Former Arizona legend Mike Bibby is calling it as he sees it: the Wildcats’ Final Four showdown with Michigan isn’t just another game … it’s the game.

Bibby — who cut down the nets as a player when U of A won it all in 1997 — didn’t sugarcoat it when TMZ Sports caught up with him ahead of tip-off … saying the showdown is basically the real national championship.

“I think those are the two best teams in college sports and college basketball,” Bibby told us. “And I mean, they showed it all year, and now it’s going to — I think it’s going to be a hell of a fight out there.”

Still, Bibby’s keeping it old-school with his advice to his alma mater … he told us the Wildcats need to stay locked in and not expect anything — because that’s when things get tight.

“Hate to sound cliché, but you got to take it game by game and just go out there and get there first,” Bibby says. “You know what I mean? And I think it’s going to be a tough game for them.”

And while he’s obviously riding with Arizona, Bibby made it clear this one’s gonna be a war … calling it a “hell of a fight” with no easy buckets in sight.

“I want Arizona to come on top, of course, but I mean, I think it’s going to be a good game otherwise,” the 14-year NBA vet tells us.

We also talked with Bibby about his current role as head coach at Sac State, which has him working side-by-side with Shaquille O’Neal.