1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1997 NCAA Men's Division I 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 Olsen 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 Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock were ruled 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
- Lute Olsen led the Arizona Wildcats to its first National Championship.
Pre-season polls
Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 1996–97 season.| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Baylor | Southwest Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Boise State | Big Sky Conference | Big West Conference |
| Cal Poly | American West Conference | Big West Conference |
| Cal State Northridge | American West Conference | Big Sky Conference |
| Colorado | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Eastern Illinois | Mid-Continent Conference | Ohio Valley Conference |
| Houston | Southwest Conference | Conference USA |
| Idaho | Big Sky Conference | Big West Conference |
| Iowa State | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Kansas | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Kansas State | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Missouri | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Nebraska | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| North Texas | Southland Conference | Big West Conference |
| Oklahoma | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Oklahoma State | Big Eight Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Portland State | NCAA Division II | Big Sky Conference |
| Rice | Southwest Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
| Sacramento State | American West Conference | Big Sky Conference |
| San Jose State | Big West Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
| SMU | Southwest Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
| Southern Utah | American West Conference | NCAA Division I Independent |
| TCU | Southwest Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
| Texas | Southwest Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Texas A&M | Southwest Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Texas Tech | Southwest Conference | Big 12 Conference |
| Tulsa | Missouri Valley Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
| UNLV | Big West Conference | Western Athletic Conference |
Regular season
Conference winners and tournaments
27 conference seasons concluded with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Big Ten Conference, Ivy League and the Pac-10 Conference choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Conference tournament winners received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.Statistical leaders
Post-Season Tournaments
NCAA Tournament
Final Four – [RCA Dome], [Indianapolis, Indiana]
National Invitation Tournament
Semifinals & Finals
- Third Place - Connecticut 74, Arkansas 64
Award winners
Consensus All-American teams
Major player of the year awards
- Wooden Award: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Naismith Award: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Associated Press Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- NABC Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Oscar Robertson Trophy : Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Adolph Rupp Trophy: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Sporting News Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
Major freshman of the year awards
- USBWA Freshman of the Year: No Award Given
- Sporting News Freshman of the Year: No Award Given
Major coach of the year awards
- Associated Press Coach of the Year: Clem Haskins, Minnesota
- Henry Iba Award : Clem Haskins, Minnesota
- NABC Coach of the Year: Clem Haskins, Minnesota
- Naismith College Coach of the Year: Roy Williams, Kansas
- Clair Bee Coach of the Year Award: Clem Haskins, Minnesota
Other major awards
- NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Tim Duncan, Wake Forest
- Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award : Brevin Knight, Stanford
- Robert V. Geasey Trophy : Rashid Bey, St. Joseph's
- NIT/Haggerty Award : Charles Jones, Long Island