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.
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 PressRankingTeam1Cincinnati2Kansas3Kentucky4Wake Forest5UCLA6Utah7Villanova8North Carolina9Michigan10Duke11Iowa State12Syracuse13Arkansas14Fresno State15Massachusetts16Texas17New Mexico18Stanford19Arizona20Clemson21Boston College22Minnesota23Iowa24George Washington25Marquette
Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 1996–97 season.
SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference Big Sky Conference Big West Conference American West Conference Big West Conference American West Conference Big Sky Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Mid-Continent Conference Ohio Valley Conference Southwest Conference Conference USA Big Sky Conference Big West Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Big West Conference Western Athletic Conference Southland Conference Big West Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Big Eight Conference Big 12 Conference Pacific West Conference (D-II) Big Sky Conference Southwest Conference Western Athletic Conference American West Conference Big Sky Conference Big West Conference Western Athletic Conference Southwest Conference Western Athletic Conference American West Conference NCAA Division I Independent Southwest Conference Western Athletic Conference Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference Southwest Conference Big 12 Conference 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.
ConferenceRegular season winnerConference player of the yearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAmerica East Conference Boston University Tunji Awojobi, Boston UniversityAmerica East Players of the Year, America East Conference, retrieved 2012-10-14 1997 America East men's basketball tournament Case Gym(Boston, Massachusetts) Boston UniversityAmerica East Championship results, America East Conference, retrieved 2012-10-14Atlantic 10 Conference St. Joseph's (East)Xavier (West) Marc Jackson, Temple2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Awards section , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2012-10-14 1997 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament The Spectrum (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) St. Joseph's2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Championship section , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27Atlantic Coast Conference Duke Tim Duncan, Wake Forest2010–11 ACC men's basketball media guide , Atlantic Coast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 ACC men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) North CarolinaBig 12 Conference Kansas Raef LaFrentz, Kansas2008–09 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section, Big 12 Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Big 12 men's basketball tournament Kemper Arena(Kansas City, Missouri) KansasBig East Conference Boston College & Villanova (Big East 6)Georgetown (Big East 7) Pat Garrity, Notre Dame2008–09 Big East men's basketball media guide – Records section , Big East Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Big East men's basketball tournament Madison Square Garden(New York City, New York) Boston CollegeBig Sky Conference Northern Arizona Charles Thomas, Northern Arizona2010–11 Big Sky men's basketball media guide, Big Sky Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament Walkup Skydome(Flagstaff, Arizona) MontanaBig South Conference UNC Asheville Josh Pittman, UNC Asheville2010–11 Big South men's basketball media guide – History section, Big South Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament Vines Center(Lynchburg, Virginia) Charleston SouthernBig Ten Conference Minnesota (Vacated) Bobby Jackson, Minnesota (Vacated)2010–11 Big Ten Men's Basketball Media Guide , Big Ten, retrieved 2011-01-27 No TournamentBig West Conference Pacific (Western)Nevada (Eastern) Faron Hand, Nevada2010–11 Big West Conference men's basketball media guide, Big West Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament Lawlor Events Center(Reno, Nevada) PacificColonial Athletic Association Old Dominion Odell Hodge, Old DominionCAA men's basketball record book , Colonial Athletic Association, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 CAA men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia) Old DominionConference USA Cincinnati Danny Fortson, Cincinnati2010–11 Conference USA Men's Basketball Media Guide – History Section , Conference USA, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Conference USA men's basketball tournament Kiel Center(St. Louis, Missouri) MarquetteIvy League Princeton Sydney Johnson, Princeton2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball media guide, Ivy League, retrieved 2011-01-27 No TournamentMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference Iona Mindaugas Timinskas, IonaMen's Basketball All-MAAC Awards , Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 MAAC men's basketball tournament Marine Midland Arena(Buffalo, New York) FairfieldMid-American Conference Bowling GreenMiami (OH) Antonio Daniels, Bowling Green2010–11 MAC men's basketball media guide, Mid-American Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 MAC men's basketball tournament SeaGate Convention Centre(Toledo, Ohio) Miami (OH)Mid-Continent Conference Valparaiso Bryce Drew, Valparaiso2010–11 Summit League men's basketball media guide , Summit League, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament The MARK of the Quad Cities(Moline, Illinois) ValparaisoMid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coppin State Roderick Blakney, South Carolina State 1997 MEAC men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia) Coppin StateMidwestern Collegiate Conference Butler Jon Neuhouser, Butler2008–09 Horizon League Men's Basketball Record Book , Horizon League, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 MCC men's basketball tournament Nutter Center(Dayton, Ohio) ButlerMissouri Valley Conference Illinois State Jason Daisy, Northern Iowa2010–11 MVC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section , Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Kiel Center(St. Louis, Missouri) Illinois StateNortheast Conference Long Island Charles Jones, Long Island1998–99 NEC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team, Northeast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament Schwartz Athletic Center(Brooklyn, New York) Long Island1998–99 NEC Men's Basketball media guide , Northeast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27Ohio Valley Conference Austin PeayMurray State Bubba Wells, Austin Peay2010–11 OVC men's basketball media guide, Ohio Valley Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Gaylord Entertainment Center(Nashville, Tennessee)(Semifinals and Finals) Murray StatePacific-10 Conference UCLA Ed Gray, California2010–11 Pacific-10 Men's Basketball Media Guide- History Section , Pac-10 Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 No TournamentPatriot League Navy Adonal Foyle, Colgate2010–11 Patriot League Men's Basketball media guide , Patriot League, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Patriot League men's basketball tournament Alumni Hall(Annapolis, Maryland) Navyhttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11YearbyYear.pdf 2010–11 Patriot League Men's Basketball media guide], Patriot League, retrieved 2011-01-27Southeastern Conference South Carolina (East)Ole Miss (West) Ron Mercer, Kentucky2010–11 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book , Southeastern Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 SEC men's basketball tournament Pyramid Arena(Memphis, Tennessee) KentuckySouthern Conference Marshall (North)Chattanooga (South) Johnny Taylor, Chattanooga2010–11 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section , Southern Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) Chattanooga2010–11 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section , Southern Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27Southland Conference Texas State Rosell Ellis, McNeese State2010–11 Southland Conference Men's Basketball Media Guide, Southland Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament Hirsch Memorial Coliseum(Shreveport, Louisiana) Texas StateSouthwestern Athletic Conference Mississippi Valley State Randy Bolden, Texas Southern2010–11 SWAC Men's Basketball Media Guide , SWAC, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 SWAC men's basketball tournament — Jackson StateSun Belt Conference South Alabama Muntrelle Dobbins, Little Rock2010–11 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Media Guide, Sun Belt Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 Sun Belt men's basketball tournament Barton Coliseum(Little Rock, Arkansas) South AlabamaTrans America Athletic Conference College of Charleston Anthony Johnson, College of CharlestonAtlantic Sun men's basketball record book, Atlantic Sun Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 TAAC men's basketball tournament John Kresse Arena(Charleston, South Carolina) College of CharlestonWest Coast Conference St. Mary'sSanta Clara Marlon Garnett, Santa Clara2010–11 WCC Men's Basketball Media Guide , West Coast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament Gersten Pavilion(Los Angeles, California) St. Mary'sWestern Athletic Conference Fresno State (Pacific)Utah (Mountain) Anthony Carter, HawaiiKeith Van Horn, Utah2010–11 WAC Men's Basketball Media Guide , Western Athletic Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1997 WAC men's basketball tournament Thomas & Mack Center(Las Vegas, Nevada) Utah
Conference standings
Division I independents
Three schools played as Division I independents. One () received a bid to the 1997 National Invitation Tournament.
Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 Temple & Villanova Rashid Bey, Saint Joseph's, & Alvin Williams, Villanova