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1997 NCAA Mens D1 Championship Tournament

The 1997 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana. A total of 63 games were played. Arizona, coached by Lute Olson, won the national title with a 84-79 overtime victory in the final game over defending champion Kentucky, coached by Rick Pitino. Miles Simon of Arizona was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Several years later, Minnesota was stripped of its Final Four appearance following the discovery of NCAA academic rule violations. In addition, the Gophers were stripped of their Big Ten title they had also won. Arizona also became the only school since the introduction of the 64-team bracket to defeat three number 1 seeds in the tournament. The tournament also saw the third victory by a #15 seed over a #2, as Coppin State defeated South Carolina in their first round matchup. In addition, a #14 seed advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for only the second time, as Southeast Region #14 seed Tennessee-Chattanooga defeated both Georgia and Illinois. First and Second Rounds Auburn Hills, Michigan (The Palace of Auburn Hills) Charlotte, North Carolina (Charlotte Coliseum) Kansas City, Missouri (Kemper Arena) Memphis, Tennessee (Pyramid Arena) Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania (Civic Arena) Salt Lake City, Utah (Jon M. Huntsman Center) Tucson, Arizona (McKale Center) Winston-Salem, North Carolina (Lawrence Joel Veterans Memorial Coliseum) [edit] Later Rounds Region Site East Syracuse, New York (Carrier Dome) Midwest San Antonio, Texas (Alamodome) Southeast Birmingham, Alabama (BJCC Arena) West San Jose, California (San Jose Arena) Finals Indianapolis, Indiana (RCA Dome) [edit] Teams

1997 - Final Four - Indianapolis, Indiana

  Semifinals
 National Championship Game
                 
1  North Carolina 58  
4  Arizona 66  
    4  Arizona 84
  1  Kentucky 79
1   North Carolina 58
4   Arizona 66  

East Regional - Winston-Salem, North Carolina

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 North Carolina24-6Atlantic Coast Smith, DeanAutomatic 3
2 South Carolina24-7Southeastern Fogler, EddieAt Large 9
3 New Mexico24-7Western Athletic Bliss, DaveAt Large 14
4 Villanova23-9Big East Lappas, SteveAt Large 8
5 California21-8Pacific Ten Braun, BenAt Large 21
6 Louisville23-8Conference USA Crum, DennyAt Large 18
7 Wisconsin18-9Big Ten Bennett, DickAt Large 26
8 Indiana22-10Big Ten Knight, BobAt Large 16
9 Colorado21-9Big Twelve Patton, RicardoAt Large 43
10 Texas16-11Big Twelve Penders, TomAt Large 39
11 Massachusetts19-13Atlantic Ten Flint, BruiserAt Large 45
12 Princeton24-3Ivy League Carmody, BillAutomatic 32
13 Long Island-Brooklyn21-8Northeast Haskins, RayAutomatic 81
14 Old Dominion22-10Colonial Capel, JeffAutomatic 91
15 Coppin State21-8Mideastern Mitchell, RonAutomatic 136
16 Fairfield11-18Metro Atlantic Cormier, PaulAutomatic 232
  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  North Carolina 82
16  Fairfield 74  
  1   North Carolina 73  
  9   Colorado 56  
8   Indiana 62
9  Colorado 80  
  1   North Carolina 73  
  5   California 67  
5  California 55  
12  Princeton 52  
  5   California 75
  4  Villanova 68  
13  Long Island-Brooklyn 52
4  Villanova 101  
  1  North Carolina 97
  6  Louisville 74
6  Louisville 65  
11  Massachusetts 57  
  6  Louisville 64
  3  New Mexico 63  
14  Old Dominion  55
3  New Mexico 59  
  6  Louisville 78
  10  Texas 63  
7  Wisconsin 58  
10  Texas 71  
  10  Texas 82
  15  Coppin State 81  
15  Coppin State  78
2  South Carolina 65  

West Regional - Salt Lake City, Utah

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 Kentucky30-4Southeastern Pitino, RickAutomatic 2
2 Utah26-3Western Athletic Majerus, RickAutomatic 5
3 Wake Forest23-6Atlantic Coast Odom, DaveAt Large 6
4 St. Joseph's, PA24-6Atlantic Ten Martelli, PhilAutomatic 12
5 Boston College21-8Big East O'Brien, Jim(2)Automatic 33
6 Stanford20-7Pacific Ten Montgomery, MikeAt Large 30
7 Charlotte21-8Conference USA Watkins, MelvinAt Large 27
8 Iowa21-9Big Ten Davis, TomAt Large 37
9 Virginia18-12Atlantic Coast Jones, JeffAt Large 25
10 Georgetown20-9Big East Thompson, JohnAt Large 57
11 Oklahoma19-10Big Twelve Sampson, KelvinAt Large 47
12 Valparaiso24-6Summit League Drew, HomerAutomatic 65
13 Pacific, California23-5Big West Thomason, BobAutomatic 77
14 St. Mary's, California23-7West Coast Kent, ErnieAutomatic 93
15 Navy20-8Patriot DeVoe, DonAutomatic 156
16 Montana21-10Big Sky Taylor, BlaineAutomatic 123
  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Kentucky 92
16  Montana 54  
  1   Kentucky 75  
  8   Iowa 69  
8   Iowa 73
9  Virginia 60  
  1   Kentucky 83  
  4   St. Joseph's, PA 68  
5  Boston College 73  
12  Valparaiso 66  
  5   Boston College 77
  4  St. Joseph's, PA 81  
13  Pacific, California 66
4  St. Joseph's, PA 75  
  1  Kentucky 72
  2  Utah 59
6  Stanford 80  
11  Oklahoma 67  
  6  Stanford 72
  3  Wake Forest 66  
14  St. Mary's, California  46
3  Wake Forest 68  
  6  Stanford 77
  2  Utah 82  
7  Charlotte 79  
10  Georgetown 67  
  7  Charlotte 58
  2  Utah 77  
15  Navy  61
2  Utah 75  

Midwest Regional - Kansas City, Missouri

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 Minnesota27-3Big Ten Haskins, ClemAutomatic 4
2 UCLA21-7Pacific Ten Lavin, SteveAutomatic 10
3 Cincinnati25-7Conference USA Huggins, BobAt Large 13
4 Clemson21-9Atlantic Coast Barnes, RickAt Large 11
5 Tulsa23-9Western Athletic Robinson, SteveAt Large 15
6 Iowa State20-8Big Twelve Floyd, TimAt Large 36
7 Xavier, Ohio22-5Atlantic Ten Prosser, SkipAt Large 28
8 Mississippi20-8Southeastern Evans, RobAt Large 44
9 Temple19-10Atlantic Ten Chaney, JohnAt Large 38
10 Vanderbilt19-11Southeastern van Breda Kolff, JanAt Large 34
11 Illinois State24-5Missouri Valley Stallings, KevinAutomatic 35
12 Boston25-4America East Wolff, DennisAutomatic 31
13 Miami, Ohio21-8Mid American Coles, CharlieAutomatic 67
14 Butler23-9Horizon League Collier, BarryAutomatic 89
15 Charleston Southern17-12Big South Edwards, GaryAutomatic 147
16 Texas State16-12Southland Miller, MikeAutomatic 181
  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Minnesota 78
16  Texas State 46  
  1   Minnesota 76  
  9   Temple 57  
8   Mississippi 40
9  Temple 62  
  1   Minnesota 90  
  4   Clemson 84  
5  Tulsa 81  
12  Boston 52  
  5   Tulsa 59
  4  Clemson 65  
13  Miami, Ohio 52
4  Clemson 68  
  1  Minnesota 80
  2  UCLA 72
6  Iowa State 69  
11  Illinois State 57  
  6  Iowa State 67
  3  Cincinnati 66  
14  Butler  69
3  Cincinnati 86  
  6  Iowa State 73
  2  UCLA 74  
7  Xavier, Ohio 80  
10  Vanderbilt 68  
  7  Xavier, Ohio 83
  2  UCLA 96  
15  Charleston Southern  75
2  UCLA 109  

Southeast Regional - Memphis, Tennessee

SeedTeamSeason W-LConferenceCoachInvitationRank (RPI)
1 Kansas32-1Big Twelve Williams, RoyAutomatic 1
2 Duke23-8Atlantic Coast Krzyzewski, MikeAt Large 7
3 Georgia23-8Southeastern Smith, TubbyAt Large 19
4 Arizona19-9Pacific Ten Olson, LutherAt Large 17
5 Maryland21-10Atlantic Coast Williams, GaryAt Large 20
6 Illinois21-9Big Ten Kruger, LonAt Large 24
7 Marquette22-8Conference USA Deane, MikeAutomatic 51
8 Purdue17-11Big Ten Keady, GeneAt Large 22
9 Rhode Island20-9Atlantic Ten Skinner, AlAt Large 23
10 Providence21-11Big East Gillen, PeteAt Large 46
11 Southern California17-10Pacific Ten Bibby, HenryAt Large 52
12 Charleston, South Carolina28-2Atlantic Sun Kresse, JohnAutomatic 53
13 South Alabama23-6Sun Belt Musselman, BillAutomatic 79
14 Chattanooga22-10Southern McCarthy, MackAutomatic 131
15 Murray State20-9Ohio Valley Gottfried, MarkAutomatic 166
16 Jackson State14-15Southwestern Athletic Stoglin, AndyAutomatic 213
  First round Second round Semifinals Finals
                                     
1  Kansas 78
16  Jackson State 64  
  1   Kansas 75  
  8   Purdue 61  
8   Purdue 83
9  Rhode Island 76  
  1   Kansas 82  
  4   Arizona 85  
5  Maryland 66  
12  Charleston, South Carolina 75  
  12   Charleston, South Carolina 69
  4  Arizona 73  
13  South Alabama 75
4  Arizona 65  
  4  Arizona 96
  10  Providence 92
6  Illinois 90  
11  Southern California 77  
  6  Illinois 63
  14  Chattanooga 75  
14  Chattanooga  73
3  Georgia 70  
  14  Chattanooga 65
  10  Providence 71  
7  Marquette 59  
10  Providence 81  
  10  Providence 98
  2  Duke 87  
15  Murray State  78
2  Duke 81