To celebrate SLAM’s 30th anniversary, we’re spotlighting the 30 most influential men’s college teams from our past 30 years. Stats, records and chips aren’t the main factor here, it’s all about their contribution to the game’s cultural fabric.
For the next 30 days—Monday through Friday— we’ll be unveiling the full list here. We’ve also got an exclusive retro collegiate collection, out now, that pays homage to each squad’s threads. Shop here.
Loaded with five future NBA players, the ‘96-97 Arizona Wildcats embodied the best elements of college basketball. Fashionable comebacks, even flashier kicks. A freshman phenom. Four double-digit scorers. And a storybook ending. They ran through three blue bloods to steal the chip. But expectations at the start of the season weren’t so merry.
The Wildcats were recovering from the loss of four upperclassmen: leading scorer Joseph Blair, rebounding leader Ben Davis and veteran point guard Reggie Geary. But where they lacked experience, they crafted their own trends, spearheaded by freshman Mike Bibby.
“Mike Bibby brought that swag to our team because when he came in, he got the standard issued team shoe, and right away he was like, ‘Ahh, nah. I ain’t wearin’ these,’’ remembers Terry of his introduction to the brash freshman. “He immediately went to the store on campus and bought a pair of Jordans. Then everybody followed and wanted the hottest shoe out. Mike Bibby spearheaded that shoe movement.”
The man behind the scenes was coaching legend Lute Olson. With his trademark silver hair and Armani suits, Olson had next-level swagger. His offensive tactics and defensive plans were poetry in motion, making the most of his talented roster. The roster contained three future NBA stars: Mike Bibby, Miles Simon, and Michael Dickerson, a.k.a The Big Three.
Bibby played with a raw confidence beyond his years. Simon brought infectious energy that electrified the crowd. Dickerson was the hustle king, giving his 110% every minute. Together, they were a three-headed monster, dominating with skills, smarts, and chemistry.
It wasn’t just their popularity that drew fans to the games; it was their electrifying style of play. In a tied contest against the Kansas Jayhawks in the Sweet 16, Arizona’s Miles Simon drove to the basket, drawing the Kansas defense before kicking the ball out to Michael Dickerson, who buried a clutch three-pointer. This shot sent the Wildcats to the Elite Eight and further cemented their loyal fanbase.
In the basketball history books, the Wildcats of 1997 are remembered for their historic championship, where they returned from a 10-point deficit to force a thrilling overtime in Indianapolis. We here at SLAM remember that moment a little differently: the on-court debut of the Nike Foamposite.
Cooked up by the legendary Eric Avar, the polarizing pair of kicks were brought to Bibby and co. to rock in the championship well before Penny Hardaway got to lace them up on the NBA hardwood. Even the folks in Beaverton, OR, recognized the allure surrounding the Wildcats. Despite rocking a slightly brighter shade of blue in contrast to their navy-shaded threads, the Wildcats brought forth a sneaker revolution on the collegiate scene. Team-issued sneaks didn’t have to be the norm. If we’re being honest, Bibby and the Wildcats knocked down the door for the on-foot creativity seen in the college game today.
Their performance on the court truly immortalized the ‘97 Wildcats. Whether it was a last-second buzzer beater against Kentucky made by Mike Bibby or a miraculous comeback when the Wildcats were trailing by double digits against the Providence Friars in the first half and came back to win the game 96-92 in overtime. But it was March where the Wildcats truly cemented their stake in the cultural fabric of collegiate hoops. Entering the tourney as a No. 4 seed, the Cats stormed past three No. 1 seeds to secure the program’s lone NCAA Championship. With a remarkable 25-9 record and an NCAA championship to their name, they left a permanent mark on the NCAA.
“You watch television, read the newspapers, no one had us going anywhere,” Simon said. “But what happened in the past with the University of Arizona has nothing to do with this team.”
Though decades may have passed since their historic championship run, their story continues to inspire and captivate audiences, reminding us of the magic that happens when a group of individuals comes together to achieve the extraordinary.
Photos via Getty Images.
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