1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball championship game
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 [1996–97 1996–97 Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky Wildcats men's basketball team|Kentucky] versus the Southeast Regional Champion, #4-seeded [1996–97 1996–97 Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team|Arizona Wildcats men's basketball team|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
- * Arizona 65, South Alabama 57
- * Arizona 73, College of Charleston 69
- * Arizona 85, Kansas 82
- * Arizona 96, Providence 92
- Final Four
- * Arizona 66, North Carolina 58
Kentucky Wildcats
- West
- * Kentucky 92, Montana 58
- * Kentucky 75, Iowa 69
- * Kentucky 83, Saint Joseph's 68
- * Kentucky 72, Utah 59
- Final Four
- * Kentucky 78, Minnesota 69