1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season explained

Year:1996
Preseason Ap:Cincinnati
Regular Season:November 1996 –
March 1997
Tourney Start:March 13
Nc Date:March 31, 1997
Champ Stad:RCA Dome
Champ City:Indianapolis, Indiana
Champ:Arizona Wildcats
Nit Champ:Michigan Wolverines (Vacated)
Playeroftheyear:Tim Duncan, Wake Forest

The 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season 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 Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock were ruled 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
RankingTeam
1Cincinnati
2Kansas
3Kentucky
4Wake Forest
5UCLA
6Utah
7Villanova
8North Carolina
9Michigan
10Duke
11Iowa State
12Syracuse
13Arkansas
14Fresno State
15Massachusetts
16Texas
17New Mexico
18Stanford
19Arizona
20Clemson
21Boston College
22Minnesota
23Iowa
24George Washington
25Marquette

Conference membership changes

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

SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference
BaylorSouthwest ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Boise StateBig Sky ConferenceBig West Conference
Cal PolyAmerican West ConferenceBig West Conference
Cal State NorthridgeAmerican West ConferenceBig Sky Conference
ColoradoBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Eastern IllinoisMid-Continent ConferenceOhio Valley Conference
HoustonSouthwest ConferenceConference USA
IdahoBig Sky ConferenceBig West Conference
Iowa StateBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
KansasBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Kansas StateBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
MissouriBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
NebraskaBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
North TexasSouthland ConferenceBig West Conference
OklahomaBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Oklahoma StateBig Eight ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Portland StateNCAA Division IIBig Sky Conference
RiceSouthwest ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Sacramento StateAmerican West ConferenceBig Sky Conference
San Jose StateBig West ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
SMUSouthwest ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
Southern UtahAmerican West ConferenceNCAA Division I Independent
TCUSouthwest ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
TexasSouthwest ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Texas A&MSouthwest ConferenceBig 12 Conference
Texas TechSouthwest ConferenceBig 12 Conference
TulsaMissouri Valley ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference
UNLVBig West ConferenceWestern Athletic Conference

Regular season

Conference winners and tournaments

27 conference seasons concluded with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Big Ten Conference, Ivy League and the Pac-10 Conference choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Conference tournament winners received an automatic bid to the NCAA tournament.

ConferenceRegular
season winner[1]
Conference
player of the year
Conference
tournament
Tournament
venue (City)
Tournament
winner
Tunji Awojobi, Boston University[2] Case Gym
(Boston, Massachusetts)
Boston University[3]
St. Joseph's (East)
Xavier (West)
Marc Jackson, Temple[4] The Spectrum
(Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)
St. Joseph's[5]
Tim Duncan, Wake Forest[6] Greensboro Coliseum
(Greensboro, North Carolina)
North Carolina[7]
Raef LaFrentz, Kansas[8] Kemper Arena
(Kansas City, Missouri)
Kansas[9]
Boston College & Villanova (Big East 6)
Georgetown (Big East 7)
Pat Garrity, Notre Dame[10] Madison Square Garden
(New York City, New York)
Boston College
Charles Thomas, Northern Arizona[11] Walkup Skydome
(Flagstaff, Arizona)
Montana
Josh Pittman, UNC Asheville[12] Vines Center
(Lynchburg, Virginia)
Charleston Southern
Minnesota (Vacated) Bobby Jackson, Minnesota (Vacated)[13] No Tournament
Pacific (Western)
Nevada (Eastern)
Faron Hand, Nevada[14] Lawlor Events Center
(Reno, Nevada)
Pacific
Odell Hodge, Old Dominion[15] Richmond Coliseum
(Richmond, Virginia)
Old Dominion
Danny Fortson, Cincinnati[16] Kiel Center
(St. Louis, Missouri)
Marquette
Sydney Johnson, Princeton[17] No Tournament
Mindaugas Timinskas, Iona[18] Marine Midland Arena
(Buffalo, New York)
Fairfield[19]
Antonio Daniels, Bowling Green[20] SeaGate Convention Centre
(Toledo, Ohio)
Miami (OH)
Bryce Drew, Valparaiso[21] The MARK of the Quad Cities
(Moline, Illinois)
Valparaiso
Richmond Coliseum
(Richmond, Virginia)
Coppin State
Jon Neuhouser, Butler[22] Nutter Center
(Dayton, Ohio)
Butler
Jason Daisy, Northern Iowa[23] Kiel Center
(St. Louis, Missouri)
Illinois State
Charles Jones, Long Island[24] Schwartz Athletic Center
(Brooklyn, New York)
Long Island[25]
Bubba Wells, Austin Peay[26] Gaylord Entertainment Center
(Nashville, Tennessee)
(Semifinals and Finals)
Murray State
Ed Gray, California[27] No Tournament
Adonal Foyle, Colgate[28] Alumni Hall
(Annapolis, Maryland)
Navy[29]
South Carolina (East)
Ole Miss (West)
Ron Mercer, Kentucky[30] Pyramid Arena
(Memphis, Tennessee)
Kentucky
Marshall (North)
Chattanooga (South)
Johnny Taylor, Chattanooga[31] Greensboro Coliseum
(Greensboro, North Carolina)
Chattanooga[32]
Rosell Ellis, McNeese State[33] Hirsch Memorial Coliseum
(Shreveport, Louisiana)
Texas State
Randy Bolden, Texas Southern[34] Jackson State
Muntrelle Dobbins, Little Rock[35] Barton Coliseum
(Little Rock, Arkansas)
South Alabama
Anthony Johnson, College of Charleston[36] John Kresse Arena
(Charleston, South Carolina)
College of Charleston
Marlon Garnett, Santa Clara[37] Gersten Pavilion
(Los Angeles, California)
St. Mary's
Fresno State (Pacific)
Utah (Mountain)
Anthony Carter, Hawaii
Keith Van Horn, Utah[38]
Thomas & Mack Center
(Las Vegas, Nevada)
Utah

Statistical leaders

Source for additional stats categories

Player School PPG Player School RPG Player School APG Player School SPG
30.1 14.7 7.8 3.2
24.8 13.1 7.8 Philip Huyler 3.2
24.4 11.9 Kareem Gilbert 7.6 Kellii Taylor 3.2
24.0 11.8 Jamar Smiley 7.3 Moe Segar 3.1
24.0 11.4 Chad Peckinpaugh 7.3 Mustafa Barksdale 3.0
Player School BPG Player School FG% Player School 3FG% Player School FT%
6.4 .676 Corey Reed .476 Aaron Zobrist .906
4.8 Sean Scott .670 D. J. Bosse .475 .904
4.5 .668 .472 Jim Williamson .902
4.4 Ed Sears .647 .471 .901
4.2 .645 .457 .897

Post-season tournaments

NCAA tournament

See main article: 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament.

National Invitation tournament

See main article: 1997 National Invitation Tournament.

Semifinals & finals

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

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

See main article: 1997 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans. [39]

Consensus First Team
PlayerPositionClassTeam
Tim DuncanCSeniorWake Forest
Danny FortsonFJuniorCincinnati
Raef LaFrentzCJuniorKansas
Ron MercerFSophomoreKentucky
Keith Van HornFSeniorUtah

Consensus Second Team
Player PositionClassTeam
Chauncey BillupsGSophomoreColorado
Bobby JacksonGSeniorMinnesota
Antawn JamisonFSophomoreNorth Carolina
Brevin KnightGSeniorStanford
Jacque VaughnGSeniorKansas

Major player of the year awards

Major freshman of the year awards

Major coach of the year awards

Other major awards

Coaching changes

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

TeamFormer
Coach
Interim
Coach
New
Coach
Reason
CanisiusJohn BeileinMike MacDonald
DePaulJoey MeyerPat Kennedy
Florida StatePat KennedySteve Robinson
GeorgiaTubby SmithRon Jirsa
KentuckyRick PitinoTubby Smith
North CarolinaDean SmithBill Guthridge
Oral RobertsBill SelfBarry Hinson
RichmondBill DooleyJohn Beilein
Sacramento StateDon NewmanTom Abatemarco
Southeast Missouri StateRon ShumateGary Garner
TulsaSteve RobinsonBill Self

Notes and References

  1. News: 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section. 2001. NCAA. 2009-02-04.
  2. http://www.americaeast.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=59734&SPID=6548&DB_OEM_ID=14000&ATCLID=696988 America East Players of the Year
  3. http://www.americaeast.com/ViewArticle.dbml?SPSID=59734&SPID=6548&DB_OEM_ID=14000&ATCLID=696978 America East Championship results
  4. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mg-pt8.pdf 2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Awards section
  5. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mg-pt9.pdf 2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Championship section
  6. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011mbbguide.pdf 2010–11 ACC men's basketball media guide
  7. News: 2010–11 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – History Section . Atlantic Coast Conference . 2010 . 2011-01-27 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155444/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011mbbguide.pdf . November 12, 2012 . mdy .
  8. http://www.big12sports.com//pdf1/147025.pdf 2008–09 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section
  9. News: 2007–08 Big 12 Tournament Media Guide. March 2000. Big 12 Conference. 2011-01-27.
  10. http://www.bigeast.org/fls/19400/pdfs/mensbball/record-book.pdf?SPSID=92557&SPID=11228&DB_OEM_ID=19400 2008–09 Big East men's basketball media guide – Records section
  11. http://www.bigskyconf.com/documents/2010/11/12/10-11SEC3.pdf?id=1363 2010–11 Big Sky men's basketball media guide
  12. http://www.bigsouthsports.com/pdf8/724786.pdf 2010–11 Big South men's basketball media guide – History section
  13. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbb_guide_awards_honors.pdf 2010–11 Big Ten Men's Basketball Media Guide
  14. http://www.bigwest.org/sports/mbball/mediaguides/2010/1011Honors.pdf 2010–11 Big West Conference men's basketball media guide
  15. http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/supportfiles/Records/recordbookmbask.pdf CAA men's basketball record book
  16. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/c-usa/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11-color-mbk-mg.pdf 2010–11 Conference USA Men's Basketball Media Guide – History Section
  17. http://static.psbin.com/7/4/v5o6kh0libt1q9/05_MBkb_Year-by-year_History_10-11.pdf 2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball media guide
  18. http://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=940275 Men's Basketball All-MAAC Awards
  19. News: Men's Basketball Championship History. MAAC. June 30, 2007. 2011-01-27.
  20. http://mac-sports.com/downloads2/392065.pdf?ATCLID=205022348&SPSID=42971&SPID=3803&DB_OEM_ID=9400 2010–11 MAC men's basketball media guide
  21. http://www.thesummitleague.org/fls/3900/sports/mbball/mediaguides/2010-11/History%20Section_58-89.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=3900 2010–11 Summit League men's basketball media guide
  22. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hori/genrel/auto_pdf/Records-MBB.pdf 2008–09 Horizon League Men's Basketball Record Book
  23. http://epublish.multiad.com/MVC_MBB_2010-11/ 2010–11 MVC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section
  24. http://www.northeastconference.org/sports/1998/3/1/mballconf98.aspx 1998–99 NEC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team
  25. http://www.northeastconference.org/Sports/mbball/2010-11/guide/guide(68-101).pdf 1998–99 NEC Men's Basketball media guide
  26. http://www.ovcsports.com//pdf8/719596.pdf?SPSID=31046&SPID=2443&DB_OEM_ID=6200 2010–11 OVC men's basketball media guide
  27. http://www.pac-10.org/portals/7/images/MBasketball/2010-11media-guide/4-10-11-History.pdf 2010–11 Pacific-10 Men's Basketball Media Guide- History Section
  28. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/HonorsAwardsRecords.pdf 2010–11 Patriot League Men's Basketball media guide
  29. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11YearbyYear.pdf 2010–11 Patriot League Men's Basketball media guide
  30. http://sec.xosdigitallabs.com/Portals/3/SEC%20Website/menshoops/MenMediaGuide.pdf 2010–11 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book
  31. http://epublish.multiad.com/SoConBBall/ 2010–11 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section
  32. http://epublish.multiad.com/SoConBBall/ 2010–11 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section
  33. http://www.southland.org/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=18400&KEY=&ATCLID=205021137&SPID=10825&SPSID=97316 2010–11 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Media Guide
  34. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/swac/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/BasketballMediaGuide.pdf 2010–11 SWAC Men's Basketball Media Guide
  35. http://www.sunbeltsports.org//pdf8/718997.pdf 2010–11 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Media Guide
  36. http://www.atlanticsun.org/media/2010-11/pdf/records-mbasketball.pdf Atlantic Sun men's basketball record book
  37. http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/west/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11MBBGuide.pdf 2010–11 WCC Men's Basketball Media Guide
  38. http://www.wacsports.com//pdf8/723552.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10100 2010–11 WAC Men's Basketball Media Guide
  39. http://fs.ncaa.org/Docs/stats/m_basketball_RB/2012/Awards.pdf NCAA Record Book - DIVISION I CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS