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Stadium:
McKale Memorial Center
McKale Memorial Center is an athletic arena located on the campus of the University of Arizona in Tucson, Arizona. It is primarily used for basketball, but also features state-of-the-art physical training and therapy facilities. Its construction is marked with a large copper cap that has turned brown over time. McKale Center is home to the University of Arizona Wildcats basketball team. The arena opened in February of 1973 and has a capacity of 14,545 spectators. It hosted the 1988 Pacific Ten Conference men's basketball tournament. McKale Center was named in honor of J.F. "Pop" McKale, athletic director and coach of all sports at the University of Arizona for a time, a figure at the university from 1914 to 1957. McKale was head basketball coach of Arizona from 1914 to 1921, where he recorded a 49-12 record. McKale is also credited with giving the university its nickname, the Wildcats. McKale coached the 1914 school football team that played a tough game against California champions Occidental College on Thanksgiving Day, where the press deemed the Arizona team Wildcats, and McKale ensured that the nickname remained.

Team History:
The men's basketball team has been one of the nation's most successful programs since Lute Olson was hired as head coach in 1983 and is known as a national powerhouse in Division I-A men's basketball. As of 2007, the team has amassed 20 consecutive 20-win seasons, and reached the NCAA Tournament 23 consecutive years, which is the longest currently active streak. Lute Olson has taken the Wildcats to the Final Four of the NCAA tournament in 1988, 1994, 1997, and 2001. In 1997, Arizona defeated the University of Kentucky, the defending national champions, to win the NCAA National Championship. Prior to winning the championship in 1997, UA won a thriller game in the Elite Eight in double overtime to take them to the Final Four (NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Championship).

Season Preview:
What began as a seemingly harmless question has Arizona fourth-year coach Mike Stoops three minutes into a fiery diatribe. Why wasn't Arizona invited to a bowl game last season? It's hard to debate that the Wildcats weren't among the top-64 teams in the country. They were the only team in the coun-try to beat BYU in regulation, defeating the Cougars, 16-13, in the season-opener. They ended Cal's eight-game winning streak with a 24-20 victory on Nov. 11. The Bears were ranked No. 8 nationally entering the contest.

Official Site:
arizona.edu