Most readers back sportswriter’s selection

Editor’s note: For the past month, Citizen Sportswriter Steve Rivera has pitted UA’s last 24 NCAA Tournament teams against each other in a mock “Zona Madness” bracket on our Web site. Two remain.

His championship game features the 1997 NCAA title team against the 2001 runner-up.

Josh Pastner believes a last-second shot or quadruple overtime would decide a hypothetical NCAA title game between Arizona’s 1997 and 2001 teams.

No doubt both basketball squads were talented, the UA assistant coach says.

Pastner was a redshirt freshman in 1997 when UA downed Kentucky 84-79 in overtime for the title and an undergrad assistant for Arizona’s 2001 team that fell to Duke 82-72 in the finals.

The 1996-97 squad entered the season ranked No. 19 and hadn’t won six straight games all season, until the end. It was led by guards Mike Bibby and Miles Simon.

“In 1997, we played so well in March,” Pastner said. “Remember that we beat Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky – three No. 1 seeds.”

The 2000-01 team entered the season ranked No. 1 and struggled early, starting 5-3. But it won 11 straight at the end before falling to Duke in the NCAA title game.

“All I know is that someone (on either team) would have hit the big shot to win it,” said Pastner, being diplomatic about the team he would pick.

Former teammate Justin Wessel said the 2001 squad – featuring future NBA players Gilbert Arenas, Richard Jefferson and Loren Woods – would prevail, although he threw in a caveat.

“The 2001 team would win that game, unless it was played that month of March in 1997,” Wessel says, figuring a time warp would be needed. “Whomever we played in March 1997, we would have beaten them. They wouldn’t have had any chance.”

Wessel was a redshirt freshman in 1997 and a senior player in 2001, joining Gene Edgerson as the only two players to have suited up for two UA Final Fours.

“The first time (1997), many guys hadn’t been there before, so it felt like a joy ride, like being in a movie,” Wessel said.

“In my senior year, because of all the things we went through – from Loren Woods being suspended (for the first month), to Bobbi (Olson) passing away – it gave us a way different feeling.”

And enough fortitude to reach the finals.

The 2001 squad, with future NBA player Luke Walton and Edgerson coming of the bench, would have worn down the 1997 team because of its rebounding ability with Woods, Jefferson and Michael Wright.

Also, the 2001 team would have defended the perimeter, frustrating Bibby and Simon.

My pick: The 2001 squad 80, the 1997 team 72.

For what it’s worth, our online readers agreed with me, as 76 percent picked 2001 to win. But what do you think?

Steve Rivera’s e-mail: srivera@tucsoncitizen.com

———

ZONE MADNESS

Go to Zona Madness and look at how the 24 teams were seeded and the outcome of each round. Through the magic of brackets, one team emerged as the best.

———

TALE OF THE TAPE

1997 2001

25-9 Overall 28-8

11-7, 5th Pac-10 15-3, 2nd

NCAA title Outcome NCAA runner-up

LINEUP

Michael Dickerson Forward Richard Jefferson

Bennett Davison Forward Michael Wright

A.J. Bramlett Center Loren Woods

Miles Simon Guard Gilbert Arenas

Mike Bibby Guard Jason Gardner

Dickerson, 18.9 Top scorer Arenas, 16.6

Bramlett, 7.4 Top rebounder Wright, 7.8

———

HOW THEY REACHED THE MOCK FINALS
> No. 1 seed 1997 team beat UA’s 1992, 2005 and 1998 squads.

> No. 2 seed 2001 squad defeated UA’s 1999, 2003 and 1988 teams.

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