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FinalFourConcierge.com > NCAA Final Four History Champions > Arizona 1997 NCAA Basketball Champion |
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NCAA Final Four Champion > Arizona > 1997 |
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1997 NCAA Final Four Information |
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1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Teams 64 Finals Site RCA Dome Indianapolis, Indiana Champions Arizona (1st title) Runner-Up Kentucky (9th title game) Semifinalists Minnesota (1st Final Four) North Carolina (13th Final Four) Winning Coach Lute Olson (1st title) MOP Miles Simon Arizona Attendance 646,531 Top scorer Miles Simon Arizona (132 points) |
The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing
in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division
I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship
game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana. A total of 63 games were played. Arizona, coached by Lute Olson, won the national title with a 84-79 overtime victory in the final game over defending champion Kentucky, coached by Rick Pitino. Miles Simon of Arizona was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Several years later, Minnesota was stripped of its Final Four appearance following the discovery of NCAA academic rule violations. In addition, the Gophers were stripped of their Big Ten title they had also won. |
As of 2007, Arizona Basketball has amassed 20 consecutive 20-win seasons and has
reached the NCAA Tournament for 23 consecutive years, which is the longest active
streak. Lute Olson has led the Wildcats to the Final Four of the NCAA Tournament
on four occasions (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, Arizona stormed
back from 10-point deficits in the Southeast Regional First Round and Second
Round against #13 South Alabama and #12 College of Charleston, respectively winning
65-57 and 73-69. |
The Arizona Wildcats basketball team represents the University of Arizona and competes
in the Pacific Ten Conference (Pac-10) of NCAA Division I. Over the quarter century that Lute Olson has guided University of Arizona men's basketball, the program has established itself among America's elite in college hoops. |
March 18, 2008 UD Arena Dayton, Ohio Host: University of Dayton UD Arena Concierge March 20 and 22, 2008 Honda Center Anaheim, California Host: Big West Conference Honda Center Concierge Pepsi Center Denver, Colorado Hosts: Colorado State University Pepsi Center Concierge Qwest Center Omaha Omaha, Nebraska Hosts: Creighton University Qwest Center Omaha Concierge Verizon Center Washington, D.C. Host: Georgetown University Verizon Center Concierge March 21 and 23, 2008 BJCC Arena Birmingham, Alabama Host: Southeastern Conference BJCC Arena Concierge Alltel Arena Little Rock, Arkansas Host: University of Arkansas Alltel Arena Concierge RBC Center Raleigh, North Carolina Host: North Carolina State University RBC Center Concierge St. Pete Times Forum Tampa, Florida Host: University of South Florida St Pete Times Forum Concierge March 27 and 29, 2008 East Regional Charlotte Bobcats Arena Charlotte, North Carolina Host: University of North Carolina Charlotte Arena Concierge West Regional US Airways Center Phoenix, Arizona Host: Arizona State University US Airways Center Concierge March 28 and 30, 2008 Midwest Regional Ford Field Detroit, Michigan Host: University of Detroit Mercy Ford Field Concierge South Regional Reliant Stadium Houston, Texas Host: University of Houston and Rice Reliant Stadium Concierge Final Four: April 5 and 7, 2008 Alamodome San Antonio, Texas Host: Univ. of Texas-San Antonio Alamodome Concierge |
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The Southeast Regional Semifinal pitted against overall #1 Kansas (34-1) which had
defeated Arizona the year before in the 1996 West Regional Semifinal. However, Arizona came out fast and stunned the Jayhawks 85-82, then prevailed in overtime against Providence 96-92 in the Elite Eight to clinch a berth in the Final Four. Arizona then beat #1 seed North Carolina 66-58 in the Final Four, which turned out to be Dean Smith's last game as a coach. |
