Stanford center Stefan Nastic (4), left, fouls Arizona guard Gabe York during the first half of the No. 5 Arizona vs. Stanford men's college basketball game on March 7, 2015, at McKale Center. York broke a record for 3-pointers.
It has served as the mecca of college basketball in Tucson for decades. It has hosted a plethora of memorable games, graduations, concerts, memorial services and speeches .
Now itβs celebrating a birthday.
Wednesday marks the 50-year anniversary of McKale Center officially opening its doors as the Arizona Wildcatsβ premiere athletic facility to host menβs and womenβs basketball games, along with volleyball and gymnastics events.
Named after J.F. βPopβ McKale, a longtime UA athletic director and head coach β essentially a founding father of Arizona athleticsΒ β McKale Center has delivered myriad memorable moments since it opened on Feb. 1, 1973.
Hereβs a look at 50 of them, starting with Nos. 50-41:
50. Lloyd gets win No. 50
Date: Jan. 21, 2023
What happened: No. 11 Arizona grinded out a victory over No. 5 UCLA 58-52, the first time the Wildcats scored under 60 points in a win under Tommy Lloyd, who reached 50 career wins faster than any head coach in Pac-12 history. Due to UCLAβs soon-to-be Big Ten membership, Arizonaβs win over the Bruins could be the last time in a while they play at McKale Center.
49. Fredette drops 49 points in Fiesta Bowl Classic
Date: Dec. 28, 2009
What happened: BYU guard Jimmer Fredette lit up Arizona for 49 points β a program and McKale Center record β to beat the Wildcats 99-69. Fredette was 9 of 13 from 3-point range and dished out nine assists in the Cougarsβ rout.
48. York ties program record on Senior Day
Date: March 5, 2016
What happened: Arizona senior guard Gabe York tied a program record with nine 3-pointers against Stanford on Senior Day, two days after he made a trio of 3s down the stretch to lift the Wildcats over Cal in come-from-behind fashion.
47. βOoh Ahh Manβ retires after 34 years
Date: March 9, 2013
What happened: Joe Cavaleri, a longtime Arizona basketball fan also known as the βOoh Ahh Man,β performed one final time during Arizonaβs home finale against Arizona State. Cavaleri served as the Wildcatsβ rally-caller at McKale Center from 1979-2013.
46. Wildcats lose to Bucknell in NIT
Date: March 14, 2012
What happened: The year after going to the Elite Eight in Sean Millerβs second season at Arizona, the Wildcats lost to Bucknell in the first round of the NIT, despite a double-double from Solomon Hill. Arizonaβs starting lineup: Jordin Mayes, Nick Johnson, Kyle Fogg, Hill and undersized center Jesse Perry.
What happened: Arizona ended Pac-10 play with a 3-1 win over ASU, finishing the conference schedule with a 16-2 record and a share of the Pac-10 title with USC. The Wildcats and Trojans became the first Pac-10 schools not named UCLA or Stanford to win at least a share of the conference championship. It remains the only volleyball conference championship in program history.
44. Dusan loves Tucson
Date: March 3, 2018
What happened: Arizonaβs tumultuous season, filled with federal investigations, injuries and suspensions β oh, donβt forget about Deandre Aytonβs historic freshman campaignΒ β ended with a win over Cal to secure the Pac-12 regular-season championship. Arizona honored seniors Parker Jackson-Cartwright and Dusan Ristic, the winningest player in program history, as well as Ayton, Allonzo Trier and Rawle Alkins β the Wildcatsβ three early entries for the NBA draft. While the Wildcats greeted fans after the game, Ristic took off his jersey and revealed a βDusan loves Tucsonβ undershirt.
43. Woods records first triple-double with blocks
Date: Feb. 3, 2000
What happened: The stereotypical triple-double involves points, rebounds and assists, but Arizona center Loren Woods, who is tied with Christian Koloko for most blocks in a season, recorded 16 points, 10 rebounds and 14 blocks (!) in a 77-71 win over Oregon.
42. GymCats beat Utah for first time
Date: Feb. 25, 2022
What happened: Career performances from Elena Deets, Sirena Linton, Carolina Herry and Malia Hargrove carried the UA gymnastics team to an upset victory over national powerhouse Utah for the first time in program history.
41. Al Flemingβs 41-point game vs. Detroit
Date: Jan. 10, 1976
What happened: Al Fleming, Arizonaβs record-holder for double-doubles (68), had 41 points β the most by a Wildcat at McKale Center β and grabbed 11 rebounds against a Dick Vitale-coached Detroit team. It remains the only 40-point, 10-rebound game in program history. Fleming joined the McKale Center Ring of Honor this year.