1997 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament
The 1997 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament was the 23rd annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champions of National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's Division III collegiate basketball in the United States.
| Teams | 64 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Salem, Virginia | ||||
| Champions | Illinois Wesleyan Titans (1st title) | ||||
| Runner-up | Nebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen (1st title game) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
| ||||
| Winning coach | Dennie Bridges (IWU) | ||||
| MOP | Bryan Crabtree (IWU) | ||||
| Attendance | 59,784 | ||||
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The field contained sixty-four teams, and each program was allocated to one of four sectionals. All sectional games were played on campus sites, while the national semifinals, third-place final, and championship finals were contested at the Salem Civic Center in Salem, Virginia.
Illinois Wesleyan defeated Nebraska Wesleyan, 89–86, in the final, clinching their first national title.
The Titans (29–2) were coached by Dennie Bridges. Bryan Crabtree, also from Illinois Wesleyan, was named Most Outstanding Player.