![[ SPORTS ]](/images/sports97.gif)
Arizona Summer Wildcat August 6, 1997
Wildcat duo receive preseason kudos
![[photograph]](10_1_i.gif)
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Miles Simon & Mike Bibby
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University of Arizona senior Miles Simon and sophomore Mike Bibby were named 1997-98 preseason candidates for the John R. Wooden All-America and Player of the Year Award.
Simon led the Wildcats to their first ever national championship last year and was named the Final Four's Most Valuable Player. He averaged 18.4 points, 4.2 assists and 4.1 rebounds per game last season.
Bibby was the only sophomore named to the list of 25 candidates. The rest are juniors and seniors. Last season Bibby averaged 13.5 points and 5.2 assists per game at point guard. He was named the Pacific 10 Conference and Basketball Weekly's Freshman of t he Year at the end of last season.
Arizona, Kansas and UCLA were the only schools with more than one player on the list. Toby Bailey and Jelani McCoy were the two Bruins who were nominated.
Players who are preseason candidates for the Wooden Award are now eligible for the 10-man All-American team, as well as National Player of the Year, which will be announced on April 3, 1998.
Damon Stoudamire, now with the NBA's Toronto Raptors, was the last Wildcat to be named to the preseason Wooden Award list in 1994-95. He went on to garner All-American honors that season.
