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 Division I men's 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.
| 1996–97 NCAA Division I men's basketball season | |
|---|---|
| Preseason AP No. 1 | Cincinnati |
| Regular season | November 1996 – March 1997 |
| NCAA Tournament | 1997 |
| Tournament dates | March 13 – March 31, 1997 |
| National Championship | RCA Dome Indianapolis, Indiana |
| NCAA Champions | Arizona Wildcats |
| Other champions | Michigan Wolverines (Vacated) (NIT) |
| Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden) | Tim Duncan, Wake Forest |
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.