1997 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament
The 1997 NCAA Division II men's basketball tournament was the 41st annual single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division II college basketball in the United States.
| Teams | 48 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Finals site | Commonwealth Convention Center Louisville, Kentucky | ||||
| Champions | Cal State Bakersfield (3rd title) | ||||
| Runner-up | Northern Kentucky (2nd title game) | ||||
| Semifinalists |
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| Winning coach | Pat Douglass (3rd title) | ||||
| MOP | Kebu Stewart (CSUB) | ||||
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The tournament officially culminated the 1996–97 NCAA Division II men's basketball season, featuring forty-eight teams from around the country.
The national quarterfinals (Elite Eight), semifinals, and championship were played at the Commonwealth Convention Center in Louisville, Kentucky.
Cal State Bakersfield (29–4) defeated Northern Kentucky in the final, 57–56, to win their third overall Division II national championship and their third in five seasons.
It was also NKU's second consecutive loss in the national championship game, having lost to Fort Hays State in 1996.
Despite being the defending national champions with only one loss on the season, Fort Hays State had to travel from Kansas to South Dakota for the North Central Regional hosted by 4 loss South Dakota State.
The CSB Roadrunners were coached by Pat Douglass. Bakersfield's Kebu Stewart was the Most Outstanding Player.