Arizona makes an emotional appeal

Steve Addy

Monday, April 2, 2001 | 10:33 a.m.

MINNEAPOLIS -- There is no way to miss the billboard just outside the Metrodome. It contains a small Arizona logo and a simple two-word message: "Four Bobbi."

The message is just as plain to Arizona fans. As long as Lute Olson and his Wildcats are here in the Final Four, they're playing in the name and honor of Bobbi Olson, the coach's wife who died of ovarian cancer on New Year's day.

If the NCAA Tournament were scripted, there is no doubt that Arizona would beat Duke in the championship game tonight. The Wildcats have been on a sentimental journey to that goal for all 24 games since Bobbi's death, and a lot of well-meaning people are rooting them on.

But it's a dicey thing, this uneasy mixing of sports, death and motivation.

While Olson has spoken sincerely in his appreciation of others' sympathy, he has grown somewhat weary of the topic, and so have his players.

"Everyone knows that this season has been dedicated to Mrs. Olson," forward Richard Jefferson said. "But we've been talking about it for a long time."

It's not that they aren't holding tightly to memories of Bobbi, her famous apple pancakes, her 47-year marriage to Lute and her den-mother love for every Wildcat, great and small. It's just that they don't want to cheapen her life by appearing to mine her death for garden-variety motivation.

Yes, she's on their minds and in their hearts. But Olson and his players stepped lightly around the idea of "winning it for Bobbi" as they prepared for practice here Sunday.

"We want to win. It is as simple as that," forward Eugene Edgerson said. "I'm sure that somewhere during the game, all the hardships that we've had to endure will pop up in everyone's minds. But it's hard say to how you'll feel until the buzzer goes off at the end of the game."

Olson said, "It's obvious that if I allowed myself, I would probably be more exhausted than I've ever been in any of my years in coaching. But I don't feel exhausted now. I am excited about the opportunity to play (tonight).

"There have been some difficult times along the way which I think have been documented enough. But I think when you have a chance to play for the national title, it's a special situation."

Getting to that place hasn't been easy, emotionally or basketball-wise. The Wildcats are facing their third straight No. 1 seed of the tournament, and they've already knocked out Illinois and Michigan State. The only other team to beat three No. 1s en route to the title? Arizona, 1997.

But despite the Wildcats' 21-3 record since Bobbi's death and 18-2 mark since Olson returned to the team Jan. 18, players say there have been times when they surmised he wanted -- needed -- a laugh or a hug.

"When he came back, it took him a while to adjust to it," forward Michael Wright said. "Even when he was getting on us in practice, he wasn't like the same coach Olson. It's kind of strange when a strong person like him needs a boost, but we gave it to him. We're a family.

"When we beat Illinois and were going to the Final Four, everybody was happy, but we also knew something was missing, and that was coach Olson's wife. She had always been at every game."

The court at the McKale Center at Arizona was named Lute and Bobbi Olson Court at midseason, an honor that brought tears to the stoic, upright Olson. But raising another championship banner above that court would be so special that, well, it's hard to root against the Wildcats.

"That's the goal of every person in our locker room," Jefferson declared.

The trouble is, the game between top-ranked Duke (34-4) and Arizona (28-7) is a virtual toss-up. Both teams were No. 1 in various preseason polls, with Arizona falling from the top spot after a loss to Purdue in its fourth game. The Wildcats finished at No. 5.

"It's fitting that the two best teams are meeting for the national championship," Duke senior forward Shane Battier said. "The true champions should have to beat the best teams."

The Blue Devils are going for their first national title since winning back-to-back in 1991 and '92.

Arizona is intent on repeating its feat of 1997 when it beat three No. 1 seeds -- Kansas, North Carolina and Kentucky -- to win its first title.

"I think it's something that should be done," Olson said. "If you are going to win the thing, you should have to go through the best teams to do it."