The 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2002, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 7, 2003, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Syracuse Orangemen and coach Jim Boeheim won their first NCAA national championship with an 81–78 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.
Season headlines The preseason AP All-American team was named on November 12. David West of Xavier was the leading vote-getter (43 of 72 votes). The rest of the team included Luke Walton (42 votes) and Jason Gardner (39) of Arizona, Kirk Hinrich of Kansas (35) and Erwin Dudley of Alabama (32).Walton And Gardner Head Preseason All-America Team , Arizona Wildcats, retrieved 2010-07-29 The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) held its last third-place game between the teams which lost in the semifinals. The tournament included a third-place game from 1938 through 1981 and again from 1984 through 2003.
Major rule changes Beginning in 2002–03, the following rules changes were implemented:2008–09 NCAA Record Book – Playing Rules History section Two free-throw lane spaces closest to the free-thrower would remain unoccupied. No free throws were awarded to the offended team in bonus for personal fouls committed by a team while in team control or in possession of the ball during a throw-in (team-control foul).
Season outlook
Pre-season polls The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 13, 2002. Associated PressRankingTeam1Arizona (50)2Kansas (14)3Oklahoma (6)4Texas5Pittsburgh (1)6Duke7Florida8Alabama9Michigan State10Xavier11Oregon12Mississippi State (1)13Maryland14UCLA15Connecticut16Georgia17Kentucky18Marquette19Missouri20Western Kentucky21Indiana22Gonzaga23Cincinnati24Minnesota25Tulsa ESPN/USA Today CoachesRankingTeam1Arizona (27)2Kansas (3)3Oklahoma (1)4Pittsburgh5Texas6Duke7Florida8Alabama9Oregon10Michigan State11Xavier12UCLA13Mississippi State14Connecticut15Maryland16Georgia17Kentucky18Missouri19Marquette20Cincinnati21Indiana22Gonzaga23Western Kentucky24Minnesota25Illinois
Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 2002–03 season.
SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference NCAA Division II independent Atlantic Sun Conference NCAA Division II independent NCAA Division I independent NCAA Division III independent NCAA Division I independent
Regular season Conferences Conference winners and tournaments ConferenceRegular season winnerConference player of the yearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAmerica East Conference Boston University Taylor Coppenrath, VermontAmerica East Players of the Year, America East Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 America East men's basketball tournament Walter Brown Arena(Boston, Massachusetts)(Except Finals) VermontAmerica East Championship results, America East Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01Atlantic 10 Conference St. Joseph's (East)Xavier (West) David West, Xavier2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Awards section , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament University of Dayton Arena (Dayton, Ohio) Dayton2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Championship section , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01Atlantic Coast Conference Wake Forest Josh Howard, Wake Forest 2003 ACC men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) DukeAtlantic Sun Conference Troy & Mercer Adam Sonn, BelmontAtlantic Sun men's basketball record book, Atlantic Sun Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament GSU Sports Arena(Atlanta, Georgia) TroyBig 12 Conference Kansas Nick Collison, KansasBig 12 Conference Basketball Coaches Select All-Big 12 Team, Big 12 Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Big 12 men's basketball tournament American Airlines Center(Dallas, Texas) OklahomaBig East Conference Connecticut & Boston College (East)Syracuse & Pittsburgh (West) Troy Bell, Boston College2008–09 Big East men's basketball media guide – Records section , Big East Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Big East men's basketball tournament Madison Square Garden(New York City, New York) PittsburghBig Sky Conference Weber State Jermaine Boyette, Weber State, Big Sky Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Big Sky men's basketball tournament Dee Events Center(Ogden, Utah)(Semifinals and Finals) Weber StateBig South Conference Winthrop Torrey Butler, Coastal Carolina2008–09 Big South men's basketball media guide – History section, Big South Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament Vines Center(Lynchburg, Virginia)(Semifinals and Finals) UNC AshevilleBig Ten Conference Wisconsin Brian Cook, Illinois2008–09 Men's Basketball Media Guide , Big Ten Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament United Center(Chicago, Illinois) IllinoisBig West Conference UC Santa Barbara Branduinn Fullove, UC Santa Barbara2008–09 Big West Conference men's basketball media guide , Big West Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament Anaheim Convention Center(Anaheim, California) Utah StateColonial Athletic Association UNC Wilmington Brett Blizzard, UNC WilmingtonCAA men's basketball record book , Colonial Athletic Association, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 CAA men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia) UNC WilmingtonConference USA Marquette Dwyane Wade, MarquetteMarquette's Wade and Crean Earn Top C-USA Men's Basketball Honors , Conference USA, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Conference USA men's basketball tournament Freedom Hall(Louisville, Kentucky) LouisvilleHorizon League Butler Willie Green, Detroit2008–09 Horizon League men's basketball media guide , Horizon League, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Horizon League men's basketball tournament U.S. Cellular Arena(Milwaukee, Wisconsin)(Except First Round) Wisconsin-MilwaukeeIvy League Penn Ugonna Onyekwe, PennMen's Ivy League Outstanding performers , Ivy League, retrieved 2009-09-01 No TournamentMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference Manhattan Luis Flores, ManhattanMen's Basketball All-MAAC Awards , Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 MAAC men's basketball tournament Sovereign Bank Arena(Trenton, New Jersey) ManhattanMid-American Conference Kent State (East)Central Michigan (West) Chris Kaman, Central Michigan2008–09 MAC Men's Basketball Media Guide , Mid-American Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 MAC men's basketball tournament Gund Arena(Cleveland, Ohio) Central MichiganMid-Continent Conference Valparaiso Mike Helms, OaklandMen's Basketball Yearly Award Winners , Summit League, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament Kemper Arena(Kansas City, Missouri) IUPUIMid-Eastern Athletic Conference South Carolina State Ron Williamson, Howard, Omnidan News, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia) South Carolina State2008–09 MEAC men's basketball media guide , MEAC, retrieved 2009-09-01Missouri Valley Conference Southern Illinois Kyle Korver, Creighton2008–09 MVC men's basketball media guide – Honors section , Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Savvis Center(St. Louis, Missouri) Creighton2008–09 MVC men's basketball media guide – Tournament section, Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01Mountain West Conference Utah & BYU Ruben Douglas, New MexicoAll-Mountain West Conference Men's Basketball Teams Announced , Mountain West Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 MWC men's basketball tournament Thomas & Mack Center(Paradise, Nevada) Colorado StateNortheast Conference Wagner Jermaine Hall, Wagner2002–03 NEC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team , Northeast Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament Campus Sites WagnerNEC Men's Basketball History , Northeast Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01Ohio Valley Conference Austin Peay & Morehead State Ricky Minard, Morehead State2008–09 OVC men's basketball media guide, Ohio Valley Conference, retrieved 2009-09-01 2003 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Gaylord Entertainment Center(Nashville, Tennessee)(Semifinals and Finals) Austin PeayPacific-10 Conference Arizona Luke Ridnour, Oregon 2003 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament Staples Center(Los Angeles, California) OregonPatriot League Holy Cross Patrick Whearty, Holy CrossAll-Time Patriot League Men's Basketball Awards , Patriot League, retrieved 2009-09-02 2003 Patriot League men's basketball tournament Campus Sites Holy CrossSoutheastern Conference Kentucky (East) Mississippi State (West) Keith Bogans, Kentucky (Coaches)Coaches Vote Smith, Bogans Tops in SEC , University of Kentucky, retrieved 2009-09-02 Ron Slay, Tennessee (AP)Ron Slay bio , University of Tennessee, retrieved 2009-09-02 2003 SEC men's basketball tournament Louisiana Superdome(New Orleans, Louisiana) KentuckySouthern Conference East Tennessee State, Appalachian State & Davidson (North)Charleston (South) Troy Wheless, CharlestonSoCon Coaches Name 2002–03 All-Conference Team, Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-09-02 2003 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament North Charleston Coliseum(North Charleston, South Carolina) East Tennessee StateEast Tennessee State Wins 2003 SoCon Championship, Southern Conference, retrieved 2009-09-02Southland Conference Sam Houston State Donald Cole, Sam Houston State2008–09 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Media Guide, Southland Conference, retrieved 2009-09-02 2003 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament Bernard Johnson Coliseum(Huntsville, Texas)(Finals) Sam Houston StateSouthwestern Athletic Conference Prairie View A&M Gregory Burks, Prairie View A&M2006–07 SWAC Men's Basketball Media Guide 2003 Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament Fair Park Arena(Birmingham, Alabama) Texas SouthernSun Belt Conference Western Kentucky (East)Louisiana–Lafayette (West) James Moore, New Mexico StateNew Mexico State's James Moore named Men's Basketball Player of the Year: MT's Kermit Davis, Jr. named Coach of the Year , Sun Belt Conference, retrieved 2009-09-02 2003 Sun Belt men's basketball tournament E. A. Diddle Arena(Bowling Green, Kentucky) Western KentuckyWest Coast Conference Gonzaga Blake Stepp, GonzagaWCC Men's Basketball Record Book , West Coast Conference, retrieved 2009-09-03 2003 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament Jenny Craig Pavilion(San Diego, California) San DiegoWestern Athletic Conference Fresno State Quinton Ross, Southern Methodist2008–09 WAC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Records Section , Western Athletic Conference, retrieved 2009-09-02 2003 WAC men's basketball tournament Reynolds Center(Tulsa, Oklahoma) Tulsa Conference standings
Division I independents
Eight schools played as Division I independents.
Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 Saint Joseph's Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's Saint Joseph's finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.
Statistical leaders Source for additional stats categories