000. Fighting for recruits & a deep hatred between fans. Asu has a decent team every 5 yrs. Only success was when Lute retired & when BS investigation effed up our recruiting.”
Koby (@koby_thiel) – “ASU in basketball isn’t really a rivalry. It’s absolute domination. Typically 2 free wins a year. Their program is awful. Games aren’t meaningful. They don’t impact anything standings-wise so the games don’t feel the same. It’s definitely Oregon and UCLA rivalry-wise.”
Azgreg @azgreg) – “UCLA because a bug is never the rival of a boot.”
Tommy the UPS GUY (@Monstert23) – “Since I started watching religiously in the ’80s. @Flydog32Pete, Eddie Smith, Brunkhorst, etc… its been UCLA. Eddie beat ASU on a last-second reverse lay-in and since then, it’s really been UCLA for me.”
Sonu (@cpke_sonu) – “UCLA. ASU sucks at basketball.”
Core-VET (@PublicHealthJoe) – “ASU is Arizona’s true rival. You don’t define a rival just because two teams are playing better or have played better over the years. You don’t jump back and forth based on who the top teams are. UCLA and USC are rivals period.”
Brian Treptow (@btreptow) – “Oregon/UCLA, pick ‘em. ASWho??”
After reading through the responses UCLA seems to be edging out ASU, and Oregon was only mentioned once. What are your thoughts?