Tonight, we’re getting a rare treat: a top-five, early-season showdown inside Gampel Pavilion as our No. 3 UConn Huskies host the No. 4 Arizona Wildcats. This is only the fourth top-five home game in program history and just the second ever played in Storrs. The last time Gampel saw a matchup this big was back in 2006, when the No. 3 Huskies took down No. 2 Villanova in a classic.

UConn leads the all-time series 5–2, though the Huskies have cooled off recently, dropping the last two meetings after taking the first five. Still, this matchup has delivered some absolute classics over the years – from big-time star power to tight finishes. And tonight has every chance to join that list. Before we get to tip-off, let’s rewind and revisit some of the most unforgettable endings in this rivalry.

December 2000: #15 UConn 71, #5 Arizona 69

The last time Arizona came to Gampel – a game I attended with my dad and one of my earliest basketball memories – UConn stunned the Wildcats on a controversial finish. Tony Robertson was credited with the game-winner after officials ruled that Loren Woods’ block was goaltending. Replays later showed the ball wasn’t on its way down, but back then, officials could only review timing, shot value, or fights – nothing involving goaltending. Right or wrong, the call stood, and Gampel exploded with students rushing the court.

That young UConn team was led by sophomore Robertson and freshmen Taliek Brown and Caron Butler, while Arizona came to town with a loaded roster including future NBA stars Gilbert Arenas and Richard Jefferson, plus freshman Luke Walton off the bench. Five Wildcats from that squad would eventually hear their names called on draft night. Arizona went on to reach the National Championship game, falling to Duke, while UConn ended its season in the NIT – but on that night in Storrs, none of that mattered.

Was it a goaltend? You be the judge:

January 2002: #25 UConn 100, #10 Arizona 98 (OT)

This overtime thriller in Tucson – shoutout to the cactus court – was once again loaded with star power. UConn rolled out Caron Butler, Ben Gordon, and Emeka Okafor, while Arizona countered with Luke Walton, Channing Frye, and Will Bynum. I remember watching this one at a birthday party at Willi Bowl, glued to a tiny, grainy TV.

Arizona led by six early in OT, its largest lead of the night, before UConn’s freshmen took over. Okafor finished with 19 points and 15 rebounds, and Gordon added 23, including clutch buckets down the stretch. The Huskies closed the extra period on a 9–1 run to steal the win. Later that year, Arizona went on to win the Pac-10 Tournament before falling in the Sweet Sixteen, while UConn won the Big East title and reached the Elite Eight, losing to eventual champion Maryland.

Rewatching the game on YouTube the other night, I realized it ends exactly like the 2011 Elite Eight game. Same corner, same look but this time, Will Bynum’s three over Caron Butler’s outstretched arms came up just short.

Watch the full game here.

March 2011: #3 UConn 65, #5 Arizona 63

In one of the most stressful games I’ve ever watched, UConn edged Arizona in Anaheim to reach what was then the program’s fourth Final Four appearance. It felt like a pseudo–home game for the Wildcats, but it didn’t matter – Kemba Walker, Jeremy Lamb, and Shabazz Napier had enough answers to out-duel Derrick Williams, the eventual No. 2 pick, and first-rounder Solomon Hill.

Naturally, it came down to a last-second three. I watched this one from the Carriage House apartments, fully convinced this was finally the moment the universe would get us back for all the buzzer-beaters we’d hit on other teams. But the shot rimmed out, UConn survived, and the run stayed alive – a run that, weeks later, ended with confetti falling and the Huskies cutting down nets as national champions. Another perfect look from that corner and another sigh of relief for Husky fans.

And yes – the endings looked eerily familiar:

If we are in for another corner 3 ending tonight, let us hope the ball continues to bounce in UConn’s favor.

Tonight

They’re saying tonight might be the loudest Gampel Pavilion has ever been. The loudest I’ve personally heard Gampel was the 2010 Texas white-out game and the 2013 battle with Florida. If the crowd tops those tonight, here’s the decibel level they’ll have to beat, the two loudest moments I’ve ever experienced in the building:

To everyone headed to Gampel tonight: I hope you do.

As always,
Go Huskies.