Photos: Arizona Wildcats win 1997 NCAA Championship
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Rick Wiley
Photo editor
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The University of Arizona beat Kentucky to win the 1997 NCAA basketball championship on March 31, 1997 in Indianapolis, Ind.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
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Crazed Wildcat fans, at Maloney's bar, on 4th Ave. at the very moment UA won the NCAA National ChampionshipTitle, against Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona coach Lute Olson holds the Division I NCAA championship trophy with his team from left, Jason Lee, Miles Simon, Jason Terry, Justin Wessel and Bennett Davison, after they defeated Kentucky in the 1997 final.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
A.J. Bramlett and Bennett Davison hug, after winning the NCAA National Championship, in overtime against Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona coach Lute Olson holds up the net for the fans after Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Bennett Davison celebrates with fans after beating Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona Coach Lute Olson has his hair messed up by his team after they won the national championship at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis Monday, March 31, 1997. Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime. (AP Photo/The Indianapolis Star/The Indianapolis News, Rich Miller )
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Miles Simon drives on Kentucky during the second half in the championship game at the NCAA Final Four Monday, March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Hours after the UA game ended, the celebration still filled 4th Ave., with fans creating a mosh pit in the middle of the intersection in front of Maloney's bar. UA won the NCAA National Championship Title against Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Kentucky coach Rick Pitino has some words with Wayner Turner (5) during the first half against Arizona during the first half of the championship game Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Bennett Davison (21) puts pressure on Kentucky's Scott Padgett, left, as he looks for an opening during the first half of the championship game Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's A.J. Bramlett looks over the extra edition of The Indianapolis Star after they beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship at the NCAA Final Four Monday, March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
UA fans clambored up all the light poles in the intersection of 4th Ave. and 8th St., in front of Maloney's bar, after UA beat UK.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Bennett Davison goes after a loose ball during the first half against Kentucky in the championship game Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Miles Simon hoists the ball aloft as Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the National Championship Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Miles Simon is hugged by a fan after beating Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Miles Simon shoots over Kentucky's Jamaal Magloire in NCAA championship game.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
UA players gather outside their locker room just prior to the start of their NCAA Final Four Championship game against Kentucky in Indianapolis. Some of the players include. Justin Wessel (left), Josh Pastner (foreground), and Miles Simon (right).
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
An Arizona fan holds up a caopy of a special edition of the Indianapolis Star as he celebrates after Arizona's 84-79 overtime win over Kentucky Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
University of Arizona Wildcat basketball fans celebrate Arizona's 84-79 overtime win over Kentucky in the Final Four while cruising the streets in Tucson, Ariz., on Monday, March 31, 1997. (AP Photo/John Miller)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Mike Bibby cuts down the net after the Wildcats defeated Kentucky their third # 1 seed that they knocked off during their championship run.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Eugene Edgerson battles with Kentucky's Ron Mercer, right, as the ball goes flying during the first half of the championship game Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Kentucky's Anthony Epps leaves the court as Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Mike Bibby and Miles Simon give high fives to parade-goers outside Arizona stadium before the pep rally.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Special Edition handout on night of the UA NCAA National Championship Title final four win. April. 1, 1997. UA won against Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Fans flipped over an unmarked police car sitting in front of Maloney's Bar, on 4th Ave. and then used it to stand on and cheer from into the wee hours of the morning. UA won the NCAA National Championship Title against Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Mike Bibby (10) goes up against Kentucky's Jared Prickett, rear, and Nazr Mohammed (13) during the first half of the championship game at the NCAA Final Four Monday, March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
UA students at O'Malleys on 4th avenue agonize during the final moments of the game. UA winning the NCAA National Championship against University of Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Donnell Harris tries to plow through Kentucky's Ron Mercer (left) and Anthony Epps (right) during the final four game in Indianapolis.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Miles Simon and Mike Bibby get a ride following their victory over Kentucky in the NCAA National Championship Title game.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Nazr Mohammed battles UA Eugene Edgerson for a rebound.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Representative Jim Kolbe cheers for UA Cats with college students at O'Malleys bar on 4th avenue. Photo taken 3/31/97.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona Wildcats Jason Terry, left, and A.J. Bramlett, right, wave to fans as they are welcomed home during a parade in Tucson, Ariz., Tuesday, April 1, 1997.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona fans display their colors during the championship game against Kentucky.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
The Arizona team celebrates with the trophy after they beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship at the NCAA Final Four Monday, March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Ed Reinke)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Donnell Harris is congratulated by alumnus Steve Kerr, left, of the Chicago Bulls, left, after Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the national championship Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Kentucky's Jared Prickett (32) and Arizona's Mike Bibby go for a loose ball on an Arizona inbound play during the first half of the championship game at the NCAA Final Four Monday, March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Cliff Schiappa)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Mike Bibby (10) and teammate Donnell Harris (13) battle for the rebound with Kentucky's Jared Prickett, rear late in the second half Monday, March 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona's Miles Simon clutches the game ball as his teammates celebrate as Arizona beat Kentucky 84-79 in overtime to win the National Championship Monday, March. 31, 1997, at the NCAA Final Four tournament in Indianapolis.(AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Arizona’s Mike Bibby (10) goes up against Kentucky’s Jared Prickett, rear, and Nazr Mohammed (13) during the first half of the championship game at the NCAA Final Four Monday, March 31, 1997, in Indianapolis. (AP Photo/Eric Draper)
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Hours after the championship game ended, the celebration was continuing on Fourth Avenue, with fans creating a mosh pit in the middle of the intersection in front of Maloney’s bar.
1997 NCAA Championship: Arizona vs. Kentucky
Updated
Lute Olson earned an invitation to “The Tonight Show,” where Jay Leno handed Olson a can of “Lute Spray.” “You could make a fortune,” Leno told Olson.
Lute and Bobbi Olson
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Lute and Bobbi Olson wave to fans while leaving the court after winning the NCAA National Championship in Indianapolis on March 31, 1997.
Rick Wiley
Photo editor
As featured on
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