A look at the Arizona Wildcats’ history as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament
Mar 19, 2014, 2:42 AM | Updated: 2:42 am
The Arizona Wildcats accomplished nearly everything they could have in the regular season.
They got off to the best start in school history (21-0), beat every team in the conference at least once (they split with California, Arizona State and Oregon), spent eight weeks as the nation’s top-ranked team and won the Pac-12 Conference’s regular-season title before dropping the Pac-12 Tournament’s championship game to UCLA.
Now the Wildcats have their eyes set on making some postseason history — and they’ll be doing it as a No. 1 seed in the NCAA Tournament for the sixth time.
Here’s a look back at the UA’s first five trips to the big dance as a No. 1 seed, which are full of heartbreak — and, well, not much else:
1988
Regular-season record: 35-3
Result: Final Four
In Arizona’s deepest run as a No. 1 seed, Sean Elliott led the Wildcats into a Final Four showdown with Oklahoma, where they lost 86-78 despite Elliott’s 31 points.
1989
Regular-season record: 29-4
Result: Elite Eight
The Wildcats lost a heartbreaker in Lute Olson’s sixth season at the program’s helm, falling to fourth-seeded UNLV 68-87 in the Elite Eight.
1998
Regular-season record: 30-5
Result: Elite Eight
Coming off of the program’s first and only national title, the Wildcats stumbled against No. 3 seed Utah 76-51 in the Elite Eight.
2000
Regular-season record: 27-7
Result: Second Round
Perhaps the most disappointing finish in a long string of disappointing finishes, the Wildcats lost in the second round to No. 8 seed Wisconsin, 66-59.
2003
Regular-season record: 28-4
Result: Elite Eight
The Wildcats again found themselves on the brink of a Final Four appearance before coming up just short in a 78-75 loss to No. 2 seed Kansas in the Elite Eight to cap off their most recent appearance as a No. 1 seed.
2014
Regular-season record: 30-3
Result: TBD
The Wildcats earned the No. 1 seed in the West region, and appear to have an advantageous path to the Final Four. The UA will play the first weekend of the tournament in San Diego and the second weekend in Anaheim, though it drew the toughest 8/9 game, playing the winner of Oklahoma State and Gonzaga. Despite that game, the West region is widely regarded as the least daunting.
