Simon cool as ice from free-throw line in clutch

The Associated Press Arizona Daily Wildcat Arizona junior Miles Simon scored a game-high 30 points to lead Arizona to its first-ever national championship last night at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.

"I didn't want to let my teammates down," said Simon, who finished with a game-high 30 points and hit 14 of his 17 free throws. "I just told the guys to get me the ball, and I knew I could hit the late free throws."

The junior guard earned the most valuable player award in both the Southeast Regional Finals and the Final Four, in addition to leading a Wildcat team with nine underclassmen to an NCAA Championship.

"Miles has stepped up for us in every big game. He likes the limelight and is a fantastic leader," UA sophomore center A.J. Bramlett said. "He has had a real high confidence level and that began to rub off on us."

In Arizona's 84-79 overtime win over Kentucky, Simon was the offensive man for the Wildcats. For a six minute span, starting at the 8:00 mark, Simon scored all nine of Arizona's points to keep the defending national champions at bay. His 15 first-half poi nts tripled the next highest Arizona scorer.

During the post-game press conference Simon wore the best kind of neck jewlery. The net which is traditionally cut down by the winning team.

"Miles' understanding of the game is beyond anything that you can teach," UA head coach Lute Olson said. "He can not only penetrate and shoot, but he can also get players up in the air and draw contact.

"His toughness is unbelievable."

When Arizona was fighting against Kentucky's relentless defensive pressure, Simon was constantly asking for the ball and controlling the tempo.

"He's really been our vocal leader," UA sophomore guard Jason Terry said. "And when no one else could score, Miles was saying, 'Give me the ball, they can't guard me.' And they couldn't."

Simon's leadership was best exemplified in the final 40 seconds of overtime, when the junior guard was 4 of 4 from the line to ice the game and the championship.

Simon, who was ruled academically ineligible for the first semester, battled back injuries and illness in the second half of the regular season.

Yet when the tournament came around, Simon elevated his game to another level.

"After all this guy has been through, he still has the poise to lead us," UA freshman forward Eugene Edgerson said. "It is almost like we know that he is going to win the game for us if it is close. And that's what he did tonight."