{"product_id":"arizona-wildcats-1996-1997-away","title":"Arizona Wildcats 1996-1997 Away","description":"\u003cp\u003eLute Olson's 1996-1997 Arizona Wildcats team was loaded with 5 future NBA players.  The biggest addition to the U of A program was freshman phenom, Mike Bibby.  Bibby teamed with Miles Simon to give Arizona the best 1-2 backcourt punch in the nation.  Add Jason Terry, Michael Dickerson and AJ Bramlett to the mix and you start to understand why expectations were high in Tucson.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA win over #7 UNC to start the season and another win over #3 Utah was a sign of things to come.  However, the Wildcats lost their last two regular season games to finish 11-7 in the Pac 10, good for 5th place.  Not the kind of momentum Olson wanted heading into the NCAA Tournament.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eArizona was given the #4 seed in the Southeast Region where they took care of South Alabama before pulling out a tough, 73-69 win against College of Charleston to make the Sweet 16.  Waiting for them was the #1 overall seed Kansas Jayhawks and their star Paul Pierce. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eWhile U of A had no answers for \"The Truth\", Kansas had no answer for Zona's 3 headed monster of Simon, Bibby and Dickerson who proved to be too much for the Jayhawks, 85-82.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA 30 point effort from Miles Simon led Arizona over a God Shammgod led Providence team in OT to put the Wildcats in the Final Four.  In the Final Four North Carolina became the second #1 seed to fall to Arizona, 66-58.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLute Olson was now one win away from his first and the schools first National Championship.  The only thing standing in their way was another #1 seed and college basketball blue blood Kentucky.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eLooking to go back to back for the first time since UCLA in '70s, UK put up a good fight taking Arizona to OT before Simon and Co. were able to pull away, winning 84-79.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\"At the end of that game, I wanted to keep that ball forever.  I had it overnight.  Then when we got on the plane the next day, Coach Olson asked who had the ball and I gave it to the rightful owner which was him.\" -Miles Simon\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eModern Standard-Length Fit\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eMaterial: Double Ply 100% Pro Aero Mesh\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eHemmed Pockets at Both Sides \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eElastic Waistband with Drawstring \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSublimated Team Graphics \u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eOfficially Licensed \u003cbr\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAll Designs are trademarks of SLAM Media Inc\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"Arizona","offers":[{"title":"Navy \/ S","offer_id":50630817939756,"sku":"ARZ-B1-10706-1","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Navy \/ M","offer_id":50630817972524,"sku":"ARZ-B1-10706-2","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Navy \/ L","offer_id":50630818005292,"sku":"ARZ-B1-10706-3","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Navy \/ XL","offer_id":50630818038060,"sku":"ARZ-B1-10706-4","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true},{"title":"Navy \/ XXL","offer_id":50630818070828,"sku":"ARZ-B1-10706-5","price":35.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0871\/8624\/3884\/files\/arizona-wildcats-1996-1997-away-702123.jpg?v=1748975516","url":"https:\/\/slam-wholesale.myshopify.com\/products\/arizona-wildcats-1996-1997-away","provider":"SLAM Wholesale","version":"1.0","type":"link"}