Back then the top eight teams advanced to the finals site and then the rest of the Final 16 was determined by regionals around the country. The Rebels were the No. 2 overall seed that year, while UC Santa Barbara beat Washington and Pepperdine 4-1 in a regional to set up the round of 16 meeting.
Senior Ricardo Jorge was just a toddler and freshman Tim Sandkaulen wasn't even born yet, when the Rebels downed the Gauchos 4-0 in the Sweet Sixteen in 1997 on their way to the second of four Final Four appearances.
Led by All-Americans Johan Hede, Sebastien DeChaunac and Johan Landsberg at the top of the lineup, the Rebels downed the Gauchos 4-0.