Sidelines

However, the team won't look very different on the surface thanks to the fact that the two current assistant coaches will still be on staff.

Bill Ryden was officially selected as next year's new head coach during the team's last home meet. And choreographer and former gymnast Karen Tierney was just selected to take on Ryden's current position as full-time assistant coach starting this summer.

Tierney competed for UA from 1992-96. During her career, she excelled on the beam and the floor, recording career highs of 9.90 in both events.

During her junior year, Tierney had already set her all-around record of 39.175 when she tore her ACL at the Cat Classic Invitational, causing her to miss the remainder of the season.

Following the end of her eligibility, Tierney stayed on with the team as a volunteer assistant coach for her final academic year.

"I am so excited and grateful to Bill (Ryden) and Mr. Gault for giving me this opportunity," Tierney said. "I'm just going to do my best to help continue the program's tradition."

Briefly

The UA basketball team may not have defended its title this year but memories of last year's NCAA Championship win still linger throughout the town. Though the Wildcats can't remain reigning champs forever, their moment of glory can be eternally preserved by the hands of the coach who led them there - literally. For anyone who might have a cool $1,500 to spare, you can own the hands of Arizona's own Lute Olson holding a basketball signed by the entire 1997 National Championship team. Olson's hands have been bronzed in a limited special edition trophy commemorating the history-making performance of his 1997 team. Only 25 of the trophies created through a joint project between the UA athletic department and Flandrau Science Center will be sold. The proceeds from the sales will benefit the Wildcat Scholarship Fund and the Flandrau Science Center.

By the Numbers

0:

The number of points scored by the UA men's basketball team in last night's title game.