TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — A Tucson man who stood on the court during the University of Arizona men’s basketball team’s historic 1997 national championship win is heading to Indianapolis to see if the Wildcats can do it again.
Kirk Sibley was the university's mascot when the Wildcats won their only national championship nearly 30 years ago.
"It's just been this amazing gift of a lifetime, you know, opportunity. It changed everything. It set my entire view of myself, possibilities, goals, like in a different direction and gave me this real galvanized sense of self-belief and it's just been awesome to have," Sibley said.
Now, he is flying to Indianapolis Friday and staying just blocks away from the stadium to be part of what he calls a once-in-a-lifetime moment.
"It’s U of A, it’s Final Four, you know, sell the house, we’re going," Sibley said.
For the Tucson native, the moment feels almost unreal.
"I wake up, and I'm like, is this a dream. I'm like, I don't care if I have to drive, you know, hitchhike, whatever it is, I'm going to Indianapolis. I don't care. We're going," Sibley said.
Sibley recalled the feeling of being on the court during the 1997 championship.
"And the whole place just exploded, right, and then I went numb. I don't think that I could really comprehend--I think it exploded. It went quiet. I went numb. I don't even think we realized what we had done," Sibley said.
After Arizona’s recent win to advance to the Final Four, Sibley did not hesitate to make travel plans.
"Last five minutes of the game, I was like, I need to get my phone out and start looking at things. And as soon as we hit, I was on the phone, I was dialing, I was making reservations, whatever was left. Fortunately, because the team--that other team had been losing, stuff that wasn't previously available, and I had been looking, started freeing up because people cancel," Sibley said.
The former mascot makes no apologies for being completely distracted by the team's current run.
"My mind is 100% focused on this, but, you know, it's once in 25 [29] years. Give me a break, right?" Sibley said.
For Sibley, this run is about more than basketball; it is about Tucson.
"And the community is just as part of the experience and entitled to be part of that experience as anybody that's on the team, that's on the staff, that was myself or anybody that was connected to the program, or just students that were just attending. Like, it's for everybody," Sibley said.
Sibley said he watched Arizona's Elite Eight win to advance to the Final Four with Greg and Stacey Olsen, and says the family was appreciative and emotional when coach Tommy Lloyd paid tribute to the late Lute Olsen.
"There's a good looking guy with white hair looking down on us right now that's happy," said Tommy Lloyd on March 28, 2026, following Arizona's Elite Eight win over Purdue.
"The fact that was the first thing that he wanted to get out of his mind meant that's the narrative in his mind all the time. That's what he's thinking, connecting those dots, taking that heritage that we have, making it proud. And I cried--I did, because I'm like, he didn't have to say that and he did any how, and it was perfect," Sibley said.
Thanks to Lloyd, Sibley already knows what he's wearing to Saturday's game.
"I have a shirt made with that quote. I'm going to wear it up in Indianapolis. I already have it printed. I pick it up in two days. I spent twice as much as I should have, but who cares? That was the most meaningful quote I've heard in a really long time," said Sibley.
Sibley described the full-circle moment from Tucson to Indianapolis as meaning everything.
"This has just been the icing on the cake, it's unbelievable," Sibley said.
This story was reported on-air by a journalist and has been converted to this platform with the assistance of AI. Our editorial team verifies all reporting on all platforms for fairness and accuracy.
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Jacqueline Aguilar is a multimedia journalist at KGUN 9. Born and raised in Yuma, AZ., she is no stranger to the unforgiving Arizona heat. Now this U of A wildcat is excited to be back in Tucson and is looking forward to involving herself in the community. Share your story ideas with Jacqueline by emailing jacqueline.aguilar@kgun9.com or connecting on Facebook, Instagram or X.
