TUCSON, Ariz. -- Sean Miller knows the history of Arizona on the big stage of Madison Square Garden in the preseason NIT.
The Wildcats have resembled King Kong in the Big Apple, going 7-1 over the last 20 years in the early season showcase.
They're back, after what was a slight hiccup in the transition from Lute Olson to Miller in 2008-09, when Arizona lost in the second round and failed to make it to New York during the season it was coached by Russ Pennell and Mike Dunlap.
Those seven wins represent three championships -- over Nolan Richardson-coached Arkansas in 1990, Allen Iverson and Georgetown in 1995 and Kentucky in 2000. The only time Arizona left New York empty-handed came in a narrow loss to Chris Paul and Wade Forest in 2004.
"I know so many great teams, so many of which were under the radar, and yet Arizona went Madison Square Garden and proved how good we were," said Arizona coach Sean Miller, talking high praise of Arizona's past performances. "We hope to do the same thing, making sure we are at our best."
UA goes in 5-0 and No. 4 in the nation. Its semifinal game will be Wednesday against Drexel in the opening game of a double-header. If Arizona wins, it goes for Championship No. 4 on Friday night against the winner of the other semifinal between No. 6 Duke (5-1) and Alabama.
There's nothing like playing some of the best competition that brings out the best in Arizona. This week shouldn't be any different. And although Drexel doesn't rank as a national championship contender, Miller said his team can't sleep on the Dragons, a team featuring four guards who are all averaging more than 12 points per game. The Dragons are 3-1, winning three on the road, including a victory at Rutgers that punched their ticket to New York. Their lone loss came at UCLA by a 72-67 score.
Although a potential showdown with Duke looms, Miller wantd no talk of a look ahead.
"They have three 1,000-point scorers," Miller said. "I saw them play at Rutgers, at Illinois State, at UCLA. They could have beat UCLA at UCLA. And we all know how good UCLA is this year."
Miller said four of Drexel's Franz Massenat, Chris Fouch, Damion Lee and Tavon Allen could play for any major college program.
"They're not pretty good," Miller said. "They are really good … They are disciplined as a team. They are older, experienced and well-coached. They have a toughness about them that I wish and hope we can get."
Miller expects a game similar to what the Wildcats faced at San Diego State -- a tough, intense battle that the Wildcats won 69-60.
"If we go to Madison Square Garden with anything else on our mind, we will be in the consolation game on Friday," Miller said. "I hope we're a better team in Madison Square Garden than we were (at San Diego)."
That said, this week offers an opportunity for the Wildcats brightest stars to shine on a big stage.
"Playing in Madison Square Garden is one of the biggest stages you can play on," sophomore center Kaleb Tarczewski said. "We cherish the opportunities we have as a team to prove ourselves under the brightest lights. We're all looking forward to proving how good our team is."
The trip to New York could also serve as a national coming out party for freshman forward Aaron Gordon, who is averaging 13 points and nine rebounds in his first five games. He's had three double-doubles, and yet there's a sense that he hasn't come close to his best game.
"I think Aaron is doing everything he should be doing," Tarczewski said. "He's a great offensive rebounder and good defender. On this team we have really good basketball players that it's hard to go out and score 20 points. Aaron Gordon knows his role. And the way this team is playing is great. I think everyone understands that for us to be at our best, everyone has to contribute."
