1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

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 Olson, and the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player was Arizona's Miles Simon.

1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	Cincinnati Bearcats
Regular season	November 1996 – March 1997
NCAA Tournament	1997
Tournament dates	March 13 – 31, 1997
National Championship	RCA Dome Indianapolis, Indiana
NCAA Champions	Arizona Wildcats
Other champions	Michigan Wolverines (Vacated) (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Tim Duncan, Wake Forest Demon Deacons

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

• The Big 12 Conference began play, with 12 original members.
• Prior to the season, the North Atlantic Conference renamed itself the America East Conference.
• Lute Olsen led the Arizona Wildcats to its first national championship.

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 (D-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 Youngstown State 4 – 12   .250 9 – 18   .333 Chicago State 4 – 12   .250 4 – 23   .148 Central Connecticut State 4 – 12   .250 8 – 19   .296 † 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 Northeast Louisiana 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

• Wooden Award: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Naismith Award: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Associated Press Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• NABC Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Adolph Rupp Trophy: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Sporting News Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest

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

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: Clem Haskins, Minnesota (Vacated)
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Clem Haskins, Minnesota (Vacated)
• NABC Coach of the Year: Clem Haskins, Minnesota (Vacated)
• Naismith College Coach of the Year: Roy Williams, Kansas
• Sporting News Coach of the Year: Roy Williams, Kansas
• Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award: Clem Haskins, Minnesota (Vacated)

Other major awards

• NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Brevin Knight, Stanford
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Rashid Bey, Saint Joseph's & Alvin Williams, Villanova
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Charles Jones, Long Island
• Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award (Strong personal character): Tim Duncan, Wake Forest

Coaching changes

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

Team	Former Coach	Interim Coach	New Coach	Reason
American	Chris Knoche		Art Perry
Army	Dino Gaudio		Pat Harris	Gaudio left to coach Loyola (MD).
Bethune–Cookman	Tony Sheals		Horace Broadnax
Boston College	Jim O'Brien		Al Skinner	O'Brien left to coach Ohio State.
Bowling Green	Jim Larrañaga		Dan Dakich	Larrañaga left to coach George Mason. Dakich was hire from the Indiana coaching staff.
BYU	Roger Reid	Tony Ingle	Steve Cleveland	Reid was dismissed citing multiple reasons being; not getting a talented recruit, giving scholarships to his sons, and starting the season 1–6. Assistant coach Ingle took over as interim for the rest of the season, finishing the season 1–25, the Cougars worst record in history.
Canisius	John Beilein		Mike MacDonald
Central Michigan	Leonard Drake		Jay Smith
Chattanooga	Mack McCarthy		Henry Dickerson	McCarthy left to be an associate head coach at VCU. Dickerson was promoted from associate head coach.
Colgate	Jack Bruen		Paul Aiello	Bruen was diagnosed with cancer before the start of the season.
Delaware State	Art Perry		Jimmy DuBose	Perry left after one season to take over his alma mater, American.
DePaul	Joey Meyer		Pat Kennedy
Eastern Kentucky	Mike Calhoun		Scott Perry	Perry was an assistant with the Michigan coaching staff.
Florida State	Pat Kennedy		Steve Robinson	Kennedy left to coach DePaul.
Furman	Joe Cantafio		Larry Davis	Cantafio resigned after three straight season of 10–17. Davis was hired from the Minnesota coaching staff.
George Mason	Paul Westhead		Jim Larrañaga	Westhead left to join the Golden State Warriors coaching staff.
Georgia	Tubby Smith		Ron Jirsa	Smith left to coach Kentucky
Georgia State	Carter Wilson		Lefty Driesell
Gonzaga	Dan Fitzgerald		Dan Monson	Monson was promoted from assistant.
Hampton	Byron Samuels		Steve Merfeld	Merfeld was promoted to head coach.
Idaho	Kermit Davis		David Farrar	Davis left his second stint after one season to serve as an assistant on the LSU coaching staff. Farrar was promoted to head coach after Davis left.
Indiana State	Sherman Dillard		Royce Waltman	Dillard left to coach his alma mater, James Madison.
Jacksonville	George Scholz	Buster Harvey	Hugh Durham	Scholz was relieved of his duties in the middle of the season after starting 0–6. Harvey took over on an interim basis, going 5–17 for the rest of the season. Durham came out of retirement to become head coach.
James Madison	Lefty Driesell		Sherman Dillard	Driesell left to coach Georgia State.
Kentucky	Rick Pitino		Tubby Smith	Pitino left to coach the Boston Celtics.
Loyola (MD)	Brian Ellerbe		Dino Gaudio	Ellerbe left to coach Michigan.
Loyola Marymount	John Olive		Charles Bradley
LSU	Dale Brown		John Brady	Brown retired.
Memphis	Larry Finch		Tic Price	Finch's remaining years on his contract were bought out.
Mercer	Bill Hodges		Mark Slonaker
Michigan	Steve Fisher		Brian Ellerbe
Morehead State	Dick Fick		Kyle Macy
New Mexico State	Neil McCarthy		Lou Henson	McCarthy was fired before the start of the 1997–98. Henson was hired on an interim basis.
New Orleans	Tic Price		Joey Stiebing	Price left to coach Memphis. Stiebing was promoted from assistant.
North Carolina	Dean Smith		Bill Guthridge	Smith retired a month before the 1997–98 season forcing North Carolina to promote assistant Guthridge to head coach.
North Texas	Tim Jankovich		Vic Trilli
Northwestern	Ricky Byrdsong		Kevin O'Neill
Ohio State	Randy Ayers		Jim O'Brien
Oral Roberts	Bill Self		Barry Hinson	Self left to coach Tulsa.
Oregon	Jerry Green		Ernie Kent	Green left to coach Tennessee.
Rhode Island	Al Skinner		Jim Harrick	Skinner left to coach Boston College.
Richmond	Bill Dooley		John Beilein
Rider	Kevin Bannon		Don Harnum	Bannon left to coach Rutgers.
Rutgers	Bob Wenzel		Kevin Bannon	Wenzel was relieved of his duties at the end of the season.
Sacramento State	Don Newman		Tom Abatemarco
Saint Mary's	Ernie Kent		Dave Bollwinkel	Kent left to coach Oregon.
Samford	John Brady		Jimmy Tillette	Brady left to coach LSU. Tillette was promoted to head coach.
Seton Hall	George Blaney		Tommy Amaker	Amaker was hired from the Duke coaching staff.
Siena	Bob Beyer		Paul Hewitt	Beyer left to be an assistant at Northwestern. Hewitt was hired from the Villanova coaching staff.
South Alabama	Bill Musselman		Bob Weltlich	Musselman left to join the Portland Trail Blazers coaching staff.
Southeast Missouri State	Ron Shumate		Gary Garner
Southwestern Louisiana	Marty Fletcher		Jessie Evans	Fletcher left to coach Denver. Evans was hired from Arizona coaching staff.
Stetson	Randy Brown		Murray Arnold
Tennessee	Kevin O'Neill		Jerry Green	O'Neill left to coach Northwestern.
Texas–Pan American	Mark Adams		Delray Brooks	Brooks was hired from the Kentucky coaching staff.
Towson State	Terry Truax		Mike Jaskulski
Tulsa	Steve Robinson		Bill Self
Virginia Tech	Bill Foster		Bobby Hussey	Hussey was promoted to head coach.
Western Kentucky	Matt Kilcullen	Ron Brown & Al Siebert	Dennis Felton	Kilcullen was fired in the middle of the season after a start of 7–16. Brown and Siebert were both named interim coaches to finish the season 3–3. Felton was hired from the Clemson coaching staff.
Wright State	Jim Brown		Ed Schilling	Schilling was hired from the New Jersey Nets coaching staff.
Wyoming	Joby Wright		Larry Shyatt	Wright resigned. Shyatt was hired from the Clemson coaching staff.