1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game explained

See also: 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament.

1997 NCAA Tournament Championship Game
Type:ncg
Date:March 31, 1997
Year:1996–97
Visitor School:University of Arizona
Visitor Name Short:Arizona
Visitor Nickname:Wildcats
Visitor Record:24–9
Visitor Conference:Pac-10
Visitor Ap:15
Visitor Coaches:13
Visitor Coach:Lute Olson
Visitor Per1:33
Visitor Per2:41
Visitor Ot1:10
Home School:University of Kentucky
Home Name Short:Kentucky
Home Nickname:Wildcats
Home Record:35–4
Home Conference:SEC
Home Ap:5
Home Coaches:4
Home Coach:Rick Pitino
Home Per1:32
Home Per2:42
Home Ot1:5
Arena:RCA Dome
City:Indianapolis, Indiana
Attendance:47,028
Referee:Tim Higgins, Ted Valentine, and Tom O'Neil
Mvp:Miles Simon, Arizona
Odds:Kentucky by 7
Us Network:CBS
Us Announcers:Jim Nantz (play-by-play)
Billy Packer (color)
Michele Tafoya and Andrea Joyce (sideline)
Previous:1996
Next: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 and defending national champion, #1-seeded Kentucky versus the Southeast Regional Champion, #4-seeded Arizona.

Arizona defeated Kentucky 84–79 to win their first national championship in school history. Due to Kentucky coming back to win the national championship in 1998, Arizona effectively denied Kentucky a potential three-peat from 1996 to 1998.

This was the final national championship won by the Pac-12 Conference, which folded in 2024.

Participating teams

Arizona Wildcats

See main article: 1996–97 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team.

[1]

Kentucky Wildcats

See main article: 1996–97 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team.

Starting lineups

Arizona Position Kentucky
G Wayne Turner
G Anthony Epps
F Ron Mercer 1
F Scott Padgett
C Jamaal Magloire

Notes and References

  1. Web site: RotoWire Fantasy Football, Baseball, Basketball and More.