Skip To Main Content
University of Arizona Athletics

University of Arizona Athletics

Scoreboard

WNIT Champs 1997 NCAA Champs Web Graphic

Men's Basketball Arizona Athletics

Listen to Replays of WNIT and NCAA Tournament Games This Week

TUCSON, Ariz. – Because Arizona fans are the best fans in the country, Learfield IMG and Arizona Athletics have teamed up to offer everyone the chance to catch a free radio rebroadcast of three outstanding games in the history of the men's and women's basketball programs.
 
The games will be broadcast live over the air on 1290 AM in Tucson and available on the TuneIn app. 
 
The three games scheduled for rebroadcast include:
 
March 30 at 6:00 p.m. – replay of the 2019 WNIT Championship Game, presented by Desert Diamond Casinos and Entertainment
- TuneIn Link: https://tunein.com/radio/Womens-Basketball-Championship-Replay-Mar-30-2020-p1309848/
April 3 at 6:00 p.m. – replay of the 1997 NCAA Tournament National Semifinal game vs. North Carolina, presented by Vantage West Credit Union
- TuneIn Link: https://tunein.com/radio/1997-Final-Four-Replay-Apr-3-2020-p1309856/
April 6 at 6:00 p.m. – replay of the 1997 NCAA Tournament National Championship game vs. Kentucky, presented by Shamrock Farms
- TuneIn Link: https://tunein.com/radio/1997-Final-Four-Replay-Apr-6-2020-p1309865/
 (all times listed are MST)
 
It was a poetic end for the Arizona Wildcats' 2018-19 season in the WNIT Championship as Arizona comfortably downed Northwestern 56-42 to claim the title. The Arizona victory came in front of a sold out McKale Center crowd of 14,644, which was a program record as well as the largest crowd in Pac-12 Women's Basketball history. Sophomore Aari McDonald finished with a game-high 19 points, ending her season just shy of 900 points. She paced coach Adia Barnes' team to the title 23 years after Barnes helped guide the Wildcats to a NWIT crown as a player.
 
Cate Reese continued her outstanding play to finish the season as she scored 13 points to go along with nine rebounds. Tee Tee Starks made a pair of three-pointers and scored 12 points with five rebounds. The capacity crowd in McKale Center was the culmination of a frenzied wave of support throughout Tucson during the program's postseason run as over 46,000 fans Arizona's six WNIT home games. Coach Barnes and the Wildcats set their program record for attendance with 10,135 fans in the semifinal win over TCU before eclipsing that with 14,644 three days later.

After the game, McDonald was named WNIT MVP and Reese was named to the WNIT All-Tournament Team.
 
On the men's side, the 1997 national semifinal game against North Carolina saw the Wildcats come away with a 66-58 win at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis on March 29, 1997. Miles Simon scored 24 points to lead Arizona while Mike Bibby added 20 points – including 6-of-11 shooting from long distance. The Tar Heels were led by Vince Carter's 21 points and Antawn Jamison's 18-point, 11-rebound double-double.
 
Against Kentucky in the national championship game in 1997, the Wildcats needed overtime to pull out the 84-79 win to secure the national title for head coach Lute Olson. Miles Simon was named Most Outstanding Player of the Final Four after he tallied 30 points on 14-of-17 shooting at the free throw line. Mike Bibby provided a second scoring punch from the guard position, dropping 19 points and grabbing nine boards in the winning effort. Kentucky had five players score in double figures, led by Scott Padgett's 17 points and Ron Mercer's 13 points, nine rebounds and six assists.

Both men's broadcasts feature Brian Jeffries (play-by-play) and Joe Nehls (analyst).
 
 
Print Friendly Version

Players Mentioned

Aari McDonald

#2 Aari McDonald

G
5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
Cate Reese

#25 Cate Reese

F
6' 2"
Sophomore
Tee Tee Starks

#10 Tee Tee Starks

F
5' 10"
Senior

Players Mentioned

Aari McDonald

#2 Aari McDonald

5' 6"
Redshirt Junior
G
Cate Reese

#25 Cate Reese

6' 2"
Sophomore
F
Tee Tee Starks

#10 Tee Tee Starks

5' 10"
Senior
F
Partners