March 31, 1997: Arizona Basketball knocks off Kentucky to win the NCAA Championship
By Mason Duhon
![Lute Olson Lute Olson](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,w_2889,h_1625,x_49,y_228/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/GettyImages/mmsport/201/01htarezcf44zcjf4tf5.jpg)
The 2024 NCAA Tournament window has closed for Arizona Basketball, but that doesn't mean we can't still reminisce. 27 years ago today, No. 4-seeded Arizona summitted the peak and knocked off Kentucky to secure its first and only National Championship in program history.
It was a culmination that not many saw coming, considering Arizona finished in fourth place in the Pac-10 and lost nine games for the first time in 10 years. However, the ensuing postseason run was legendary: three No. 1 seeds and two conference champions all saw their seasons come to an end against the Lute Olson-led Wildcats.