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
South - Huntsville, Alabama Location: Elmore Coliseum Host: Alabama A&M University
North Central - Brookings, South Dakota Location: Frost Arena Host: South Dakota State
Great Lakes - Indianapolis, Indiana Location: Nicoson Hall Host: University of Indianapolis
South Central - Edmond, Oklahoma Location: Hamilton Field House Host: University of Central Oklahoma
South Atlantic - Durham, North Carolina Location: McDougald–McLendon Arena Host: North Carolina Central University
East - Salem, West Virginia Location: T. Edward Davis Gymnasium Host: Salem-Teikyo University
Northeast - Manchester, New Hampshire Location: NHC Fieldhouse Host: New Hampshire College
West - Bakersfield, California Location: CSUB Student Activities Center Host: California State University, Bakersfield
Elite Eight-Louisville, Kentucky Location: Commonwealth Convention Center Host: Bellarmine College
All-tournament team Kebu Stewart, Cal State Bakersfield (MOP) Cliff Clinton, Northern Kentucky Paul Cluxton, Northern Kentucky Shannon Minor, Northern Kentucky Terrance Springer, Salem-Teikyo
See also 1997 NCAA Division II women's basketball tournament 1997 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament 1997 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament 1997 NAIA Division I men's basketball tournament 1997 NAIA Division II men's basketball tournament
References NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament Results 1997 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament jonfmorse.com