1997 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament explained

Division:II
Year:1997
Gender:Men's
Teams:48
Finalfourcity:Commonwealth Convention Center
Louisville, Kentucky
Champions:Cal State Bakersfield
Titlecount:3rd
Runnerup:Northern Kentucky
Gamecount:2nd
Semifinal1:Lynn
Finalfourcount:1st
Semifinal2:Salem-Teikyo
Finalfourcount2:1st
Coach:Pat Douglass
Coachcount:3rd
Mop:Kebu Stewart
Mopteam:CSUB

The 1997 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament was the 41st annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball in the United States.

The tournament officially culminated the 1996–97 NCAA Division II men's basketball season, featuring forty-eight teams from around the country.

The national quarterfinals (Elite Eight), semifinals, and championship were played at the Commonwealth Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky.

Cal State Bakersfield (29–4) defeated Northern Kentucky in the final, 57–56, to win their third overall Division II national championship and their third in five seasons.

It was also NKU's second consecutive loss in the national championship game, having lost to Fort Hays State in 1996.

Despite being the defending national champions with only one loss on the season, Fort Hays State had to travel from Kansas to South Dakota for the North Central Regional hosted by 4 loss South Dakota State.

The CSB Roadrunners were coached by Pat Douglass. Bakersfield's Kebu Stewart was the Most Outstanding Player.

Regionals

Location: Elmore Coliseum Host: Alabama A&M University

Location: Frost Arena Host: South Dakota State

Location: Nicoson Hall Host: University of Indianapolis

Location: Hamilton Field House Host: University of Central Oklahoma

Location: McDougald–McLendon Arena Host: North Carolina Central University

Location: T. Edward Davis Gymnasium Host: Salem-Teikyo University

Location: NHC Fieldhouse Host: New Hampshire College

Location: CSUB Student Activities Center Host: California State University, Bakersfield

Elite Eight-Louisville, Kentucky

Location: Commonwealth Convention Center Host: Bellarmine College

All-tournament team

See also

References