April 5, 2004: The 2004 NCAA March Madness championship game. Coming in as the favorite, Arizona came out of the gate slow, making just 2 of their first 10 shots to start the night with Kentucky being better, starting out 6 of 11 for the early double-digit lead. Arizona would, however, limit Kentucky star Erik Daniels to just one of those Kentucky baskets. Both teams continued on an even pace for the rest of the first half, with Kentucky maintaining their lead, albeit it was only 39-31 at the break. But once the second half began, the tide began to shift in favor of Arizona as evidenced by two three-pointers by Salim Stoudamire on back-to-back possessions to start the second half. Arizona would continue to scratch and claw with Kentucky still doing whatever they could to hold their lead. With just 2 minutes left, Kentucky held a 5-point lead when Daniels went up for a layup, but at the last second, Andre Iguodala blocked it, got the rebound to Stoudamire, and just seconds later, Channing Frye hit a 3 to cut the lead to 2. On the next possession, Daniels made just his third basket of the game to make the lead 4 for Kentucky before Iguodala made a layup to once again cut the lead. As we went into the final minute, it was still a 2 point game. With only 47 seconds left, Cliff Hawkins was called for foul on Frye. The foul was very controversial, as Hawkins didn't appear to be holding Frye. Frye made both free throws to tie it up. Kentucky had a chance however on the ensuing possession but could not convert, setting up Arizona with a chance to win it with 20 seconds left. But Kentucky was ready, fouling Hassan Adams with 14 seconds left, Adams would make the first, but miss the second half, giving Arizona their first lead all night. In even better news for Arizona, Iguodala would get an offensive rebound after the second free throw and would be fouled. Iguodala would also go 1-for-2, giving Kentucky once last chance to win it. Then came one of the most controversial moments in NCAA tournament history.
Jim Nantz: "13 seconds left, can Kentucky do it? Daniels dribbling it, 9 seconds, 8, 7, 6, looks like he'll take the last shot with 3, 2, he passes it to Azubuike for the win! (buzzer) He made it, Azubuike made i-
Billy Packer: "They're saying no basket Jim!"
Jim Nantz: "Oh wow, they're gonna have to review this! It looked like he made it live, but you never know. "
Both sides were celebrating as if they won the National Championship. When slowed down, it looked like the ball had just barely left Kelenna Azubuike's hands as the buzzer sounded. But the officials, Dick Cartmell and Randy McCall, after looking at the play for almost 5 minutes, decided that the basket did not count, thus Arizona had won the game and the Championship. As tourament MVP Andre Iguodala and the Wildcats in while celebrated, the Wildcats in blue could only walk off the court in stunned disbelief.