As McKale Center celebrates its 50th birthday, we continue our countdown of its 50 most memorable moments with Nos. 20-11:
20. Olson’s first game at McKale since wife’s death
Date: Jan. 4, 2001
What happened: Bobbi Olson, Lute Olson’s wife, died from her ovarian cancer on New Year’s Day during the 2000-01 season. Three days later, the Wildcats beat Cal 78-75 at McKale Center. The court at McKale was officially renamed “Lute and Bobbi Olson Court” during her memorial service on Jan. 7.
19. McDonald lifts Arizona over No. 4 Stanford
Date: Feb. 28, 2020
What happened: Among Aari McDonald’s many games at Arizona, arguably her best one was when she scored 13 points in the final 15 minutes against No. 4 Stanford to give the Wildcats their first win over a top-five opponent in program history. McDonald hit a game-winning shot with eight seconds left in overtime.
Arizona guard Aari McDonald works her way into the lane against Stanford forward Francesca Belibi at McKale Center on February 28, 2020. McDonald hit the game-winning shot in overtime.
18. Wildcats win final Pac-10 title
Date: March 5, 2011
What happened: Just before the conference added Colorado and Utah to the Pac-10 to create the Pac-12, Derrick Williams and Arizona clobbered Oregon to win the last Pac-10 regular-season championship. (The league could become the Pac-10 again if it doesn't expand following the departures of UCLA and USC in 2024.)
17. First fan-less game during pandemic
Date: Nov. 27, 2020
What happened: Cardboard cutouts in seats, artificial crowd noise pumped in, coaches in masks and not a single person wearing a striped, red-and-white pep-band shirt in sight. Arizona’s win over Grambling wasn’t just the first game of the truncated, pandemic-influenced season, it was also the Wildcats’ first contest of the season that included a self-imposed postseason ban for the program’s infractions case.
University of Arizona Athletics Director Dave Heeke and President Robert Robbins (center of third row from bottom) sit among cardboard cutouts of former players during a pandemic-era game against Cal State Bakersfield at McKale Center on Dec. 9, 2020. Arizona won 85-60.
16. Arizona hosts first round of NCAAs
Date: March 19, 2022
What happened: The UA women’s basketball team would’ve likely hosted the first rounds of the NCAA Tournament in 2020 and ‘21, but you know, there was a pandemic and all. Arizona finally hosted an NCAA Tournament site and beat UNLV, a game featuring UA wing Sam Thomas against her sister, Jade.
15. Olson’s introductory news conference
Date: March 29, 1983
What happened: Arizona wooed Lute Olson away from Final Four participant Iowa to take over the UA basketball program — arguably the most significant hire in UA sports history.
14. Beating the Fab Five
Date: Dec. 30, 1993
What happened: Khalid Reeves scored a career-high 40 points to lead No. 12 Arizona past seventh-ranked Michigan and the Wolverines’ “Fab Five.” Reeves was 13 for 14 from the field.
Fans swarm the court after University of Arizona (still in the Western Athletic Conference) defeated basketball powerhouse UCLA (then #1 in the nation), 70-69, at McKale Center on Jan. 18, 1979.
13. Arizona takes down UCLA, USC
Date: Jan. 18-22, 1979
What happened: Arizona beat UCLA and USC by a combined three points in a weekend — one of the best of the Fred Snowden era. Fans stormed the court following the win over USC.
12. Lyons’ game-winner caps historic day
Date: Dec. 15, 2012
What happened: Hours after the UA football team stormed back in thrilling fashion to win the New Mexico Bowl, the eighth-ranked Wildcats men’s basketball team knocked off No. 5 Florida. Arizona point guard Mark Lyons made the game-winning layup with 7.1 seconds left. The day is also widely known as “12-15-12.”
11. UA beats Duke in 1991 Fiesta Bowl Classic
Date: Feb. 24, 1991
What happened: The last time Duke played at McKale Center, the Wildcats took down the Blue Devils — and Christian Laettner and Bobby Hurley — in double overtime to win the Fiesta Bowl Classic 103-96.
Photos: 50 years of McKale Center at the University of Arizona
The University of Arizona campus in 1967, showing the empty lot right of Sancet Field at the bottom of the frame where McKale Center sits today. Construction of the viewing stands at Sancet Field underway. Arizona Stadium is starting to look like the current-day structure after a multi-level press box and 10,000 seats were added to the west grandstand in 1965. Note the Warren Ave. and Martin Ave. still poke through campus all the way to Speedway Blvd.
Excavation for McKale Center on the University of Arizona campus in January 1971. View is southeast. Dirt from the excavation is piled on an empty lot bounded by Martin Ave., Campbell Ave., and 4th and 5th streets. All but Campbell were eaten up by university expansion.
Hank Leiber, left, and legendary University of Arizona coach James Fred "Pop" McKale, ca. 1950s. Leiber was a baseball star for UA in the 1930s and played in two World Series with the New York Giants and made the All-Star game twice with the Chicago Cubs.
UA athletic director Dick Clausen, shown in 1969, Clausen was the driving force behind construction of McKale Center.
McKale Center under construction in 1972, looking southeast from the College of Optical Sciences.
McKale Center under construction in September 1971, looking southeast from the College of Optical Sciences.
Excavation for the service drive to the McKale Center floor in 1972. The steel beams to hold up the roof sit low across the bowl before being lifted into place.
A camera with a fisheye lens gives a bird's eye view of progress on McKale Center in December, 1971.
Crowds raise the roof at the University of Arizona's McKale Center now, but in January 1972, it was a construction crew that was carrying out that task.
Steel beams that hold up the McKale Center roof sit on the concrete bowl before being raised into place in 1972.
McKale Center under construction from the interior in August 1972.
McKale Center interior takes shape on Aug. 4, 1972.
The new McKale Center starting to take shape as construction continues at the University of Arizona on August 4, 1972. The health and physical education complex includes a 15,000-seat basketball facility. McKale, named after legendary coach James "Pop" McKale Center, replaced the aging Bear Down Gym.
A protective plastic roof over the McKale Center floor on Dec. 12, 1972. The floor was scheduled for completion in October, but the concrete floor was not drying as expected. Workers erected the tent and used gas heaters to speed the process.
Workers lay the floor for McKale Center under a protective plastic roof on Dec. 19, 1972,
McKale Center with its gleaming copper dome in place on Feb. 28, 1973.
13,652 fans watched the Arizona Wildcats defeat Wyoming, 87-69, and move into a tie for the lead in the Western Athletic Conference on opening night of McKale Memorial Center, Feb. 1, 1973, Coniel Norman led the Wildcats with 37 points.
The newly-minted McKale Memorial Center on the southeast corner of the University of Arizona campus in May, 1973. Note Arizona Stadium with the original stands on the east side and the open north end. Warren Avenue still goes through campus. Martin Ave. dead-ends at the new McKale Lawn and extended UA Mall.
Betty McKale, daughter of legendary UA coach "Pop" McKale, tries out the dance hall piano under the watchful gaze of her father's painting (above) in the McKale Center trophy room (McKale Room) on Nov. 29, 1973.
The trophy room at McKale Center, also known as the McKale Room, shown on Nov. 29, 1973, displayed University of Arizona athletic trophies.
Football training room at McKale Center on March 24, 1975.
One of the entrances to McKale Center on March 24, 1975.
After playing on a borrowed wooden basketball floor during the 1975-76 season, the UA installed their own floor as seen on Oct. 28, 1976. It was put down on top of the original Tartan floor built at McKale Center. The first game on the new floor was against the Yugoslavian Olympic team.
After playing on a borrowed wooden basketball floor during the 1975-76 season, the UA installed their own floor as seen on Oct. 28, 1976. It was put down on top of the original Tartan floor built at McKale Center. The first game on the new floor was against the Yugoslavian Olympic team.
McKale Center seating chart published in the Tucson Citizen in 1977.
UA head coach Fred Snowden surrounded by players during University of Arizona basketball vs. Arizona State at McKale Center in Tucson on Mar. 6, 1976.
McKale Center as seen from Arizona Stadium, looking northeast, in 1982. Today, the realigned Warren Avenue dead-ends at the Cherry Avenue parking garage, which took the place of the surface lot at left.
1973: Players practice on the new McKale Center basketball floor on Nov. 19, 1973.
1990: The Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team during a game at McKale Center in December, 1990.
2014: Renovations inside McKale Memorial Center in 2014 included seating and a new basketball floor.
2018: Participants in coach David Rubio's volleyball camp break out into groups at McKale Center in Tucson on July 16, 2018.
2023: Just under 9,000 fans in the stands as Arizona women's basketball takes on Washington at McKale Center on January 27, 2023.
University of Arizona women's basketball players (dark jerseys) run the floor during a game against Arizona State at McKale Center on Jan. 9, 1978.
UA basketball legend Coniel Norman teaches young athletes about basketball basics at McKale Center in June, 1975.
Fans swarm the court after University of Arizona (still in the Western Athletic Conference) defeated basketball powerhouse UCLA (then #1 in the nation), 70-69, at McKale Center on Jan. 18, 1979.
Senator Barry Goldwater speaking at UA graduation ceremonies at McKale Center on May 13, 1989.
Former University of Houston athletic director Cedric Dempsey speaking in the McKale Room at McKale Center on Aug. 17, 1982, after being named athletic director of the University of Arizona. It was a post he kept until 1993.
Linda Ronstadt in concert at McKale Center on Nov. 2, 1980. The original negatives are missing from the archives, but the contact sheets of all the outtakes remain. Note the comment on the photo assignment.
Thousands of people line up outside McKale Center on Oct. 15, 1978, for tickets to see Bob Dylan in concert at the arena. Dylan performed for 11,000 fans on Nov. 19.
Donald Trump with girlfriend Marla Maples at a University of Arizona basketball game at McKale Center, Tucson, on Dec. 27, 1990. (© Arizona Daily Star)
University of Arizona women's basketball coach Joan Bonvicini works with players at McKale Center in 1991, her first year as coach.
Barbara Brady answers the phone in the University of Arizona basketball office in McKale Center in 1997. The office was in the midst of a major face left. Improvements included enlarging quarters for Coach Lute Olson and redecorating the rest of the office.
A.J. Greene looks over the shoulder of UA student Anna Marie Butler in 1998 as she signs the bottom of a piece of the new basketball floor in McKale Center.
Assistant UA basketball coach Jim Rosborough explains some basketball secrets to 270 Lute Olson Basketball Camp participants during an afternoon lecture on June 16, 1998.
UA basketball coach Lute Olson waves to the crowd as he is introduced during the midnight madness practice game at the McKale Center on Oct. 12. 2001. UA competed in their second NCAA national championship game the previous season.
Arizona junior Sirena Linton finishes her bar routine while fellow teammates watch during Arizona Wildcats Gymnastics final home meet against Sacramento State at McKale Center in Tucson, Ariz. on March 10, 2022.
Arizona outside hitter Kendra Dahlke rises high from deep on the court to smash a spike against Arizona State at McKale Center on Sept. 21, 2016.
Arizona guard Aari McDonald (2) flies into the pain against Wyoming in their round of eight game of the WNIT at McKale Center on March 31, 2019.
Arizona guard Aari McDonald high-fives fans as she enters the court in McKale Center on March 1, 2020.
Sand volleyball player Jianna Bonomi walks past some of the images of legendary University of Arizona basketball players such as Steve Kerr, Sean Elliott, Gilbert Arenas, Mike Bibby and others in a hallway in McKale Center in 2015.
Graduates get one last celebration on the floor of McKale Center following the Spring 2012 Commencement. Dr. Peter Rhee, Chief of Trauma and Critical Care at UMC during the 2011 mass shooting, was the honorary guest speaker. A total of 4,206 undergraduate degrees, 882 master's degrees, and 298 doctoral degrees were conferred.
Hallways at McKale Center have been upgraded through the years to commemorate the UA's basketball history, such as the 2011 display honored legendary coach Lute Olson.
University of Arizona deputy director of athletics Kathleen "Rocky" LaRose makes her rounds through the coaching offices in McKale Center during her last full day of work on Oct. 8, 2013, after 30 years in athletics.
Forward Cate Reese slams the NCAA March Madness bracket after a first-round victory over UNLV at McKale Center on March 19, 2022.
The University of Arizona once had a live "Wildcat" mascot; however, the current mascot ─ with a few changes that include wife, Wilma, along the way ─ Wilbur the Wildcat has been a favorite around Tucson for more than 60 years.
