Rating every Arizona men’s basketball Final Four uniform

Needless to say, a lot has changed over the last 25-plus years, including basketball uniforms. Here are our critiques of Arizona’s Final Four getups over the years. 

1997

When you think of peak Arizona men’s basketball, you probably think of the year 1997. That’s the year the Wildcats became national champions, after all. Much like today, their roster was stacked with valuable players. Back then, it was Miles Simon, Mike Bibby, Jason Terry and Josh Pastner. During the 1997 Final Four game against the North Carolina Tar Heels, the Wildcats rocked the navy blues adorned with the classic “Arizona” in red and white.

Their shorts, however, might just be the best part of the ensemble. The deep blue shorts are broken up by a solid white vertical stripe along the sides with “CATS” written in red. A navy blue stripe within the bottom edge of the shorts completes the look. The overall fit of the uniform is baggy, but hey, it was the '90s. Were you even fresh if you weren’t rocking baggy shorts and Nike Foamposites? We’re looking at you, Mike Bibby.

Is placing the ’97 uniforms atop the list the most eye-rolling, obvious choice? Maybe. But we can’t help but love the uniforms that ultimately led the Wildcats to take home their first national championship.

2001

You know what they say, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. And the Wildcats did just that for their 2001 Final Four appearance, rocking the same style of uniform from just four years earlier. This time, a few new faces wore these uniforms, such as Richard Jefferson, Gilbert Arenas, Jason Gardner, Luke Walton and Loren Woods. After taking down Michigan State in the Final Four in these uniforms, Arizona advanced to the national championship, where the Wildcats ultimately fell to Duke. 

Could the navy blue uniforms be the secret to advancing past the Final Four? Only time will tell.

1988

When the Wildcats fell to Oklahoma in their first Final Four in 1988, they did so in style. Much like the years to come, Arizona wore blue. But the style of the uniform was much different. The ensemble was more fitted and shorter compared to the uniforms of the late ’90s and early 2000s. The uniforms incorporated a lot more red, including a red stripe toward the bottom of the shorts and less white. “CATS” was still included in the overall look, but instead of the font being placed vertically, “CATS” was written horizontally. We enjoy the look of the letterman-style font, too. However, one of the best touches of the uniform was the white crew socks adorned with “CATS” embroidered on each side. Some of the players who donned these uniforms during the ’88 Final Four were Sean Elliott and Steve Kerr, who went on to become Arizona legends.

1994

After going blue in their first Final Four run in 1988, the Wildcats switched it up and went red in 1994. Did the red bring any extra luck to the Wildcats? It doesn’t appear so. Arizona ended up falling to Arkansas in this Final Four. What we love about their red ensemble is that it’s a flipped colorway of the navy blue uniforms. Instead of red font, it was blue, including the “CATS” on the shorts. Our only gripe with the red uniforms is that we would’ve loved to see a white stripe at the bottom of the shorts to match the white border on the jersey, giving the whole uniform a cohesive look. But that’s us really nitpicking at the uniform. Wildcats who sported these uniforms included Reggie Geary, Damon Stoudamire and Joseph Blair.

2026

The Wildcats are breaking out of their colorful mold for their first Final Four in the last quarter-century. This game, they’re going with the uniforms that led them to the Final Four to begin with: the classic whites. These uniforms are sleek, clean and have the perfect touch of color with red stripes and navy font. Plus, they sway pretty nicely when you have players like Koa Peat dunking in them. This uniform could become a new Arizona fan favorite depending on the result of Saturday’s game.

What is your favorite Final Four uniform? Share your thoughts at everdugo@tucson.com.