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 in overtime 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 most recent national championship won by the Pac-12 Conference.
Participating teams
Arizona Wildcats
Southeast (4) Arizona 65, (13) South Alabama 57 (4) Arizona 73, (12) College of Charleston 69 (4) Arizona 85, (1) Kansas 82 (4) Arizona 96, (10) Providence 92 Final Four (SE4) Arizona 66, (E1) North Carolina 58
Kentucky Wildcats
West (1) Kentucky 92, (16) Montana 58 (1) Kentucky 75, (8) Iowa 69 (1) Kentucky 83, (4) Saint Joseph's 68 (1) Kentucky 72, (2) Utah 59 Final Four (W1) Kentucky 78, (MW1) Minnesota 69
Starting lineups Arizona Position Kentucky Mike Bibby G Wayne Turner Miles Simon G Anthony Epps Bennett Davison F † Ron Mercer Michael Dickerson F Scott Padgett A. J. Bramlett C Jamaal Magloire†
Game summary
Arizona Statistics Kentucky 22/58 (38%) Field goals 30/72 (42%) 6/13 (46%) 3-pt. field goals 10/30 (33%) 34/41 (83%) Free throws 9/17 (53%) 16 Offensive rebounds 17 27 Defensive rebounds 23 43 Total rebounds 40 12 Assists 18 18 Turnovers 16 7 Steals 9 2 Blocks 7 16 Fouls 29
References