History

I decided to select the historic Mckale Center located on are beautiful University of Arizona campus. This Tucson historical sports monument opened in 1973 and has been entertaining crowds ever since. Mckale's atmosphere rivals all other college basketball arenas seen through out the country and to no suprise leads attendance in the Pac-12 basketball confrence. The largest crowd ever recorded was back in 1976 where an astonshing 15,176 Wildcat lovers showed up to cheer their beloved squad against a touch New Mexico Lobo squad. The all time average attendance seen since 1973 is approxmitely 12,982. These numbers have taken off ever since that Cats moved out of bear down gymnanisum back in 1972. In 2001, the court was renamed after Lute and Bobbi Olson primarly due to their generoisty and involbment in the surronding Tucson community. By square footage, Mckale is considerd to be the second largest arena in the Pac-12 behind the Utes of Utah. 

 

All time players who played in Mckale:

  • Mike Bibby : 1998 round 1, 2nd overall by the Vancouver Grizzlies 
  • Jason Terry: 1999 round 1, 10th overall by the Atlanta Hawks
  • Andre Igodula: 2004 round 1, 9th overall by the Phildehpia 76ers
  • Luke Walton: 2003 round 2, 32nd overall by the Los Angeles Lakers
  • Sean Elliot: 1989 round 1, 3rd overall by the Sanantonio Spurs
  • Channing Frye: 2005 round 1, 8th overall by the New York Knicks
  • Miles Simon: Played overseas 
  • Derrick Williams: 2011 round 1, 2nd overall by the Minnesota Timberwolves
  • Steve Kerr: 1988 round 2, 50th overall by the Phoenix Suns

 

Mike Bibby (lead the Wildcats to the 1996-97 Final Four in Indanopoplis which evntually led to a national championship over the Kentucky Wildcats as a freshman averging 13.5 ppg)

 

Upcoming events:

  • 12/9 vs Fresno State 7pm
  • 12/13 vs Missori 6pm
  • 12/16 vs NAU 8pm
  • 12/9 vs UNLV 730 pm
  • 12/22 vs Long Beach State 7pm

 

Exprience: 

Once one steps into Mckale you will be immeditly entranced by the screaming college students and the crazy local tuson faithful. This is not place one would want to come if they want peace and quiet, as the student section has been known to heckle the opposing team with consitent chants all corrolated to making them fail in the most polite possible way. PS, make sure you wear red or white.

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