There are a handful of unique teams that have forever ingrained themselves into the lore of a school’s history.
The 1997 Arizona Men’s Basketball National Championship squad is one of them. The first and only national title in program history.
Guys like Mike Bibby, Jason Terry, & Most Outstanding Player Miles Simon – led by legendary head coach Lute Olson – created a whole new generation of passionate Wildcats.
Not one player on the roster ever has to buy a cup of coffee in Tucson again.
For Simon and AJ Bramlett: “This is home.”
Celebrating 30 years since 1997 @ArizonaMBB won the National Championship🏆
Today, the legendary Wildcats are being honored at the Red-Blue Showcase.
Miles Simon & AJ Bramlett spoke on the love they both still receive every day in Tucson❤️💙@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/ZzGFgPX8OF
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 26, 2026
They both even made comparisons between Olson and current Wildcats head coach, Tommy Lloyd.
Miles Simon & AJ Bramlett gave the ultimate respect to current head coach Tommy Lloyd by drawing comparisons between him & their 1997 championship head coach Lute Olson.
They spoke on what they love about the direction Lloyd is taking their beloved program🤝 pic.twitter.com/EoSugTX1ts
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 26, 2026
Throughout the showcase, Lloyd made it abundantly clear that the day’s highest priority was celebrating the historic ’97 team.
The current student-athletes got a ton of love throughout the evening, especially those that were part of last year’s Final Four run.
Highly touted freshman Caleb Holt also got a big reaction from the crowd.
#Arizona Men’s Basketball introduces Caleb Holt & Bryce James to the Tucson faithful , the love is real.@Sports360AZ | @ArizonaMBB pic.twitter.com/rqhpzVCFJN
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 26, 2026
In the dunk contest, a familiar face in Millennium’s Cameron Holmes took home the crown:
Cameron Holmes is your dunk contest winner! pic.twitter.com/EouRMvZV5p
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 26, 2026
Oh, and Dalen Terry came back home just to dunk over Simons and Bibby.
Dalen Terry dunks over Mike Bibby & Miles Simon… he clipped Bibby on the head…so Bibby chased Terry down😂😂@Sports360AZ pic.twitter.com/3EVjY191SG
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 26, 2026
An exciting day in Tucson, capped by the Red-Blue scrimmage that showed talent across the board for the 2026-27 Wildcats.
Season tips off with an exhibition at McKale against University of San Francisco on October 13 at 7 PM.
Bryce James with a smooth midrange jumper in #Arizona’s Red-Blue showcase:@Sports360AZ | @ArizonaMBB pic.twitter.com/bxCvOhBtOK
— Eliav Gabay (@eliavgabay) September 26, 2026
