Arizona Basketball

Simon’s 65-foot winning bank shot vs. Cincy 19 years ago today voted Arizona Wildcats best play

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Jason Terry and A.J. Bramlett celebrate with Miles Simon after Simon banked in a 65-foot shot to beat Cincinnati 19 years ago today (YouTube video screen shot)

Jason Terry and A.J. Bramlett celebrate with Miles Simon after Simon banked in a 65-foot shot to beat Cincinnati 19 years ago today (YouTube video screen shot)

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Today marks the 19th anniversary of Miles Simon’s 65-foot bank shot at the buzzer that beat Cincinnati in the 7-Up Classic at Phoenix.

It’s a fitting day that we announce the winner of Arizona’s Best Play Bracket — Simon’s miraculous heave that enabled Lute Olson to win his 500th game as a head coach.

The play topped that of Derrick Williams’ game saving blocked shot in 2011 against Washington in a vote among readers. The matchup came about as part of a 26-play bracket published at this site before this season started.

Simon was only three for 11 from the field until his circus shot, which followed a Cincinnati inbounds pass with 3.8 seconds left that Danny Fortson couldn’t handle. Simon got credit for a steal when he picked up the loose ball at the top of the Bearcats’ free-throw circle, took one dribble and heaved it with two hands.

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“I’m not lying. When the shot went up, I sat down and put my hands in the air — I knew it was going in,” teammate Ben Davis told reporters after the game.

“I shot it off one foot, but I was on balance,” Simon was quoted as saying by the Los Angeles Times afterward. “I didn’t just heave it up; I tried to make the shot.”

Simon, now an ESPN college basketball analyst, was a commentator during the West Virginia-Oklahoma game last week. This Twitter conversation followed between me and Simon:

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ARIZONA’S TOP PLAYS LISTED IN THE BEST PLAY BRACKET

Derrick Williams’ no-look, three-point play beats Texas in 2011 NCAA tourney
— Determined Jason Terry upsets No. 3 Stanford with shot in the lane in waning seconds of 1999 thriller at McKale Center.
Mark Lyons’ driving, one-handed shot in the waning seconds against No. 5 Florida in 2012 gives Sean Miller a signature victory.
Nic Wise’s game-winning last-second shot in double-overtime against USC in 2010 puts satisfying cap to tumultuous career.
Richard Jefferson’s tap-in at the buzzer off Jason Terry’s missed three-pointer beats Washington in 1999.
Loren Woods’ three blocked shots in succession — like rapid fire, one after the other within a five-second span — against Oregon in 2000.
Michael Wright’s shot in the lane with three seconds left topples No. 1 Stanford at Maples Pavilion in 2001.
Eddie Smith’s game-winning three-point play with two seconds left caps a furious last-minute rally at ASU in 1985.
Eddie Smith’s bank shot at the buzzer beats ASU 65-64 in Tempe in 1984 and sets Lute Olson’s dominant program in motion.
Salim Stoudamire’s jumper with six-tenths of a second left beats ASU in Tempe in 2005.
Nick Johnson gives Arizona fans Christmas Day gift with game-saving blocked shot against San Diego State in 2012.
MoMo Jones’ 16-foot bank shot at the buzzer in 2010 adds to New York flavor of Arizona winning shots at Stanford’s Maples Pavilion.
Chris Mills’ buzzer-beating jumper in regulation gives Arizona life in its 105-94 overtime victory over UCLA in 1991.
Kenny Lofton’s behind-the-back, double-pump dunk caps rout of Oregon in 1988, ranks as one of college hoops’ best dunks of that season.
Salim Stoudamire’s game-winning long-distance three-pointer downs UCLA in 2005.
Derrick Williams’ emphatic blocked shot against Washington in 2011 saves game for Arizona.
Khalid Reeves’ coast-to-coast game-winner with less the five seconds left beats Stanford at Maples Pavilion in 1992.
Steve Kerr’s first shot after father’s assassination in 1984, a 25-foot jumper against ASU, gives him hero status in Tucson and contributes to Arizona’s emergence in the Pac-10.
Sean Rooks’ last-second bank shot at Stanford in 1991 gives the Wildcats a 78-76 victory.
Salim Stoudamire’s game-winning jumper against Oklahoma State in the 2005 Sweet 16.
Sean Elliott’s free throw breaks Lew Alcindor’s conference scoring record in 1989.
Craig McMillan’s McClutch shot at the buzzer from full-court pass from Steve Kerr against Oregon State in 1986.
— Arizona 6-10 center Bob Elliott’s 35-foot jumper at the buzzer beats Kansas State in 1973.
Sean Elliott downs Duke with three-pointer over Danny Ferry in last minute in 1989.
Miles Simon’s 65-foot bank shot as time expired to beat Cincinnati in Phoenix in 1996.
Tom Tolbert’s no-look, twisting shot against North Carolina in the 1988 Elite Eight.

ALLSPORTSTUCSON.com publisher, writer and editor Javier Morales is a former Arizona Press Club award winner. He has written articles for Bleacher Report and Lindy’s College Sports.

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