🏀 The 1996-97 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 · 31 conferences · 64-team tournament
Jump to any season1896–2027

1996-97 national champion

The NCAA tournament winner.

National champion
25-94 seedFinal AP #15

Title gameKentucky 79, Arizona 84 (Mar 31)

The 1997 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 27 conference tournaments held in 1996-97.

ConferenceChampionRunner-up
America EastBoston University
68-61, Mar 7
Drexel
Atlantic 10St. Joseph's
61-56, Mar 8
Rhode Island
Atlantic CoastNorth Carolina
64-54, Mar 9
North Carolina State
Big 12Kansas
87-60, Mar 9
Missouri
Big EastBoston College
70-58, Mar 8
Villanova
Big SkyMontana
82-79, Mar 8
CSU-Northridge
Big SouthCharleston Southern
64-54, Mar 1
Liberty
Big WestPacific
63-55, Mar 9
Nevada
ColonialOld Dominion
62-58, Mar 3
James Madison
Conference USAMarquette
60-52, Mar 8
UNC Charlotte
Metro AtlanticFairfield
78-72, Mar 3
Canisius
Mid-AmericanMiami (OH)
96-76, Mar 8
Eastern Michigan
Mid-ContinentValparaiso
63-59, Mar 4
Western Illinois
Mid-EasternCoppin State
81-74, Mar 8
North Carolina A&T
MidwesternButler
69-68, Mar 4
Illinois-Chicago
Missouri ValleyIllinois State
75-72, Mar 3
SW Missouri State
NortheastLIU-Brooklyn
72-67, Mar 6
Monmouth
Ohio ValleyMurray State
88-85, Mar 1
Austin Peay
PatriotNavy
76-75, Mar 5
Bucknell
SoutheasternKentucky
95-68, Mar 9
Georgia
SouthernUT-Chattanooga
71-70, Mar 2
Marshall
SouthlandSW Texas State
74-64, Mar 8
Northeast Louisiana
Southwestern AthleticJackson State
81-74, Mar 8
Mississippi Valley State
Sun BeltSouth Alabama
44-43, Mar 4
Louisiana Tech
Trans AmericaCollege of Charleston
83-73, Mar 1
Florida International
West CoastSt. Mary's
66-59, Mar 3
San Francisco
Western AthleticUtah
89-68, Mar 8
TCU

The 1996-97 AP poll, week by week

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

TeamNov131925Dec29162330Jan6132027Feb3101724Mar310
Kansas222111111111111111
Utah644399879954555432
Minnesota222324161716151511786432223
North Carolina8714141112111113221919201612854
Kentucky388633333533343365
South Carolina2519129646
UCLA551317232424171097
Duke10106101411121310131012866778
Wake Forest433222222242224589
Cincinnati1114777664981281191010
New Mexico17181911151514161812151391310111411
St. Joseph's231912
Xavier231917171712141620171916141113
Clemson201210121086553271078121314
Arizona191911158699761110141113151215
College of Charleston2522201716
Georgia24212417
Iowa State1111996554481411697131618
Illinois24252023211519
Villanova765541010108161214161819182120
Stanford182021242122232121151715182220252321
Maryland25211919117571014162222
Boston College2121232025252523192223
Colorado1818151521191824
Louisville22181614141069111715172025
Indiana22208121313121517211724242225
Michigan997754481618131613141824
California25
Texas Tech18232023202520222321
Tulane2123
Tulsa2221242122
Iowa232525
Texas161718181314181822232323
Marquette252524
Mississippi20
Oregon24201724
Arkansas1316162220192222
Alabama242019
Fresno State141415131621
Syracuse12131219
Virginia25
Massachusetts151517
George Washington242425

Tap a rank to read it.

1997 final AP Top 25

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

1997 final AP Top 25AP

1997 standings by conference

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

1997 standings by conference31 conferences
America East10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Boston University25-517-1★ 🏆 12 seed
Drexel22-916-2
Hartford17-1111-7
Hofstra12-159-9
Delaware15-168-10
Vermont14-137-11
Maine11-206-12
Northeastern7-206-12
Towson9-195-13
New Hampshire7-205-13
Atlantic 1012 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Xavier23-613-3★ 7 seed AP 13
St. Joseph's26-713-3★ 🏆 4 seed AP 12
Rhode Island20-1012-49 seed
Massachusetts19-1411-511 seed
Temple20-1110-69 seed
George Washington15-148-8
Virginia Tech15-167-9
Dayton13-146-10
St. Bonaventure14-145-11
La Salle10-175-11
Duquesne9-185-11
Fordham6-211-15
Atlantic Coast9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Duke24-912-4★ 2 seed AP 8
North Carolina28-711-5🏆 1 seed AP 4
Wake Forest24-711-53 seed AP 9
Clemson23-109-74 seed AP 14
Maryland21-119-75 seed AP 22
Virginia18-137-99 seed
Florida State20-126-10
North Carolina State17-154-12
Georgia Tech9-183-13
Big 1212 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Kansas34-215-1★ 🏆 1 seed AP 1
Colorado22-1011-59 seed AP 24
Iowa State22-910-66 seed AP 18
Texas Tech19-910-6
Texas18-1210-610 seed
Oklahoma19-119-711 seed
Nebraska18-157-9
Oklahoma State17-157-9
Baylor18-126-10
Missouri16-175-11
Kansas State10-173-13
Texas A&M9-183-13
Big East13 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Boston College22-912-6★ 🏆 5 seed AP 23
Villanova24-1012-6★ 4 seed AP 20
West Virginia21-1011-7
Georgetown20-1011-7★ 10 seed
Providence24-1210-810 seed
Pittsburgh18-1510-8
Syracuse19-139-9
Miami (FL)16-139-9
Notre Dame16-148-10
St. John's13-148-10
Connecticut18-157-11
Rutgers11-165-13
Seton Hall10-185-13
Big Sky9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Northern Arizona21-714-2★
Montana21-1111-5🏆 16 seed
Montana State16-1410-6
Weber State15-139-7
Idaho State14-139-7
CSU-Northridge14-158-8
Eastern Washington7-193-13
Sacramento State3-232-14
Portland State9-17
Big South8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Liberty23-911-3★
NC-Asheville18-1011-3★
Radford15-138-6
Charleston Southern17-137-7🏆 15 seed
Coastal Carolina11-166-8
NC-Greensboro10-206-8
Winthrop12-155-9
MD-Baltimore County5-222-12
Big Ten11 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Minnesota35-516-2★ 1 seed AP 3
Iowa22-1012-68 seed
Purdue18-1212-68 seed
Illinois22-1011-76 seed AP 19
Wisconsin18-1011-77 seed
Michigan24-119-9
Indiana22-119-98 seed
Michigan State17-129-9
Ohio State10-175-13
Penn State10-173-15
Northwestern7-222-16
Big West12 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Pacific24-612-4★ 🏆 13 seed
Utah State20-912-4★
New Mexico State19-912-4★
Nevada21-1012-4★
Boise State14-139-7
Long Beach State13-149-7
UC Santa Barbara12-157-9
CSU-Fullerton13-146-10
Cal Poly-SLO14-166-10
Idaho13-175-11
North Texas10-165-11
UC Irvine1-251-15
Colonial9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Old Dominion22-1110-6★ 🏆 14 seed
NC-Wilmington16-1410-6★
East Carolina17-109-7
Virginia Commonwealth14-139-7
James Madison16-138-8
William & Mary12-168-8
Richmond13-157-9
American11-167-9
George Mason10-174-12
Conference USA12 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Cincinnati26-812-2★ 3 seed AP 10
Tulane20-1111-3★
UNC Charlotte22-910-4★ 7 seed
Memphis16-1510-4★
Louisville26-99-56 seed AP 25
Marquette22-99-5🏆 7 seed
UAB18-147-7
Southern Mississippi12-156-8
Saint Louis11-184-10
Houston11-163-11
South Florida8-192-12
DePaul3-231-13
Ivy8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Princeton24-414-0★ 12 seed
Dartmouth18-810-4
Harvard17-910-4
Pennsylvania12-148-6
Cornell15-117-7
Yale10-163-11
Brown4-223-11
Columbia6-201-13
Metro Atlantic8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Iona22-811-3★
Canisius17-1210-4
Loyola (MD)13-1410-4
St. Peter's13-159-5
Niagara11-175-9
Manhattan9-185-9
Siena9-184-10
Fairfield11-192-12🏆 16 seed
Mid-American10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Miami (OH)21-913-5★ 🏆 13 seed
Bowling Green22-1013-5★
Ohio17-1012-6
Eastern Michigan22-1011-7
Ball State16-139-9
Western Michigan14-149-9
Kent9-187-11
Toledo13-146-12
Akron8-186-12
Central Michigan7-194-14
Mid-Continent9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Valparaiso24-713-3★ 🏆 12 seed
Western Illinois19-1011-5
Buffalo17-1111-5
Troy State16-1110-6
Northeastern Illinois16-128-8
UMKC10-177-9
Youngstown State9-184-12
Central Connecticut State8-194-12
Chicago State4-234-12
Mid-Eastern10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Coppin State22-915-3★ 🏆 15 seed
South Carolina State14-1412-6
North Carolina A&T15-1311-7
Bethune-Cookman12-169-9
Morgan State9-188-10
Florida A&M8-198-10
Hampton8-197-11
Delaware State7-207-11
Howard7-207-11
MD-Eastern Shore11-176-12
Midwestern9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Butler23-1012-4★ 🏆 14 seed
Detroit16-1311-5
Illinois-Chicago15-1411-5
Wisconsin-Green Bay14-1410-6
Loyola-Chicago12-157-9
Northern Illinois12-156-10
Cleveland State9-196-10
Wright State7-205-11
Wisconsin-Milwaukee8-204-12
Missouri Valley10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Illinois State24-614-4★ 🏆 11 seed
SW Missouri State24-912-6
Bradley17-1312-6
Northern Iowa16-1211-7
Evansville17-1411-7
Creighton15-1510-8
Wichita State14-138-10
Southern Illinois13-176-12
Indiana State12-166-12
Drake2-260-18
Northeast10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
LIU-Brooklyn21-915-3★ 🏆 13 seed
Fairleigh Dickinson18-1013-5
Monmouth18-1112-6
Mount St. Mary's14-1310-8
Rider14-1410-8
St. Francis (PA)12-159-9
St. Francis (NY)13-157-11
Wagner10-177-11
Marist6-224-14
Robert Morris4-233-15
Ohio Valley10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Murray State20-1012-6★ 🏆 15 seed
Austin Peay17-1412-6★
Middle Tennessee State19-1211-7
Tennessee Tech15-1310-8
Eastern Illinois12-159-9
SE Missouri State12-189-9
UT-Martin11-168-10
Tennessee State9-187-11
Eastern Kentucky8-186-12
Morehead State8-196-12
Pacific-1010 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
UCLA24-815-3★ 2 seed AP 7
Stanford22-812-66 seed AP 21
California23-912-65 seed
USC17-1112-611 seed
Arizona25-911-74 seed AP 15
Washington17-1110-8
Oregon17-118-10
Washington State13-175-13
Oregon State7-203-15
Arizona State10-202-16
Patriot7 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Navy20-910-2★ 🏆 15 seed
Bucknell18-119-3
Colgate12-168-4
Lafayette11-175-7
Holy Cross8-195-7
Army10-164-8
Lehigh1-261-11
Southeastern12 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
South Carolina24-815-1★ 2 seed AP 6
Kentucky35-513-3🏆 1 seed AP 5
Mississippi20-911-5★ 8 seed
Georgia24-910-63 seed AP 17
Vanderbilt19-129-710 seed
Arkansas18-148-8
Alabama17-146-10
Auburn16-156-10
Mississippi State12-186-10
Florida13-175-11
Tennessee11-164-12
LSU10-203-13
Southern10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
UT-Chattanooga24-1111-3★ 🏆 14 seed
Marshall20-910-4★
Davidson18-1010-4★
Appalachian State14-148-6
Western Carolina14-137-7
VMI12-167-7
Citadel13-146-8
Georgia Southern10-185-9
Furman10-174-10
East Tennessee State7-202-12
Southland9 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
McNeese State18-1210-6★
SW Texas State16-1310-6★ 🏆 16 seed
Northeast Louisiana14-1410-6★
Northwestern State13-158-8
Stephen F. Austin12-158-8
Texas-Arlington12-158-8
Nicholls State10-167-9
Sam Houston State8-187-9
TX-San Antonio9-174-12
Southwestern Athletic8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Mississippi Valley State19-1011-3★
Jackson State14-169-5🏆 16 seed
Alcorn State11-178-6
Prairie View10-177-7
Texas Southern12-166-8
Grambling10-175-9
Southern10-175-9
Alabama State8-215-9
Sun Belt10 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
South Alabama23-714-4★ 🏆 13 seed
New Orleans22-714-4★
Arkansas-Little Rock18-1111-7
Lamar15-1210-8
Louisiana Tech15-1410-8
Western Kentucky12-159-9
SW Louisiana12-169-9
Arkansas State15-128-10
Jacksonville5-234-14
Texas-Pan American3-251-17
Trans America12 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
College of Charleston29-316-0★ 🏆 12 seed AP 16
Florida International16-1312-4
Samford19-911-5★
Florida Atlantic16-1111-5
Jacksonville State10-179-7
Campbell11-168-8
SE Louisiana10-187-9
Georgia State10-176-10
Centenary9-186-10
Stetson9-185-11
Central Florida7-194-12
Mercer3-231-15
West Coast8 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
St. Mary's23-810-4★ 🏆 14 seed
Santa Clara16-1110-4★
San Francisco16-139-5
San Diego17-118-6
Gonzaga15-128-6
Portland9-184-10
Pepperdine6-214-10
Loyola Marymount7-213-11
Western Athletic16 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Utah29-415-1★ 🏆 2 seed AP 2
Hawaii21-812-4★
Tulsa24-1012-45 seed
Fresno State20-1212-4★
New Mexico25-811-53 seed AP 11
UNLV22-1011-5
Colorado State20-910-6
Wyoming12-168-8
TCU22-137-9
SMU16-127-9
UTEP13-136-10
Rice12-156-10
San Jose State13-145-11
San Diego State12-154-12
Air Force7-192-14
BYU1-250-16
Independent3 teams
SchoolW-LConfNote
Oral Roberts21-7
Southern Utah9-17
Wofford7-20

1997 Elo and upsets

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

1997 Elo and upsetsElo

Elo, top 10

  1. 1Kansas2172
  2. 2Kentucky2171
  3. 3North Carolina2105
  4. 4Minnesota2069
  5. 5Arizona2050
  6. 6Utah1994
  7. 7Wake Forest1984
  8. 8UCLA1983
  9. 9St. Joseph's1948
  10. 10Duke1938

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.