Top Pac-12 Program over the past 30 years: Zona or UCLA?

[Buffnik]

No one can touch UCLA all-time with the run they had under John Wooden.

But what about 1983-2012, which captures Lute Olson's tenure at Zona and begins with the 10th season after Wooden's retirement from UCLA?

	Arizona	UCLA
Record	726-261 (73.5%)	664-305 (68.5%)
Losing Seasons	1	3
20+ Win Seasons	26	22
NBA 1st Round Picks	17	15
Pac-10/12 Titles (Regular Season)	12	9
Pac-10/12 Titles (Tournament)	4	3
NCAA Tournaments	27	22
Sweet 16s	14	11
Final 4s	4	4
National Titles	1	1

 

[CVilleBuff]

My perception has always been Arizona in terms of the last 30.

27 Dances in 30 years, with over half of that 27 resulting in Sweet 16 or better. Speaks for itself.

 

[BehindEnemyLines]

Zona has been better program lately.

 

[jwhite17]

I would go with Zona. Olson made them the premier program in the former Pac 10. UCLA should always be dominant (top 3) considering their location and prestige in SoCal.

Missouri blew that game against UCLA in 1995 for their only national title during that time period.

Zona is located in boring Tucson, and it didn't have much bball tradition before Olson. He took them to another level and consistent success (27 years straight of tourney appearances!), and now, Sean Miller is reaping the rewards of Zona being such a great program for so long with his current recruiting success.

I hope Boyle is to CU what Olson was to Zona. IMO, I enjoy hearing comments about 2015/2016 recruits considering CU their dream school or a top bball school in the Pac 12. That's something I never thought I would ever hear about CU bball. If we can keep this up for another three years, those future recruits will only know CU as a dominant bball program, and it will propel our recruiting even more so than now.

We are very close to becoming a bball school (good bball and bad/mediocre football).

 

[cubuffs85]

Taking away the mid-90s/mid/late-2000s, it's UofA without a doubt. So just in terms of the post-Wooden era when his direct footprints weren't there anymore, I'd say UofA. UofA like Cville mentioned was in the tourney every year for a ~25 year stretch. Not a slam dunk though.

 

[cubuffs85]

I would go with Zona. Olson made them the premier program in the former Pac 10. UCLA should always be dominant (top 3) considering their location and prestige in SoCal.

Missouri blew that game against UCLA in 1995 for their only national title during that time period.

Zona is located in boring Tucson, and it didn't have much bball tradition before Olson. He took them to another level and consistent success (27 years straight of tourney appearances!), and now, Sean Miller is reaping the rewards of Zona being such a great program for so long with his current recruiting success.

I hope Boyle is to CU what Olson was to Zona. IMO, I enjoy hearing comments about 2015/2016 recruits considering CU their dream school or a top bball school in the Pac 12. That's something I never thought I would ever hear about CU bball. If we can keep this up for another three years, those future recruits will only know CU as a dominant bball program, and it will propel our recruiting even more so than now.

We are very close to becoming a bball school (good bball and bad/mediocre football).

I hope so... in terms of the "basketball school," I doubt that happens without a new building or major, major renovation which were not exactly ready for.

 

[Buffnik]

Taking away the mid-90s/mid/late-2000s, it's UofA without a doubt. So just in terms of the post-Wooden era when his direct footprints weren't there anymore, I'd say UofA. UofA like Cville mentioned was in the tourney every year for a ~25 year stretch. Not a slam dunk though.

Yeah. I think it's a nod to Zona, but that UCLA record is damn impressive. So different than the Big 12 where we had Kansas but a revolving door of challengers. This is 2 true heavyweights in the same conference. Pac-12 is much more ACC-like where they have Duke and North Carolina.

 

[Buffalo Brad]

Arizona leads in all categories except final 4s, and they only trail by 1. Zona but these are the two teams we are trying to knock of the top of the mountain.

 

[Goose]

Arizona gets the edge because their fans don't make me want to kill someone within 30 seconds of talking to one of them.

 

[SECOBuffsFan]

Zona in the last 30 years is the measuring stick in my opinion...I just feel like they are absolutely the best team for CU to try and overtake because they have been so consistent. UCLA has been way up and way down for me to consider them the team in the Pac 12.

 

[pachoops]

Great topic. I'm taking Arizona not even with my homer hat on and I've also got another spreadsheet here of intangibles:

	Arizona	UCLA
National perception	Oh that Lute Olson had great hair	LA! Gorgeous weather.
Self-perception	TALK MORE ABOUT US! Please.	[facepalmselfloathingfromamegaphone]
Expose	Lute going full Ross-Rachel on whether or not he was coaching from 2007-2009	Reeves Nelson peeing and the ambiant temperature of the video room
Times of crisis	Hired Sean Miller	Hired Steve Lavin
For the greater good	N/A	O'Bannon lawsuit
The look	Lost the classic cactus logo	Wore those godawful adidas camo-shirts once and never again - meanwhile Louisville won a title in them.
Reason to mention Jim Harrick	See column to right	Crux of self loathing

 

[Buffnik]

Have UCLA fans ever gotten over the fact that their administration didn't bring Denny Crum back to take over after Wooden retired?

 

[belowground]

Arizona has 4 final fours in that timespan: 1988, 1994, 1997, 2001

In which case, this is really a no brainer.

 

[tante]

Arizona has 4 final fours in that timespan: 1988, 1994, 1994, 2001

In which case, this is really a no brainer.

Wow they must have been a very deep team in 1994. Most schools are lucky to send one team.

 

[belowground]

Wow they must have been a very deep team in 1994. Most schools are lucky to send one team.

You don't remember the UA vs UA semifinal? :thumbsup:

 

[Buffnik]

Arizona has 4 final fours in that timespan: 1988, 1994, 1997, 2001

In which case, this is really a no brainer.

You're right. Rep for catching my **** up.