1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game

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1997 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
National championship game
Arizona Wildcats Kentucky Wildcats
Pac-10 SEC
(24–9) (35–4)
84 79
Head coach:
Lute Olson
Head coach:
Rick Pitino
1st half2nd halfOT Total
Arizona Wildcats 334110 84
Kentucky Wildcats 32425 79
DateMarch 31, 1997
VenueRCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana
MVPMiles Simon, Arizona
FavoriteKentucky by 7
RefereesTim Higgins, Ted Valentine, and Tom O'Neil
Attendance47,028
United States TV coverage
NetworkCBS
AnnouncersJim Nantz (play-by-play)
Billy Packer (color)
Michele Tafoya and Andrea Joyce (sideline)
← 1996
1998 →

The 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game was the finals of the 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament and it determined the national champion for the 1996–97 season. The game was played on March 31, 1997, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana and featured the West Regional Champion, #1-seeded Kentucky versus the Southeast Regional Champion, #4-seeded Arizona.

This was the last national championship won by the Pac-12 Conference.

Participating teams[edit]

Arizona[edit]

  • Southeast
    • Arizona (#4 seed) 65, South Alabama (#13 Seed) 57
    • Arizona 73, College of Charleston (#12 Seed) 69
    • Arizona 85, Kansas (#1 seed) 82
    • Arizona 96, Providence (#10 seed) 92
  • Final Four
    • Arizona 66, North Carolina (#1 seed) 58

[1]

Kentucky[edit]

  • West
    • Kentucky (#1 seed) 92, Montana (#16 seed) 58
    • Kentucky 75, Iowa (#8 seed) 69
    • Kentucky 83, Saint Joseph's (#12 seed) 68
    • Kentucky 72, Utah (#2 seed) 59
  • Final Four
    • Kentucky 78, Minnesota (#1 seed) 69

Starting lineups[edit]

Arizona Position Kentucky
Mike Bibby G Wayne Turner
Miles Simon G Anthony Epps
Bennett Davison F Ron Mercer 1
Michael Dickerson F Scott Padgett
A. J. Bramlett C Jamaal Magloire
1997 Consensus First Team All-American
 Players selected in the 1997 NBA draft  (number indicates round)

Source

Game summary[edit]

CBS
Monday, March 31
#4 Arizona Wildcats 84, #1 Kentucky Wildcats 79
Pts: M. Simon 30
Rebs: M. Bibby 9
Asts: J. Terry 5
Pts: S. Padgett 17
Rebs: N. Mohammed 11
Asts: R. Mercer 6
Halftime Score: Arizona, 33–32
After Regulation: 74–74
RCA Dome – Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance: 47,028
Referees: Tim Higgins, Ted Valentine and Tom O'Neil

References[edit]

  1. ^ "RotoWire Fantasy Football, Baseball, Basketball and More".