I was a high school freshman when the cats won this game. My dad let me and my little brother skip school the next day to go to Arizona stadium and welcome the team back in celebration. Epic game, and epic good rally after. I'm now a double UA alumn ❤
@S.S. Deaths head UNIT I'm spoiled by being a Duke fan (bandwagon jumper in 1990) but your 1 Arizona National Championship was as good as any title that Duke has ever won.
Still the only team to beat three #1 seeds in same tourney and one of only 2 teams (along with 2019 Auburn) to beat Kansas, unc and Kentucky in same tourney. Amazing!
Having attended UK, I had recorded the game to watch later. I wasn't able to watch it before people told me they had lost. I was devastated and never watched the game - I even still have the VHS tape, but no VHS player. Out of respect to coach, I watched it for the first time today. RIP Coach Olson, you lived a helluva life.
... and I headed down to Arizona student union when the final whistle blown... was super lucky to witness the ONLY title AZ had, esp as a foreign student.
I remember being 15 rows up, I was like, I hope they don’t give Mohamed another free throw because Bramlett was supposed to be out of the game. This game was unreal!
This team struggled all season long. But you could see by the end of the season they were starting to figure it out. Still, I didn't think they would beat Kansas. But when they did, I felt really good about their chances. I felt that this could be an historic tournament run. Which it was. This teams starting five where hands down the fastest starting five in the country. You could plainly see that even the number one seeds in this field simply did not have the legs to deal with Arizona's speed. But they were also good shooters and Mike Bibby was a freshman playing like a senior. I still like watching this from time to time. It was a magical run.
All credit to Arizona....This was such an earned title. But, it's pretty crazy Kentucky got back to the title game and was favored in it, considering how much it lost from 1996. Delk and McCarty were Seniors, Walker went to the NBA, and then they lost Derek Anderson and Jeff Sheppard to injury. Losing five pieces like that and then almost winning a second title really shows how good a coach Pitino is.
Every time I watch the games from this tournament, makes me so proud of what this team did, Lute Olson was a fantastic coach who put the Arizona Wildcats and Tucson on the map. RIP coach.
Coach Pitino was PURE CLASS at the end of the game- many other coaches would have wrung that ending to the very last drop. He showed a humility not often seen in these ranks. Cheers to everyone in this Championship.
Could've had a rematch in the 98 final if only Arizona had been able to solve Utah's triangle and 2 defense in the regional final. Credit to coach Majerus in that one. They completely shut down the defending champs
12 years later, Pitino coached against Arizona at nearby Lucas Oil Stadium in the Sweet 16. I think a reason why Arizona-Kentucky never happened between Pittsburgh-born coaches John Calipari and Sean Miller had to do with a lack of uniqueness other than the program names. The previous time Calipari and Miller coached against each other was 2008 when Xavier beat Memphis in a nonconference game. Both coaches were a game from facing each other but Miller lost each time: 2007 - Elite 8 loss to UCLA 2011 - Elite 8 loss to UConn 2014/15 - Elite 8 loss to Wisconsin 2018 - Round of 64 loss to Buffalo
That was a tough game to lose. It came down to attrition as Kentucky just ran out of players, and it prevented what would have been a three-peat (96 through 98).
If u get a chance too could you put Kentucky's national championship game against Kansas 2012 really enjoy the old games hope you and your family are safe during these crazy times
Man I’m a diehard UK fan and I remember watching this in the 7th grade. This one hurt, not only because they lost in OT but mainly it was the end of the Pitino era. I still believe if he didn’t go to the Celtics the following year he would STILL be coaching UK and have multiple championships.
I remember this game, i truly believe to this day if Derrick Anderson was able to play they would have won this game in regulation, and 3 peated. That was a really good Arizona team though, they fought hard and earned it, just so happened that Kentucky was down their best defensive guard on the team. Those UK teams were special, 96,97,98 with 96 being the best team ive ever seen in college basketball.
1:07 the first points ever scored by a player wearing a pair of Nike Foamposites.. Somehow Mike Bibby got to wear them before Penny did, and they were his shoes!
This is my earliest college basketball memory, I'm glad Arizona kind of won even though I was rooting for Kentucky very hard, Kentucky was like the Chicago Bulls of the time, later on I figured out the Phoenix Suns lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA finals so I was kind of even more happy that they won the 1997 national championship yeah I'm glad the Diamondbacks more than 2001 one series
As an Arizona fan, I'd like to thank the University of Minnesota for draining Ron Mercer of his usual explosive energy. Even still he made the shot of the game 57:05.
A team that finished 5th in the Pac 10 defeated 3 number one seeds (including defeating the defending champion Kentucky)the thing I remember is what Billy Packer says at the end of the telecast "Simon says Championship"
So you’re discrediting Arizona beating 3 number 1 teams before, even beating the nations best team, Kansas in the sweet 16?? AZ was a legit championship team.
If nazr Muhammad had shot 50% from the free throw line UK would have won 2 in a row… 3 in a row if 98 played out the same way it did with UK winning that one too.
its insane that Simon shot 17 Fts.... UK fouls: 29 Zona:16. UK FTA: 17 Zona: 41 In no world does that not scream refs hate UK, always have always will. And you can watch this entire game and see the hilarious phantom fouls that Zona was getting and see some of the no calls UK was getting. Ron Mercer couldn't even play because of the BS fouls he got. It was so blatant. Not to mention if Pitino gets over himself and plays Derek Anderson, UK wins handedly. Nonetheless congrats Zona, forever the 2nd best Wildcats.....we had more chips from 96-98 than Zona has in history.
RIP Coach Lute Olson, re-watching this classic and one of your defining moments in your honor tonight.
That why I m in these comment for. RIP Lute Olson and John Thompson
I was a high school freshman when the cats won this game. My dad let me and my little brother skip school the next day to go to Arizona stadium and welcome the team back in celebration. Epic game, and epic good rally after. I'm now a double UA alumn ❤
That's awesome!
3 #1 seeds beaten by the 3 guard Wildcats! What a amazing run. Without a doubt one of the greatest
@S.S. Deaths head UNIT I'm spoiled by being a Duke fan (bandwagon jumper in 1990) but your 1 Arizona National Championship was as good as any title that Duke has ever won.
Still the only team to beat three #1 seeds in same tourney and one of only 2 teams (along with 2019 Auburn) to beat Kansas, unc and Kentucky in same tourney. Amazing!
Having attended UK, I had recorded the game to watch later. I wasn't able to watch it before people told me they had lost. I was devastated and never watched the game - I even still have the VHS tape, but no VHS player. Out of respect to coach, I watched it for the first time today. RIP Coach Olson, you lived a helluva life.
RIP Couch O. Thank you for putting Tucson on the Map and all the memories. Now your with Bobbie🐻⬇️
... and I headed down to Arizona student union when the final whistle blown... was super lucky to witness the ONLY title AZ had, esp as a foreign student.
It was crazy after the game everyone on campus and off!!
@@zennduck I was at the student union cheering, were u there too?
@@tuckfchaang2094 I was at the student union I remember people dancing in the fountain out on the mall just outside!
I remember being 15 rows up, I was like, I hope they don’t give Mohamed another free throw because Bramlett was supposed to be out of the game. This game was unreal!
Wow - as a U of A alum (class of 2014) I never knew how crazy of a game this was!
This team struggled all season long. But you could see by the end of the season they were starting to figure it out. Still, I didn't think they would beat Kansas. But when they did, I felt really good about their chances. I felt that this could be an historic tournament run. Which it was. This teams starting five where hands down the fastest starting five in the country. You could plainly see that even the number one seeds in this field simply did not have the legs to deal with Arizona's speed. But they were also good shooters and Mike Bibby was a freshman playing like a senior. I still like watching this from time to time. It was a magical run.
Yeah amazing to think they went from 5th place in pac10 regular season I believe to still the only team to beat three #1 seeds in same tourney!
Here after the passing of coach Lute Olson. May he rest in peace. 🙏🙏
Dang I Didn't know he passed .
All credit to Arizona....This was such an earned title. But, it's pretty crazy Kentucky got back to the title game and was favored in it, considering how much it lost from 1996. Delk and McCarty were Seniors, Walker went to the NBA, and then they lost Derek Anderson and Jeff Sheppard to injury. Losing five pieces like that and then almost winning a second title really shows how good a coach Pitino is.
That Arizona team prevented Kentucky from having a potential 3-peat as UK won it all again in 1998.
Every time I watch the games from this tournament, makes me so proud of what this team did, Lute Olson was a fantastic coach who put the Arizona Wildcats and Tucson on the map. RIP coach.
RIP COACH O
Coach Pitino was PURE CLASS at the end of the game- many other coaches would have wrung that ending to the very last drop. He showed a humility not often seen in these ranks. Cheers to everyone in this Championship.
03/31/1997 - 27 years ago
Bear down best team ever! loved the run they had!
No, they just won.
Could've had a rematch in the 98 final if only Arizona had been able to solve Utah's triangle and 2 defense in the regional final. Credit to coach Majerus in that one. They completely shut down the defending champs
why does the older teams seem so much better than nowadays?
the level of competition is better and the way teams played was far superior to now, low level of competition.
Arizona was the last #4 seed to win a national title (Michigan - 2013 was the last #4 seed to play in a title game).
Who else did the passing of Mr Olsen brought them here?
12 years later, Pitino coached against Arizona at nearby Lucas Oil Stadium in the Sweet 16.
I think a reason why Arizona-Kentucky never happened between Pittsburgh-born coaches John Calipari and Sean Miller had to do with a lack of uniqueness other than the program names. The previous time Calipari and Miller coached against each other was 2008 when Xavier beat Memphis in a nonconference game. Both coaches were a game from facing each other but Miller lost each time:
2007 - Elite 8 loss to UCLA
2011 - Elite 8 loss to UConn
2014/15 - Elite 8 loss to Wisconsin
2018 - Round of 64 loss to Buffalo
That was a tough game to lose. It came down to attrition as Kentucky just ran out of players, and it prevented what would have been a three-peat (96 through 98).
You know it was a bought game
RIP, Lute
The 1st quote from billy packer is referring to the three refs who had the same 1st letter T
so many NBA players on these two teams
If u get a chance too could you put Kentucky's national championship game against Kansas 2012 really enjoy the old games hope you and your family are safe during these crazy times
Sad days....as a CATs fan, I shouldn't be watching classics to see my team play in March
Sean Miller definitely had a couple squads capable of getting to the final 4 but just couldn't get it done.
Real sad days now!
Man I’m a diehard UK fan and I remember watching this in the 7th grade. This one hurt, not only because they lost in OT but mainly it was the end of the Pitino era. I still believe if he didn’t go to the Celtics the following year he would STILL be coaching UK and have multiple championships.
My favorite era of uk basketball uk in the title game 3 years in a row
I remember this game, i truly believe to this day if Derrick Anderson was able to play they would have won this game in regulation, and 3 peated. That was a really good Arizona team though, they fought hard and earned it, just so happened that Kentucky was down their best defensive guard on the team. Those UK teams were special, 96,97,98 with 96 being the best team ive ever seen in college basketball.
I effing loved Derek Anderson. He was a fierce two way player but Miles Simon was outstanding in this tourney.
This was a heck of a game and I had to watch to the end. This was also the first time I saw the Foamposite sneakers.
Bibby was poised Simon was senior Olsen out coached Patino Arizona's big men played harder point blank period
Simon was actually only a jr in 97
And yet Kentucky was far and away the best program of the 1990s.
97 Arizona.. still the only team to beat three #1 seeds in the same tournament.
Bear Down!
who would have thought that this would be the Pac 10/12's last Mens Basketball national championship team with Arizona
We lost this game but we bounce back following year for another chip 🏆
So crazy to see how jerseys were so big in the 90’s after being short in the 80’s.
Pretty amazing that the only points Arizona scored in OT were free throws
1:07 the first points ever scored by a player wearing a pair of Nike Foamposites.. Somehow Mike Bibby got to wear them before Penny did, and they were his shoes!
This is my earliest college basketball memory, I'm glad Arizona kind of won even though I was rooting for Kentucky very hard, Kentucky was like the Chicago Bulls of the time, later on I figured out the Phoenix Suns lost to the Chicago Bulls in the 1993 NBA finals so I was kind of even more happy that they won the 1997 national championship yeah I'm glad the Diamondbacks more than 2001 one series
That was something when the late Billy Packer said these 3 words after Arizona won their 1st National Championship “Simon Says Championship”.
This made me a wildcats fan
Bandwagon
thanks for game
As an Arizona fan, I'd like to thank the University of Minnesota for draining Ron Mercer of his usual explosive energy. Even still he made the shot of the game 57:05.
Arizona with a who’s who list of iconic sneakers
Miles Simon was such an under appreciated talent
WHAT !!!!! OVERTIME uoa uoa uoa uoa I was in prison.
THE CATFIGHT
A team that finished 5th in the Pac 10 defeated 3 number one seeds (including defeating the defending champion Kentucky)the thing I remember is what Billy Packer says at the end of the telecast "Simon says Championship"
It's so wild - 1997 Arizona = 2014 UConn - WILD backcourts who struggled in season figure it out - they're like mirror images of each other
Simon says championship. So famous
My goodness was the officiating one sided in this game. 41 free throws to 17!! and the game still went to OT!
One team was overly physical all game. Had they controlled that part of the game, there was no OT
The 1998 Team was actually better than this one. It's a shame that the didn't win back to back titles. They surely could have
Definitely. Credit to Utah coach Rick Majerus for employing a triangle and 2 defense in the regional final that totally shut down Arizona's backcourt.
You mean, back to back to back, they won the next year with Tubby
RIP Lute Olson
Wish Derek Anderson could’ve played but understand why he didn’t
If Derek Anderson would have played, UK wins
By 10 points +
Kentucky was so dang close to 3-peating…
Kentucky had the best basketball team then..
Simon says championship.
Need more games!! Nothing from the 2001 tournament!????
KENTUCKY WILDCATS ARE MY MAIN TEAM & THEY MADE THE CHAMPIONSHIP GAME 1996-98!
Those were some feerless cats.
Kentucky SG Derrick Anderson was hurt...It's the only reason Arizona won that game
So you’re discrediting Arizona beating 3 number 1 teams before, even beating the nations best team, Kansas in the sweet 16?? AZ was a legit championship team.
In this game, U of A manages to do what the Phoenix Suns have been trying for decades: make it to the title game AND ACTUALLY WIN!
Three number one seeds in one tourny. Arizona was as hot as the sun in this tourny.
Love college basketball
Why was Derek Anderson dressed to play if he wasn’t able to?
"Simon says Championship" lol
Mike Bibby!
Hernandez Gary Walker Brian Miller Betty
Here before we make a run to the 2024 final four
Yea a run to losing To THEM TIGERS!!! 🐯🐯🐯
🐻⬇️
This was a great game $
If nazr Muhammad had shot 50% from the free throw line UK would have won 2 in a row… 3 in a row if 98 played out the same way it did with UK winning that one too.
Martin Richard Harris Jessica Martinez Steven
The charge at end of regulation should've put Kentucky, Mohammed on line, with 2 seconds left. Ran over Mohammed.
He probably would've missed those, too
A million fouls, dozens of turnovers, bad shot making, no game flow… college basketball folks.
If we had DA, UK wins by 10pts+
Jeff Shepherd was out that year too
its insane that Simon shot 17 Fts.... UK fouls: 29 Zona:16. UK FTA: 17 Zona: 41
In no world does that not scream refs hate UK, always have always will. And you can watch this entire game and see the hilarious phantom fouls that Zona was getting and see some of the no calls UK was getting. Ron Mercer couldn't even play because of the BS fouls he got. It was so blatant. Not to mention if Pitino gets over himself and plays Derek Anderson, UK wins handedly.
Nonetheless congrats Zona, forever the 2nd best Wildcats.....we had more chips from 96-98 than Zona has in history.
84-79
Arizona is the first and only team to beat three number ones. They were the best team that year. Go cry. Yall lost to st Peter's hahaha losers
@@alejandroarvizu4112 quit crying, kentucky has had its share of bending teams over.
If Derek Anderson would have played, UK wins
He got hurt in January, it had little effect on the team