NCAA Tournament 2000

Arizona Wildcats
RECORD: 27-7 COACH: Lute Olson | SEASON RESULTS | SEASON STATS

OUTLOOK

First round: Defeated Jackson State, 71-47

Second round: Lost to Wisconsin, 66-59

From one to five, Arizona could have the most talented team in the nation. Jason Gardner and Gilbert Arenas, despite being freshmen, have shown remarkable maturity and skills seldom seen in such a fresh-faced backcourt.

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Up front, Michael Wright bruises his way to bushels of points and rebounds. He has a strong array of post moves and fights for position as well as anyone in the nation. Richard Jefferson looks like the explosive swingman he was before going down with a stress fracture in his foot in January. The health of center Loren Woods is a concern; when at full strength, he's a great shotblocker and low-post scoring threat.

Luke Walton is a deceptively good passer from the small forward position, freeing Gardner from some of his play-making chores. There isn't much else to the bench due to defections and injury -- Justin Wessel was working himself into the rotation more with Woods injured, but he went down with a sprained ankle and is questionable.

Arizona loves to get out and run, but is capable of executing its offense in the halfcourt as well. Foul trouble at any position will hurt the Wildcats, but especially at point guard. Gardner averaged almost 36 minutes per game this season. -- Greg Collins, ESPN.com

ROSTER

No Name Position Height Weight Class Rebounds Assists Points

- Peter Hansen F - - - - - -
- Russell Harris G - - - - - -
0 Gilbert Arenas G 6-3 191 FR 4.1 2.0 15.2
3 Loren Woods C 7-1 251 JR 7.5 1.5 15.6
4 Luke Walton F 6-8 228 FR 4.0 4.0 5.9
12 Josh Pastner G 5-11 182 SR 0.2 0.1 1.3
15 John Ash G 5-10 177 JR 0.1 0.1 0.3
21 Michael Wright F 6-7 238 SO 8.6 0.6 15.8
22 Jason Gardner G 5-10 178 FR 3.7 4.9 12.9
23 Lamont Frazier G 6-3 182 JR 1.6 0.9 0.6
30 Justin Wessel F 6-8 235 JR 3.2 0.6 3.2
35 Rick Anderson F 6-8 221 SO 2.1 0.9 4.3
44 Richard Jefferson F 6-7 222 SO 4.5 2.9 11.0
54 Robertas Javtokas C 6-10 229 FR 1.2 0.0 0.8

PROBABLE STARTERS

F -- Michael Wright (6-7, So., 15.8 ppg, 8.6 rpg, 0.6 apg)
F -- Luke Walton (6-8 Fr., 5.9, 4.0, 4.0)
C -- Loren Woods (7-0, Jr., 15.6, 7.5, 1.5)
G -- Gilbert Arenas (6-3, Fr., 15.2, 4.1, 2.0)
G -- Jason Gardner (5-10, Fr., 12.9, 3.7, 4.9)

TOP RESERVES

F -- Richard Jefferson (6-7, So., 11.0, 4.5, 3.0)
F -- Rick Anderson (6-8, So., 4.3, 2.1, 0.9)
F -- Justin Wessel (6-8, Jr., 3.2, 3.2, 0.6)

NOTABLE
Seed, Region and Bid: 1, West, Automatic
Total NCAA Tournament Bids: 19
NCAA Tournament Record: 26-17 (.605)
Final Four Appearances: 3 (1997, 1993, 1988)
NCAA Tournament Championships: 1 (1997)
Best NCAA Tournament Finish: National Champions
Final ESPN/USA Today ranking: 4
Final Associated Press ranking: 4
Final Ratings Percentage Index: 3
Final Sagarin Computer Ranking: 6

RECORD VS. RANKED TEAMS
Nov. 26 -- Beat No. 10 Kentucky, 63-51
Dec. 4 -- Beat No. 11 Texas, 88-81
Dec. 7 -- Lost to No. 6 Connecticut, 78-69
Dec. 11 -- Beat No. 5 Michigan St., 79-68
Jan. 8 -- Beat No. 1 Stanford, 68-65
Jan. 20 -- Beat No. 19 UCLA, 76-61
Jan. 29 -- Lost to LSU, 86-60
Feb. 3 -- Beat Oregon, 77-71
Feb. 19 -- Beat UCLA, 99-84
Mar. 4 -- Lost to Oregon, 86-61
Mar. 9 -- Beat No. 3 Stanford, 86-81
(Opponents ranking reflects ranking on game day)

NCAA TOURNAMENT HISTORY
Overall Record: 26-17 (.605)
Final Four Appearances: 3 (1988, 1993, 1997)
NCAA Tournament Championships: 1 (1997)

1999--Fourth seed in Midwest Region
Lost to Oklahoma in first round, 61-60

1998--First seed in West Region
Defeated Nicholls State in first round, 99-60
Defeated Illinois State in second round, 82-49
Defeated Maryland in regional semifinal, 87-79
Lost to Utah in regional final, 76-51

1997--Fourth seed in Southeast Region
Defeated South Alabama in first round, 65-57
Defeated College of Charleston in second round, 73-69
Defeated Kansas in regional semifinal, 85-82
Defeated Providence in regional final, 96-92 (OT)
Defeated North Carolina in National Semifinal, 66-58
Defeated Kentucky in National Championship, 84-79 (OT)

1996--Third seed in West Region
Defeated Valparaiso in first round, 90-51
Defeated Iowa in second round, 87-73
Lost to Kansas in regional semifinal, 83-80

1995--Fifth seed in Midwest Region
Lost to Miami (Ohio) in first round, 71-62

1994--Second seed in West Region
Defeated Loyola (MD) in first round, 81-55
Defeated Virginia in second round, 71-58
Defeated Louisville in regional semifinal, 82-70
Defeated Missouri in regional final, 92-82
Lost to Arkansas in National Semifinal, 91-82

1993--Second seed in West Region
Lost to Santa Clara in first round, 64-61

1992--Third seed in Southeast Region
Lost to East Tennessee State in first round, 87-80

1991--Second seed in West Region
Defeated St. Francis (PA) in first round, 93-80
Defeated Brigham Young in second round, 76-61
Lost to Seton Hall in regional semifinal, 81-77

1990--Second seed in West Region
Defeated South Florida in first round, 79-67
Lost to Alabama in second round, 77-55

1989--First seed in West Region
Defeated Robert Morris in first round, 94-60
Defeated Clemson in second round, 94-68
Lost to UNLV in regional final, 68-67

1988--First seed in West Region
Defeated Cornell in first round, 90-50
Defeated Seton Hall in second round, 84-55
Defeated Iowa in regional semifinal, 99-79
Defeated North Carolina in regional final, 70-52
Lost to Oklahoma in National Semifinal, 86-78

1987--Tenth seed in West Region
Lost to Texas-El Paso in first round, 98-91 (OT)

1986--Ninth seed in West Region
Lost to Auburn in first round, 73-63

1985--Tenth seed in West Region
Lost to Alabama in first round, 50-41

1977--Midwest Region
Lost to Southern Illinois in first round, 81-77

1976--West Region
Defeated Georgetown in first round, 83-76
Defeated UNLV in regional semifinal, 114-109 (OT)
Lost to UCLA in regional final, 82-66

1951--West Region
Lost to Kansas State in first round, 61-59

Record by Region:
in East: 0-0 (.000)
in South/Southeast: 6-1 (.857)
In Midwest: 0-3 (.000)
In West: 19-13 (.594)

Record by Seed:
As a 1st seed: 9-3 (.750)
As a 2nd seed: 7-4 (.636)
As a 3rd seed: 2-2 (.500)
As a 4th seed: 6-1 (.857)
As a 5th seed: 0-1 (.000)
As a 9th seed: 0-1 (.000)
As a 10th seed: 0-1 (.000)


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