🏀 The 1987-88 men’s college basketball season

What the record holds for this season: the champion, the tournament bracket, the AP poll week by week, the conference tables, and the Elo ratings with the biggest upsets.

Source: Citizen of Nowhere college basketball database · 33 conferences · 64-team tournament
Jump to any season1896–2027

1987-88 national champion

The NCAA tournament winner.

National champion
27-116 seed

Title gameOklahoma 79, Kansas 83 (Apr 4)

The 1988 NCAA tournament

64 teams. Winners in bold, seeds before each team.

64-team field · 4 regions

Conference tournaments

The champion and the other finalist of each of the 29 conference tournaments held in 1987-88.

ConferenceChampionRunner-up
American SouthLouisiana Tech
69-66, Mar 6
New Orleans
Atlantic 10Temple
68-63, Mar 8
Rhode Island
Atlantic CoastDuke
65-61, Mar 13
North Carolina
Big EastSyracuse
85-68, Mar 13
Villanova
Big EightOklahoma
88-83, Mar 13
Kansas State
Big SkyBoise State
63-61, Mar 10
Montana State
Big SouthWinthrop
71-56, Mar 5
Radford
ColonialRichmond
74-71, Mar 7
George Mason
ECAC MetroFairleigh Dickinson
90-75, Mar 11
Monmouth
ECAC NorthBoston University
79-68, Mar 11
Niagara
East CoastLehigh
84-78, Mar 7
Towson
MetroLouisville
81-73, Mar 13
Memphis State
Metro AtlanticLa Salle
79-70, Mar 5
Fordham
Mid-AmericanEastern Michigan
94-80, Mar 10
Ohio
Mid-EasternNorth Carolina A&T
101-86, Mar 5
Florida A&M
MidwesternXavier
122-96, Mar 12
Detroit
Missouri ValleyBradley
89-59, Mar 7
Illinois State
Ohio ValleyMurray State
73-70, Mar 9
Austin Peay
Pacific CoastUtah StateUC Irvine
Pacific-10Arizona
83-67, Mar 13
Oregon State
SoutheasternKentucky
62-57, Mar 13
Georgia
SouthernUT-Chattanooga
75-61, Mar 6
VMI
SouthlandNorth Texas
87-70, Mar 10
Northeast Louisiana
SouthwestSMU
75-64, Mar 13
Baylor
Southwestern AthleticSouthern
78-62, Mar 12
Grambling
Sun BeltUNC Charlotte
81-79, Mar 7
Virginia Commonwealth
Trans AmericaTX-San Antonio
76-69, Mar 12
Georgia Southern
West CoastLoyola Marymount
104-96, Mar 7
Santa Clara
Western AthleticWyoming
79-75, Mar 12
UTEP

The 1987-88 AP poll, week by week

Each team's rank in every poll. Tap a rank to read it.

TeamNov24Dec18152229Jan5121926Feb291623Mar1815
Temple12121186664365111111
Arizona179421131111333332
Purdue21113121011108526222223
Oklahoma1918161412108311107444444
Duke151310109997954865985
Kentucky52112215491010912866
North Carolina31544442238659697
Pittsburgh442333266119586758
Syracuse1389777914171211121012139
Michigan915151311121110781112107101010
Bradley18151714141211
UNLV1917151515131384271185712
Wyoming1010765551217181916171413
North Carolina State20161418161114
Loyola Marymount2019181615
Illinois19201313171916
Iowa1163714141617191613131313111517
Xavier202018
BYU12738711151719
Kansas State1420
Georgia Tech18201318
Vanderbilt1517161719
Missouri88916171515
Georgetown161714181918141115151418
Indiana65651313121519
Villanova1920
Iowa State2016161714101216
Florida147121188151419
St. John's2020
UTEP1818
Southern Mississippi20
Kansas71618171817181616
New Mexico18
Auburn19
Memphis State2020192019
Louisville131420
Notre Dame19
DePaul20

Tap a rank to read it.

1988 final AP Top 20

The last Associated Press ranking of the season, with each team's record.

1988 final AP Top 20AP
  1. 1Temple32-2
  2. 2Arizona35-3
  3. 3Purdue29-4
  4. 4Oklahoma35-4
  5. 5Duke28-7
  6. 6Kentucky27-6
  7. 7North Carolina27-7
  8. 8Pittsburgh24-7
  9. 9Syracuse26-9
  10. 10Michigan26-8
  1. 11Bradley26-5
  2. 12UNLV28-6
  3. 13Wyoming26-6
  4. 14North Carolina State24-7
  5. 15Loyola Marymount28-4
  6. 16Illinois23-10
  7. 17Iowa24-10
  8. 18Xavier26-4
  9. 19BYU26-6
  10. 20Kansas State25-9

1988 standings by conference

Overall and conference record. A star marks the regular-season champion, a trophy the conference-tournament champion.

1988 standings by conference33 conferences
American South6 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Louisiana Tech22-97-3★ 🏆
New Orleans21-117-3★
Lamar20-115-5
Arkansas State21-144-6
Texas-Pan American14-144-6
SW Louisiana12-163-7
Atlantic 1010 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Temple32-218-0★ 🏆 1 seed AP 1
Rhode Island28-714-411 seed
West Virginia18-1412-6
St. Joseph's15-149-9
Penn State13-149-9
George Washington13-157-11
St. Bonaventure13-157-11
Duquesne11-216-12
Massachusetts10-175-13
Rutgers7-223-15
Atlantic Coast8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
North Carolina27-711-3★ 2 seed AP 7
North Carolina State24-710-43 seed AP 14
Duke28-79-5🏆 2 seed AP 5
Georgia Tech22-108-65 seed
Maryland18-136-87 seed
Virginia13-185-9
Clemson14-154-10
Wake Forest10-183-11
Big East9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Pittsburgh24-712-4★ 2 seed AP 8
Syracuse26-911-5🏆 3 seed AP 9
Georgetown20-109-78 seed
Villanova24-139-76 seed
Seton Hall22-138-88 seed
St. John's17-128-811 seed
Boston College18-156-10
Providence11-175-11
Connecticut20-144-12
Big Eight8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Oklahoma35-412-2★ 🏆 1 seed AP 4
Kansas State25-911-34 seed AP 20
Kansas27-119-56 seed
Missouri19-117-76 seed
Iowa State20-126-812 seed
Oklahoma State14-164-10
Nebraska13-184-10
Colorado7-213-11
Big Sky9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Boise State24-613-3★ 🏆 14 seed
Idaho19-1111-5
Montana State19-1110-6
Idaho State15-138-8
Nevada15-138-8
Montana18-117-9
Northern Arizona10-187-9
Weber State9-216-10
Eastern Washington6-212-14
Big South7 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Coastal Carolina17-119-3★
Baptist17-128-4
Radford16-148-4
Winthrop17-135-7🏆
NC-Asheville13-155-7
Augusta State8-184-8
Campbell11-163-9
Big Ten10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Purdue29-416-2★ 1 seed AP 3
Michigan26-813-53 seed AP 10
Iowa24-1012-65 seed AP 17
Illinois23-1012-63 seed AP 16
Indiana19-1011-74 seed
Ohio State20-139-9
Wisconsin12-166-12
Michigan State10-185-13
Minnesota10-184-14
Northwestern7-212-16
Colonial8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Richmond26-711-3★ 🏆 13 seed
George Mason20-109-5
American14-149-5
NC-Wilmington15-148-6
Navy12-166-8
James Madison10-185-9
William & Mary10-195-9
East Carolina8-203-11
East Coast8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Lafayette19-1011-3★
Delaware19-99-5
Drexel18-109-5
Lehigh21-108-6🏆 16 seed
Bucknell16-127-7
Rider10-196-8
Towson14-164-10
Hofstra6-212-12
ECAC Metro9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Fairleigh Dickinson23-713-3★ 🏆 16 seed
Marist18-913-3★
Monmouth16-1311-5
Robert Morris14-149-7
LIU-Brooklyn14-148-8
Loyola (MD)8-226-10
St. Francis (NY)11-185-11
St. Francis (PA)7-204-12
Wagner9-183-13
ECAC North10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Siena23-616-2★
Boston University23-814-4🏆 15 seed
Niagara15-1512-6
Hartford15-1612-6
Northeastern15-1311-7
Maine13-1510-8
Canisius7-207-11
Colgate4-233-15
New Hampshire4-253-15
Vermont3-242-16
Ivy8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Cornell17-1011-3★ 16 seed
Dartmouth18-810-4
Princeton17-99-5
Yale12-148-6
Pennsylvania10-168-6
Harvard11-156-8
Brown6-202-12
Columbia6-202-12
Metro7 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Louisville24-119-3★ 🏆 5 seed
Florida State19-117-512 seed
South Carolina19-106-6
Virginia Tech19-106-6
Memphis State20-126-69 seed
Southern Mississippi19-115-7
Cincinnati11-173-9
Metro Atlantic8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
La Salle24-1014-0★ 🏆 13 seed
St. Peter's20-911-3
Fordham18-159-5
Holy Cross14-158-6
Iona11-165-9
Army9-194-10
Fairfield8-204-10
Manhattan7-231-13
Mid-American9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Eastern Michigan22-814-2★ 🏆 15 seed
Central Michigan19-1310-6
Ohio16-149-7
Ball State14-148-8
Bowling Green12-167-9
Western Michigan12-177-9
Kent10-186-10
Miami (OH)9-186-10
Toledo15-125-11
Mid-Continent8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
SW Missouri State22-712-2★ 13 seed
Cleveland State22-811-3
Wisconsin-Green Bay18-99-5
Eastern Illinois17-117-7
Western Illinois15-126-8
Northern Iowa10-184-10
Illinois-Chicago8-204-10
Valparaiso12-163-11
Mid-Eastern9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
North Carolina A&T26-316-0★ 🏆 14 seed
Florida A&M22-811-5
South Carolina State16-1310-6
Howard15-129-7
Coppin State13-148-7
Morgan State13-177-8
MD-Eastern Shore7-205-11
Bethune-Cookman6-214-12
Delaware State3-251-15
Midwestern6 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Xavier26-49-1★ 🏆 11 seed AP 18
Evansville21-86-4
Butler14-145-5
Saint Louis14-145-5
Loyola-Chicago13-163-7
Detroit7-232-8
Missouri Valley8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Bradley26-512-2★ 🏆 9 seed AP 11
Wichita State20-1011-312 seed
Illinois State18-139-5
Creighton16-166-8
Southern Illinois12-166-8
Drake14-145-9
Tulsa8-204-10
Indiana State7-213-11
Ohio Valley8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Murray State22-913-1★ 🏆 14 seed
Middle Tennessee State23-1111-3
Eastern Kentucky18-1110-4
Austin Peay17-1310-4
Tennessee Tech12-165-9
Tennessee State11-174-10
Youngstown State7-212-12
Morehead State5-221-13
Pacific Coast10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
UNLV28-615-3★ 4 seed AP 12
UC Santa Barbara22-813-510 seed
Utah State21-1013-5🏆 10 seed
Long Beach State17-1211-7
UC Irvine16-149-9
New Mexico State16-168-10
San Jose State14-158-10
CSU-Fullerton12-177-11
Fresno State9-196-12
Pacific5-240-18
Pacific-1010 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Arizona35-317-1★ 🏆 1 seed AP 2
Oregon State20-1112-612 seed
UCLA16-1412-6
Stanford21-1211-7
Oregon16-1410-8
Washington State13-167-11
Arizona State13-166-12
Washington10-195-13
California9-205-13
USC7-215-13
Southeastern10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Kentucky27-613-5★ 🏆 2 seed AP 6
Florida23-1211-76 seed
Auburn19-1111-78 seed
Vanderbilt20-1110-87 seed
LSU16-1410-89 seed
Tennessee16-139-9
Georgia20-168-10
Mississippi State14-156-12
Alabama14-176-12
Mississippi13-166-12
Southern9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Marshall24-814-2★
Furman18-1011-5
Davidson15-139-7
East Tennessee State14-159-7
UT-Chattanooga20-138-8🏆 16 seed
Appalachian State16-138-8
VMI13-176-10
Citadel8-205-11
Western Carolina8-192-14
Southland8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
North Texas17-1312-2★ 🏆 15 seed
Northeast Louisiana21-910-4
Sam Houston State14-149-5
Northwestern State16-127-7
SW Texas State9-226-8
Stephen F. Austin10-184-10
McNeese State7-224-10
Texas-Arlington7-224-10
Southwest9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
SMU28-712-4★ 🏆 7 seed
Arkansas21-911-511 seed
Baylor23-1111-58 seed
Houston18-1310-6
Texas16-1310-6
Texas A&M16-158-8
Texas Tech9-194-12
TCU9-193-13
Rice6-213-13
Southwestern Athletic8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Southern24-712-2★ 🏆 15 seed
Texas Southern21-811-3
Grambling13-179-5
Jackson State13-157-7
Mississippi Valley State8-205-9
Alcorn State8-215-9
Alabama State8-204-10
Prairie View5-223-11
Sun Belt8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
UNC Charlotte22-911-3★ 🏆 13 seed
Virginia Commonwealth23-1210-4
Old Dominion18-129-5
South Alabama15-148-6
UAB16-157-7
Western Kentucky15-136-8
South Florida6-223-11
Jacksonville8-212-12
Trans America10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Arkansas-Little Rock24-715-3★
Georgia Southern24-715-3★
TX-San Antonio22-913-5🏆 14 seed
Hardin-Simmons18-1210-8
Mercer15-148-10
Centenary13-158-10
Stetson13-158-10
Georgia State9-195-13
Houston Baptist9-184-14
Samford7-204-14
West Coast8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Loyola Marymount28-414-0★ 🏆 10 seed AP 15
St. Mary's19-99-5
Santa Clara20-119-5
Pepperdine17-138-6
Gonzaga16-127-7
San Francisco13-155-9
San Diego11-173-11
Portland6-221-13
Western Athletic9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
BYU26-613-3★ 4 seed AP 19
Wyoming26-611-5🏆 7 seed AP 13
Utah19-1111-5
UTEP23-1010-69 seed
Colorado State22-138-8
New Mexico22-148-8
San Diego State12-175-11
Air Force11-174-12
Hawaii4-252-14
Independent18 teams

Elo ratings and upsets use the games in our record for this season, which is incomplete before 1995-96; team records come from the season standings.

1988 Elo and upsets

The ten highest-rated teams when the season ended, and the results the ratings gave the winner the least chance of.

1988 Elo and upsetsElo

Elo, top 10

  1. 1Oklahoma2120
  2. 2Arizona2115
  3. 3Temple2091
  4. 4Duke2078
  5. 5North Carolina2071
  6. 6Syracuse2066
  7. 7Purdue2048
  8. 8Kansas2041
  9. 9Illinois1997
  10. 10Michigan1994

Biggest upsets

Where these numbers come from

Enough to disbelieve this page on purpose rather than by accident.

Champions, brackets, polls and standings are read from the Citizen of Nowhere college basketball database, one season at a time. A section appears only where the database holds its data: the NCAA tournament began in 1939 (earlier champions are retroactive selections), the AP poll in 1949, and game-by-game results, and so the Elo ratings and upsets, in 1950.

Elo ratings and upsets come from the site’s own men’s college basketball Elo, built from every game since 1950. An upset’s win chance is the winner’s pre-game probability from those ratings.