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1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

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(Redirected from 1996-97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season) Basketball season
1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1Cincinnati
Regular seasonNovember 1996 –
March 1997
NCAA Tournament1997
Tournament datesMarch 13 – 31, 1997
National ChampionshipRCA Dome
Indianapolis, Indiana
NCAA ChampionsArizona Wildcats
Other championsMichigan Wolverines (Vacated) (NIT)
Player of the Year
(Naismith, Wooden)		Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
← 1995–96 1997–98 →

The 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1996 and concluded in the 64-team 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, whose finals were held at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana. The Arizona Wildcats earned their first national championship by defeating the Kentucky Wildcats 84–79 on March 31, 1997. They were coached by Lute Olsen, and the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player was Arizona's Miles Simon.

In the 32-team 1997 National Invitation Tournament, the Michigan Wolverines defeated the Florida State Seminoles at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Michigan later vacated the 1997 NIT title after the NCAA ruled that players Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock were ineligible.

Following the season, the 1997 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American Consensus First Team included Tim Duncan, Danny Fortson, Raef LaFrentz, Ron Mercer, and Keith Van Horn.

Season headlines

Pre-season polls

The top 25 from the pre-season AP Poll.

Associated Press
Ranking Team
1 Cincinnati
2 Kansas
3 Kentucky
4 Wake Forest
5 UCLA
6 Utah
7 Villanova
8 North Carolina
9 Michigan
10 Duke
11 Iowa State
12 Syracuse
13 Arkansas
14 Fresno State
15 Massachusetts
16 Texas
17 New Mexico
18 Stanford
19 Arizona
20 Clemson
21 Boston College
22 Minnesota
23 Iowa
24 George Washington
25 Marquette

Conference membership changes

These schools joined new conferences for the 1996–97 season.

School Former conference New conference
Baylor Bears Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference
Boise State Broncos Big Sky Conference Big West Conference
Cal Poly Mustangs American West Conference Big West Conference
Cal State Northridge Matadors American West Conference Big Sky Conference
Colorado Buffaloes Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Eastern Illinois Panthers Mid-Continent Conference Ohio Valley Conference
Houston Cougars Southwest Conference Conference USA
Idaho Vandals Big Sky Conference Big West Conference
Iowa State Cyclones Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Kansas Jayhawks Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Kansas State Wildcats Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Missouri Tigers Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Nebraska Cornhuskers Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Nevada–Las Vegas (UNLV) Runnin' Rebels Big West Conference Western Athletic Conference
North Texas Mean Green Southland Conference Big West Conference
Oklahoma Sooners Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Oklahoma State Cowboys Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference
Portland State Vikings Pacific West Conference (NCAA Division II) Big Sky Conference
Rice Owls Southwest Conference Western Athletic Conference
Sacramento State Hornets American West Conference Big Sky Conference
San Jose State Spartans Big West Conference Western Athletic Conference
SMU Mustangs Southwest Conference Western Athletic Conference
Southern Utah Thunderbirds American West Conference NCAA Division I Independent
TCU Horned Frogs Southwest Conference Western Athletic Conference
Texas Longhorns Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference
Texas A&M Aggies Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference
Texas Tech Red Raiders Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference
Tulsa Golden Hurricane Missouri Valley Conference Western Athletic Conference

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Twenty-seven conferences concluded their seasons with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Big Ten Conference, Ivy League, and Pac-10 Conference choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Conference tournament winners received an automatic bid to the 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

Conference Regular
season winner 		Conference
player of the year 		Conference
tournament 		Tournament
venue (City) 		Tournament
winner
America East Conference Boston University Tunji Awojobi, Boston University 1997 America East men's basketball tournament Case Gym
(Boston, Massachusetts)		 Boston University
Atlantic 10 Conference St. Joseph's (East)
Xavier (West)		 Marc Jackson, Temple 1997 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament The Spectrum
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)		 St. Joseph's
Atlantic Coast Conference Duke Tim Duncan, Wake Forest 1997 ACC men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum
(Greensboro, North Carolina)		 North Carolina
Big 12 Conference Kansas Raef LaFrentz, Kansas 1997 Big 12 men's basketball tournament Kemper Arena
(Kansas City, Missouri)		 Kansas
Big East Conference Boston College & Villanova (Big East 6)
Georgetown (Big East 7)		 Pat Garrity, Notre Dame 1997 Big East men's basketball tournament Madison Square Garden
(New York City, New York)		 Boston College
Big Sky Conference Northern Arizona Charles Thomas, Northern Arizona 1997 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament Walkup Skydome
(Flagstaff, Arizona)		 Montana
Big South Conference UNC Asheville Josh Pittman, UNC Asheville 1997 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament Vines Center
(Lynchburg, Virginia)		 Charleston Southern
Big Ten Conference Minnesota (Vacated) Bobby Jackson, Minnesota (Vacated) No Tournament
Big West Conference Pacific (Western)
Nevada (Eastern)		 Faron Hand, Nevada 1997 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament Lawlor Events Center
(Reno, Nevada)		 Pacific
Colonial Athletic Association Old Dominion Odell Hodge, Old Dominion 1997 CAA men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum
(Richmond, Virginia)		 Old Dominion
Conference USA Cincinnati Danny Fortson, Cincinnati 1997 Conference USA men's basketball tournament Kiel Center
(St. Louis, Missouri)		 Marquette
Ivy League Princeton Sydney Johnson, Princeton No Tournament
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Iona Mindaugas Timinskas, Iona 1997 MAAC men's basketball tournament Marine Midland Arena
(Buffalo, New York)		 Fairfield
Mid-American Conference Bowling Green
Miami (OH)		 Antonio Daniels, Bowling Green 1997 MAC men's basketball tournament SeaGate Convention Centre
(Toledo, Ohio)		 Miami (OH)
Mid-Continent Conference Valparaiso Bryce Drew, Valparaiso 1997 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament The MARK of the Quad Cities
(Moline, Illinois)		 Valparaiso
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coppin State Roderick Blakney, South Carolina State 1997 MEAC men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum
(Richmond, Virginia)		 Coppin State
Midwestern Collegiate Conference Butler Jon Neuhouser, Butler 1997 MCC men's basketball tournament Nutter Center
(Dayton, Ohio)		 Butler
Missouri Valley Conference Illinois State Jason Daisy, Northern Iowa 1997 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Kiel Center
(St. Louis, Missouri)		 Illinois State
Northeast Conference Long Island Charles Jones, Long Island 1997 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament Schwartz Athletic Center
(Brooklyn, New York)		 Long Island
Ohio Valley Conference Austin Peay
Murray State		 Bubba Wells, Austin Peay 1997 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Gaylord Entertainment Center
(Nashville, Tennessee)
(Semifinals and Finals)		 Murray State
Pacific-10 Conference UCLA Ed Gray, California No Tournament
Patriot League Navy Adonal Foyle, Colgate 1997 Patriot League men's basketball tournament Alumni Hall
(Annapolis, Maryland)		 Navy
Southeastern Conference South Carolina (East)
Ole Miss (West)		 Ron Mercer, Kentucky 1997 SEC men's basketball tournament Pyramid Arena
(Memphis, Tennessee)		 Kentucky
Southern Conference Marshall (North)
Chattanooga (South)		 Johnny Taylor, Chattanooga 1997 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum
(Greensboro, North Carolina)		 Chattanooga
Southland Conference Texas State Rosell Ellis, McNeese State 1997 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
(Shreveport, Louisiana)		 Texas State
Southwestern Athletic Conference Mississippi Valley State Randy Bolden, Texas Southern 1997 SWAC men's basketball tournament — Jackson State
Sun Belt Conference South Alabama Muntrelle Dobbins, Little Rock 1997 Sun Belt men's basketball tournament Barton Coliseum
(Little Rock, Arkansas)		 South Alabama
Trans America Athletic Conference College of Charleston Anthony Johnson, College of Charleston 1997 TAAC men's basketball tournament John Kresse Arena
(Charleston, South Carolina)		 College of Charleston
West Coast Conference St. Mary's
Santa Clara		 Marlon Garnett, Santa Clara 1997 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament Gersten Pavilion
(Los Angeles, California)		 St. Mary's
Western Athletic Conference Fresno State (Pacific)
Utah (Mountain)		 Anthony Carter, Hawaii
Keith Van Horn, Utah		 1997 WAC men's basketball tournament Thomas & Mack Center
(Las Vegas, Nevada)		 Utah

Conference standings

1996–97 America East Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Boston University † 17 – 1   .944 25 – 5   .833
Drexel 16 – 2   .889 22 – 9   .710
Hartford 11 – 7   .611 17 – 11   .607
Hofstra 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444
Delaware 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444
Vermont 7 – 11   .389 14 – 13   .519
Northeastern 6 – 12   .333 7 – 20   .259
Maine 6 – 12   .333 11 – 20   .355
New Hampshire 5 – 13   .278 7 – 20   .259
Towson State 5 – 13   .278 9 – 19   .321
† 1997 America East tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 ACC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 8 Duke 12 – 4   .750 24 – 9   .727
No. 9 Wake Forest 11 – 5   .688 24 – 7   .774
No. 4 North Carolina † 11 – 5   .688 28 – 7   .800
No. 14 Clemson 9 – 7   .563 23 – 10   .697
No. 22 Maryland 9 – 7   .563 21 – 11   .656
Virginia 7 – 9   .438 18 – 13   .581
Florida State 6 – 10   .375 20 – 12   .625
NC State 4 – 12   .250 17 – 15   .531
Georgia Tech 3 – 13   .188 9 – 18   .333
† 1997 ACC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
No. 12 Saint Joseph's † 13 – 3   .813 26 – 7   .788
Rhode Island 12 – 4   .750 20 – 10   .667
UMass 11 – 5   .688 19 – 14   .576
Temple 10 – 6   .625 20 – 11   .645
St. Bonaventure 5 – 11   .313 14 – 14   .500
Fordham 1 – 15   .063 6 – 21   .222
West
No. 13 Xavier 13 – 3   .813 23 – 6   .793
George Washington 8 – 8   .500 15 – 14   .517
Virginia Tech 7 – 9   .438 15 – 16   .484
Dayton 6 – 10   .375 13 – 14   .481
La Salle 5 – 11   .313 10 – 17   .370
Duquesne 5 – 11   .313 9 – 18   .333
† 1997 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Big 12 men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 1 Kansas † 15 – 1   .938 34 – 2   .944
No. 24 Colorado 11 – 5   .688 22 – 10   .688
Texas 10 – 6   .625 18 – 12   .600
No. 18 Iowa State 10 – 6   .625 22 – 9   .710
Texas Tech 10 – 6   .625 19 – 9   .679
Oklahoma 9 – 7   .563 19 – 11   .633
Nebraska 7 – 9   .438 18 – 15   .545
Oklahoma State 7 – 9   .438 17 – 15   .531
Baylor 6 – 10   .375 18 – 12   .600
Missouri 5 – 11   .313 16 – 17   .485
Texas A&M 3 – 13   .188 9 – 18   .333
Kansas State 3 – 13   .188 10 – 17   .370
† 1997 Big 12 Tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 Big East men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Big East 6
No. 20 Villanova 12 – 6   .667 24 – 10   .706
No. 23 Boston College† 12 – 6   .667 22 – 9   .710
West Virginia 11 – 7   .611 21 – 10   .677
Notre Dame 8 – 10   .444 16 – 14   .533
St. John's 8 – 10   .444 13 – 15   .464
Connecticut 7 – 11   .389 18 – 15   .545
Big East 7
Georgetown 11 – 7   .611 20 – 10   .667
Providence 10 – 8   .556 24 – 12   .667
Pittsburgh 10 – 8   .556 18 – 15   .545
Miami 9 – 9   .500 16 – 13   .552
Syracuse 9 – 9   .500 19 – 13   .594
Seton Hall 5 – 13   .278 10 – 18   .357
Rutgers 5 – 13   .278 11 – 16   .407
† 1997 Big East tournament winner
As of March 31, 1997
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 Big Sky men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Northern Arizona 14 – 2   .875 21 – 7   .750
Montana † 11 – 5   .688 21 – 11   .656
Montana State 10 – 6   .625 16 – 14   .533
Weber State 9 – 7   .563 15 – 13   .536
Idaho State 9 – 7   .563 14 – 13   .519
Cal State Northridge 8 – 8   .500 14 – 15   .483
Portland State 6 – 10   .375 9 – 17   .346
Eastern Washington 3 – 13   .188 7 – 19   .269
Sacramento State 2 – 14   .125 3 – 23   .115
† Conference tournament winner
1996–97 Big South Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
UNC Asheville 11 – 3   .786 18 – 10   .643
Liberty 11 – 3   .786 23 – 9   .719
Radford 8 – 6   .571 15 – 13   .536
Charleston Southern † 7 – 7   .500 17 – 13   .567
Coastal Carolina 6 – 8   .429 11 – 16   .407
UNC Greensboro 6 – 8   .429 10 – 20   .333
Winthrop 5 – 9   .357 12 – 15   .444
UMBC 2 – 12   .143 5 – 22   .185
† 1997 Big South tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Iowa 12 – 6   .667 22 – 10   .688
Purdue 12 – 6   .667 18 – 12   .600
No. 19 Illinois 11 – 7   .611 22 – 10   .688
Wisconsin 11 – 7   .611 18 – 10   .643
Indiana 9 – 9   .500 22 – 11   .667
Michigan State 9 – 9   .500 17 – 12   .586
Ohio State 5 – 13   .278 10 – 17   .370
Penn State 3 – 15   .167 10 – 17   .370
Northwestern 2 – 16   .111 7 – 22   .241
No. 3 Minnesota* 0 – 2   .000 0 – 4   .000
Michigan* 0 – 9   .000 0 – 11   .000
Rankings from AP Poll
*Michigan: 24 games vacated; including NIT champ. vacated due to sanctions against the program
*Minnesota: 5 NCAA Tournament games vacated due to sanctions against the program
Disputed records: Michigan-(24–11)(9–9); Minnesota-(31–4)(16–2)
1996–97 Big West men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East Division
Utah State 12 – 4   .750 20 – 9   .690
New Mexico State 12 – 4   .750 19 – 9   .679
Nevada 12 – 4   .750 21 – 10   .677
Boise State 9 – 7   .563 14 – 13   .519
Idaho 5 – 11   .313 13 – 17   .433
North Texas 5 – 11   .313 10 – 16   .385
West Division
Pacific † 12 – 4   .750 24 – 6   .800
Long Beach State 9 – 7   .563 13 – 14   .481
UC Santa Barbara 7 – 9   .438 12 – 15   .444
Cal State Fullerton 6 – 10   .375 13 – 14   .481
Cal Poly 6 – 10   .375 14 – 16   .467
UC Irvine 1 – 15   .063 1 – 25   .038
† 1997 Big West tournament winner
As of April 1, 1997
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 CAA men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Old Dominion † 10 – 6   .625 22 – 11   .667
UNC Wilmington 10 – 6   .625 16 – 14   .533
East Carolina 9 – 7   .563 17 – 10   .630
VCU 9 – 7   .563 14 – 13   .519
William & Mary 8 – 8   .500 12 – 16   .429
James Madison 8 – 8   .500 16 – 13   .552
American 7 – 9   .438 11 – 16   .407
Richmond 7 – 9   .438 13 – 15   .464
George Mason 4 – 12   .250 10 – 17   .370
† 1997 CAA tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 Conference USA men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Blue
No. 10 Cincinnati 12 – 2   .857 26 – 8   .765
Marquette † 9 – 5   .643 22 – 9   .710
Saint Louis 4 – 10   .286 11 – 18   .379
DePaul 1 – 13   .071 3 – 23   .115
Red
Tulane 11 – 3   .786 20 – 11   .645
UAB 7 – 7   .500 18 – 14   .563
Southern Miss 6 – 8   .429 12 – 15   .444
South Florida 2 – 12   .143 8 – 19   .296
White
UNC Charlotte 10 – 4   .714 22 – 9   .710
Memphis 10 – 4   .714 16 – 15   .516
No. 25 Louisville 9 – 5   .643 26 – 9   .743
Houston 3 – 11   .214 11 – 16   .407
† 1997 Conference USA Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Ivy League men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Princeton 14 – 0   1.000 24 – 4   .857
Dartmouth 10 – 4   .714 18 – 8   .692
Harvard 10 – 4   .714 17 – 9   .654
Penn 8 – 6   .571 12 – 14   .462
Cornell 7 – 7   .500 15 – 11   .577
Yale 3 – 11   .214 10 – 16   .385
Brown 3 – 11   .214 4 – 22   .154
Columbia 1 – 13   .071 6 – 20   .231
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 MAAC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Iona 11 – 3   .786 22 – 8   .733
Canisius 10 – 4   .714 17 – 12   .586
Loyola (MD) 10 – 4   .714 13 – 14   .481
Saint Peter's 9 – 5   .643 13 – 15   .464
Manhattan 5 – 9   .357 9 – 18   .333
Niagara 5 – 9   .357 11 – 17   .393
Siena 4 – 10   .286 9 – 18   .333
Fairfield † 2 – 12   .143 11 – 19   .367
† 1997 MAAC tournament winner
1996–97 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Bowling Green 13 – 5   .722 22 – 10   .688
Miami† 13 – 5   .722 21 – 9   .700
Ohio 12 – 6   .667 17 – 10   .630
Eastern Michigan 11 – 7   .611 22 – 10   .688
Ball State 9 – 9   .500 16 – 13   .552
Western Michigan 9 – 9   .500 14 – 14   .500
Kent State 7 – 11   .389 9 – 18   .333
Toledo 6 – 12   .333 13 – 14   .481
Akron 6 – 12   .333 8 – 18   .308
Central Michigan 4 – 14   .222 7 – 19   .269
† 1997 MAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Valparaiso † 13 – 5   .722 24 – 7   .774
Buffalo 11 – 5   .688 17 – 11   .607
Western Illinois 11 – 5   .688 19 – 10   .655
Troy State 10 – 6   .625 16 – 11   .593
Northeastern Illinois 8 – 8   .500 16 – 12   .571
Missouri-Kansas City 7 – 9   .438 10 – 17   .370
Chicago State 4 – 12   .250 4 – 23   .148
Central Connecticut State 4 – 12   .250 8 – 19   .296
Youngstown State 4 – 12   .250 9 – 18   .333
† 1997 Mid-Con Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 MEAC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Coppin State † 15 – 3   .833 22 – 9   .710
South Carolina State 12 – 6   .667 14 – 14   .500
North Carolina A&T 11 – 7   .611 15 – 13   .536
Bethune–Cookman 9 – 9   .500 12 – 16   .429
Morgan State 8 – 10   .444 9 – 18   .333
Florida A&M 8 – 10   .444 8 – 19   .296
Hampton 7 – 11   .389 8 – 19   .296
Delaware State 7 – 11   .389 7 – 20   .259
Howard 7 – 11   .389 7 – 20   .259
Maryland Eastern Shore 6 – 12   .333 11 – 17   .393
† 1997 MEAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Butler † 12 – 4   .750 23 – 10   .697
Detroit Mercy 11 – 5   .688 16 – 13   .552
Illinois-Chicago 11 – 5   .688 15 – 14   .517
Wisconsin–Green Bay 10 – 6   .625 14 – 14   .500
Loyola–Chicago 7 – 9   .438 12 – 15   .444
Northern Illinois 6 – 10   .375 12 – 15   .444
Cleveland State 6 – 10   .375 9 – 19   .321
Wright State 5 – 11   .313 7 – 20   .259
Wisconsin–Milwaukee 4 – 12   .250 8 – 20   .286
† 1997 MCC tournament winner
1996–97 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Illinois State † 14 – 4   .778 24 – 6   .800
Bradley 12 – 6   .667 17 – 13   .567
Southwest Missouri State 12 – 6   .667 24 – 9   .727
Northern Iowa 11 – 7   .611 16 – 12   .571
Evansville 11 – 7   .611 17 – 14   .548
Creighton 10 – 8   .556 15 – 15   .500
Wichita State 8 – 10   .444 14 – 13   .519
Southern Illinois 6 – 12   .333 13 – 17   .433
Indiana State 6 – 12   .333 12 – 16   .429
Drake 0 – 18   .000 2 – 26   .071
† 1997 MVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Long Island† 15 – 3   .833 21 – 9   .700
Fairleigh Dickinson 13 – 5   .722 18 – 10   .643
Monmouth 12 – 6   .667 18 – 11   .621
Rider 10 – 8   .556 14 – 14   .500
Mount St. Mary's 10 – 8   .556 14 – 13   .519
Saint Francis (PA) 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444
St. Francis Brooklyn 7 – 11   .389 13 – 15   .464
Wagner 7 – 11   .389 10 – 17   .370
Marist 4 – 14   .222 6 – 22   .214
Robert Morris 3 – 15   .167 4 – 23   .148
† 1997 NEC tournament winner
1996–97 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Austin Peay 12 – 6   .667 17 – 14   .548
Murray State † 12 – 6   .667 20 – 10   .667
Middle Tennessee 11 – 7   .611 19 – 12   .613
Tennessee Tech 10 – 8   .556 15 – 13   .536
Eastern Illinois 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444
Southeast Missouri State 9 – 9   .500 12 – 18   .400
UT Martin 8 – 10   .444 11 – 16   .407
Tennessee State 7 – 11   .389 9 – 18   .333
Morehead State 6 – 12   .333 8 – 19   .296
Eastern Kentucky 6 – 12   .333 8 – 18   .308
† 1997 OVC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Pacific-10 Conference
men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
No. 7 UCLA 15 – 3   .833 24 – 8   .750
No. 21 Stanford 12 – 6   .667 22 – 8   .733
California 12 – 6   .667 23 – 9   .719
USC 12 – 6   .667 17 – 11   .607
No. 15 Arizona 11 – 7   .611 25 – 9   .735
Washington 10 – 8   .556 17 – 11   .607
Oregon 8 – 10   .444 17 – 11   .607
Washington State 5 – 13   .278 13 – 17   .433
Oregon State 3 – 15   .167 7 – 20   .259
Arizona State 2 – 16   .111 10 – 20   .333
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Patriot League men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Navy † 10 – 2   .833 20 – 9   .690
Bucknell 9 – 3   .750 18 – 11   .621
Colgate 8 – 4   .667 12 – 16   .429
Holy Cross 5 – 7   .417 8 – 19   .296
Lafayette 5 – 7   .417 11 – 17   .393
Army 4 – 8   .333 10 – 16   .385
Lehigh 1 – 11   .083 1 – 26   .037
† 1997 Patriot League tournament winner
1996–97 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
No. 6 South Carolina 15 – 1   .938 24 – 8   .750
No. 5 Kentucky† 13 – 3   .813 35 – 5   .875
No. 17 Georgia 10 – 6   .625 24 – 9   .727
Vanderbilt 9 – 7   .563 19 – 12   .613
Florida 5 – 11   .313 13 – 17   .433
Tennessee 4 – 12   .250 11 – 16   .407
West
Ole Miss 11 – 5   .688 20 – 9   .690
Arkansas 8 – 8   .500 18 – 14   .563
Auburn 6 – 10   .375 16 – 15   .516
Alabama 6 – 10   .375 17 – 14   .548
Mississippi State 6 – 10   .375 12 – 18   .400
LSU 3 – 13   .188 10 – 20   .333
† 1997 SEC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Southern Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
North
Marshall 10 – 4   .714 20 – 9   .690
Davidson 10 – 4   .714 18 – 10   .643
Appalachian State 8 – 6   .571 14 – 14   .500
VMI 7 – 7   .500 12 – 16   .429
East Tennessee State 2 – 12   .143 7 – 20   .259
South
Chattanooga† 11 – 3   .786 24 – 11   .686
Western Carolina 7 – 7   .500 14 – 13   .519
The Citadel 6 – 8   .429 13 – 14   .481
Georgia Southern 5 – 9   .357 10 – 18   .357
Furman 4 – 10   .286 10 – 17   .370
† SoCon Tournament winner
As of April 30, 1997
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 Southland Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
McNeese State 10 – 6   .625 18 – 12   .600
Southwest Texas State † 10 – 6   .625 16 – 13   .552
Louisiana-Monroe 10 – 6   .625 14 – 14   .500
Northwestern State 8 – 8   .500 13 – 15   .464
Stephen F. Austin 8 – 8   .500 12 – 15   .444
Texas-Arlington 8 – 8   .500 12 – 15   .444
Nicholls State 7 – 9   .438 10 – 16   .385
Sam Houston State 7 – 9   .438 8 – 18   .308
UTSA 4 – 12   .250 9 – 17   .346
† 1997 Southland tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 SWAC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Mississippi Valley State 11 – 3   .786 19 – 10   .655
Jackson State † 9 – 5   .643 14 – 16   .467
Alcorn State 8 – 6   .571 11 – 17   .393
Prairie View A&M 7 – 7   .500 10 – 17   .370
Texas Southern 6 – 8   .429 12 – 16   .429
Grambling 5 – 9   .357 10 – 17   .370
Alabama State 5 – 9   .357 8 – 21   .276
Southern 5 – 9   .357 10 – 17   .370
† 1997 SWAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
New Orleans 14 – 4   .778 22 – 7   .759
South Alabama † 14 – 4   .778 23 – 7   .767
Arkansas–Little Rock 11 – 7   .611 18 – 11   .621
Lamar 10 – 8   .556 15 – 12   .556
Louisiana Tech 10 – 8   .556 15 – 14   .517
Western Kentucky 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444
Southwestern Louisiana 9 – 9   .500 12 – 16   .429
Arkansas State 8 – 10   .444 15 – 12   .556
Jacksonville 4 – 14   .222 5 – 23   .179
Texas–Pan American 1 – 17   .056 3 – 25   .107
† 1997 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll
1996–97 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
No. 16 College of Charleston† 16 – 0   1.000 29 – 3   .906
Florida International 12 – 4   .750 16 – 13   .552
Florida Atlantic 11 – 5   .688 16 – 11   .593
Campbell 8 – 8   .500 11 – 16   .407
Stetson 5 – 11   .313 9 – 18   .333
Central Florida 4 – 12   .250 7 – 19   .269
West
Samford 11 – 5   .688 19 – 9   .679
Jacksonville State 9 – 7   .563 10 – 17   .370
Southeastern Louisiana 7 – 9   .438 10 – 18   .357
Georgia State 6 – 10   .375 10 – 17   .370
Centenary 6 – 10   .375 9 – 18   .333
Mercer 1 – 15   .063 3 – 23   .115
† 1997 TAAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 West Coast Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Santa Clara 10 – 4   .714 16 – 11   .593
Saint Mary's † 10 – 4   .714 23 – 8   .742
San Francisco 9 – 5   .643 16 – 13   .552
San Diego 8 – 6   .571 17 – 11   .607
Gonzaga 8 – 6   .571 15 – 12   .556
Portland 4 – 10   .286 9 – 18   .333
Pepperdine 4 – 10   .286 6 – 21   .222
Loyola Marymount 3 – 11   .214 7 – 21   .250
† 1997 WCC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll
1996–97 WAC men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Mountain
No. 2 Utah † 15 – 1   .938 29 – 4   .879
Tulsa 12 – 4   .750 24 – 10   .706
No. 11 New Mexico 11 – 5   .688 25 – 8   .758
TCU 7 – 9   .438 22 – 13   .629
SMU 7 – 9   .438 16 – 12   .571
Rice 6 – 10   .375 12 – 15   .444
UTEP 6 – 10   .375 13 – 13   .500
BYU 0 – 16   .000 1 – 25   .038
Pacific
Fresno State 12 – 4   .750 20 – 12   .625
Hawaii 12 – 4   .750 21 – 8   .724
UNLV 11 – 5   .688 22 – 10   .688
Colorado State 10 – 6   .625 20 – 9   .690
Wyoming 8 – 8   .500 12 – 16   .429
San Jose State 5 – 11   .313 13 – 14   .481
San Diego State 4 – 12   .250 12 – 15   .444
Air Force 2 – 14   .125 7 – 19   .269
† 1997 WAC tournament winner
Rankings from AP poll

Division I independents

Three schools played as Division I independents. One (Oral Roberts) received a bid to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament.

1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
Oral Roberts - – -   – 21 – 7   .750
Southern Utah - – -   – 9 – 17   .346
Wofford - – -   – 7 – 20   .259
Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference Regular
season winner 		Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5 Temple & Villanova Rashid Bey, Saint Joseph's, & Alvin Williams, Villanova

For the sixth consecutive season, the Philadelphia Big 5 did not play a full round-robin schedule in which each team met each other team once, a format it had used from its first season of competition in 1955–56 through the 1990–91 season. Instead, each team played only two games against other Big 5 members, and Temple and Villanova both finished with 2–0 records in head-to-head competition among the Big 5. The Big 5 did not revive its full round-robin schedule until the 1999–2000 season.

Statistical leaders

Source for additional stats categories

Points per game Rebounds per game Assists per game Steals per game
Player School PPG Player School RPG Player School APG Player School SPG
Charles Jones Long Island 30.1 Tim Duncan Wake Forest 14.7 Kenny Mitchell Dartmouth 7.8 Joel Hoover Maryland Eastern Shore 3.2
Ed Gray California 24.8 Adonal Foyle Colgate 13.1 Brevin Knight Stanford 7.8 Philip Huyler Florida Atlantic 3.2
Adonal Foyle Colgate 24.4 Lorenzo Coleman Tennessee Tech 11.9 Kareem Gilbert Tennessee State 7.6 Kellii Taylor Pittsburgh 3.2
Raymond Tutt UC Santa Barbara 24.0 Tony Battie Texas Tech 11.8 Jamar Smiley Illinois State 7.3 Moe Segar St. Peter's 3.1
Antonio Daniels Bowling Green 24.0 Muntrelle Dobbins Little Rock 11.4 Chad Peckinpaugh Eastern Illinois 7.3 Mustafa Barksdale Monmouth 3.0
Blocked shots per game Field-goal percentage Three-Point FG percentage Free-throw percentage
Player School BPG Player School FG% Player School 3FG% Player School FT%
Adonal Foyle Colgate 6.4 Todd MacCulloch Washington .676 Corey Reed Radford .476 Aaron Zobrist Lamar .906
Lorenzo Coleman Tennessee Tech 4.8 Sean Scott Central Connecticut .670 D. J. Bosse Kent State .475 Keith Van Horn Utah .904
Richard Lugo St. Francis (NY) 4.5 Rosell Ellis McNeese State .668 Louis Bullock Michigan .472 Jim Williamson Loyola Marymount .902
Jerome James Florida A&M 4.4 Ed Sears Ohio .647 Andrew Mavis Northern Arizona .471 Marcus Wilson Evansville .901
Kelvin Cato Iowa State 4.2 Lorenzo Coleman Tennessee Tech .645 Bryce Drew Valparaiso .457 Trajan Langdon Duke .897

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main article: 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Final Four – RCA Dome, Indianapolis, Indiana

National semifinals National championship game
      
E1 North Carolina 58
SE4 Arizona 66
SE4 Arizona 84*
W1 Kentucky 79
M1 Minnesota 69
W1 Kentucky 78

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1997 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

Semifinals Finals
      
  Florida State 71
  Connecticut 65
  Florida State 73
  Michigan* 82
  Michigan 77
  Arkansas 62 Third place
  Connecticut 74
  Arkansas 64

* Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996–97 schedule after players Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor, and Louis Bullock were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster.

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1997 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team
Player Position Class Team
Tim Duncan C Senior Wake Forest
Danny Fortson F Junior Cincinnati
Raef LaFrentz C Junior Kansas
Ron Mercer F Sophomore Kentucky
Keith Van Horn F Senior Utah


Consensus Second Team
Player Position Class Team
Chauncey Billups G Sophomore Colorado
Bobby Jackson G Senior Minnesota
Antawn Jamison F Sophomore North Carolina
Brevin Knight G Senior Stanford
Jacque Vaughn G Senior Kansas

Major player of the year awards

Major freshman of the year awards

  • USBWA Freshman of the Year: No Award Given
  • Sporting News Freshman of the Year: No Award Given

Major coach of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

This section needs expansion. You can help by adding to it. (May 2021)

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

Team Former
Coach 		Interim
Coach 		New
Coach 		Reason
Canisius John Beilein Mike MacDonald
DePaul Joey Meyer Pat Kennedy
Florida State Pat Kennedy Steve Robinson
Georgia Tubby Smith Ron Jirsa
Kentucky Rick Pitino Tubby Smith
North Carolina Dean Smith Bill Guthridge
Oral Roberts Bill Self Barry Hinson
Richmond Bill Dooley John Beilein
Sacramento State Don Newman Tom Abatemarco
Southeast Missouri State Ron Shumate Gary Garner
Tulsa Steve Robinson Bill Self

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NCAA Division I men's basketball seasons
Pre-regulation
IAAUS / NCAA
pre-Tournament era
NCAA Tournament era

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