National Bobblehead Hall of Fame releases ’97 Wildcats bobblehead
Mar 1, 2017, 3:00 PM
It’s been 20 years since head coach Lute Olson’s 1996-97 Arizona Wildcats, featuring Michael Dickerson, Miles Simon, Mike Bibby and Jason Terry, won the national championship, and they are still being celebrated.
The Wildcats were one of 10 national championship teams honored Wednesday by the National Bobblehead Hall of Fame and Museum with commemorative bobbleheads.
The bobbleheads feature Arizona mascot Wilbur T. Wildcat standing on an Arizona “A” next to the NCAA National Championship trophy.
There are 216 bobbleheads available for $40 plus $8 shipping from the National Bobblehead HOF and Mueseum’s website.
The Wildcats entered the NCAA Tournament as the No. 4 seed in the Southeast Region following a 25-9 regular season, which saw them finish as the 15th-ranked school in the country.
Olson’s squad would go on to upset three No. 1 seeds in Kansas in the Sweet 16, North Carolina in the Final Four and Kentucky in the National Championship game. They remain the only team to accomplish such a feat since the introduction of the 64-team bracket in 1985.
Along the way, the Wildcats eliminated future NBA All-Stars in North Carolina forwards Vince Carter and Antawn Jamison, Kansas forward Paul Pierce and Kentucky center Jamaal Magloire.
Junior guard Simon was named the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player and finished with 30 points in the decisive 84-79 overtime win over Kentucky. Freshman guard Bibby added 19 points, nine rebounds and four assists to help the Wildcats clinch their first National Championship.
The other championship squads honored with their own commemorative bobbleheads include the 2002-03 Syracuse Orange, 1993-94 Arkansas Razorbacks, 1983-84 Georgetown Hoyas, 1976-77 Marquette Golden Eagles, 1959-60 Ohio State Buckeyes, 1958-59 California Golden Bears, 1943-44 Utah Utes, 1940-41 Wisconsin Badgers and 1938-39 Oregon Ducks.
