1997 NCAA Division III men's basketball tournament

1997 NCAA Division III
men's basketball tournament
Teams64
Finals siteSalem, Virginia
ChampionsIllinois Wesleyan Titans (1st title)
Runner-upNebraska Wesleyan Plainsmen (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachDennie Bridges (IWU)
MOPBryan Crabtree (IWU)
Attendance59,784
NCAA Division III men's tournaments
«1996 1998»

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.

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.[1]

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.

Bracket

Top left sectional

First round Second round Sectional semifinals Sectional finals
        
Widener 70
Dickinson 62
Widener 65
Salisbury State 77
Salisbury State 101
Wilkes 90
Salisbury State 79
Brockport 78
St. Lawrence 63
Brockport State 64
Brockport State 73
St. John Fisher 68
St. John Fisher 77
Cortland State 70
Salisbury State 84
Alvernia 89
Alvernia 69
Lebanon Valley 55
Alvernia 60
Goucher 55
Goucher 67
Cabrini 60
Alvernia 77
RIT 71
Buffalo State 70
Hamilton 66
Buffalo State 106
RIT 111**
RIT 65
Rochester 64

Bottom left sectional

First round Second round Sectional semifinals Sectional finals
        
Hampden–Sydney 74
Christopher Newport 79
Christopher Newport 67
Methodist 72
Methodist 67
Roanoke 63
Methodist 74
Chicago 70
Chicago 59
Benedictine (IL) 52
Chicago 78
Wabash 70
Wabash 69
Lawrence 63
Methodist 63
Illinois Wesleyan 95
Sewanee 68
Rust 61
Sewanee 62
Bridgewater (VA) 65
Maryville (TN) 62
Bridgewater (VA) 64
Bridgewater (VA) 60
Illinois Wesleyan 87
Rose–Hulman 86
Washington–St. Louis 69
Rose–Hulman 53
Illinois Wesleyan 54
Illinois Wesleyan 105
Maryville (MO) 66

Top right sectional

First round Second round Sectional semifinals Sectional finals
        
Rowan 72
Mount Saint Vincent 53
Rowan 56
NYU 53
NYU 94
Jersey City State 84
Rowan 82
Salem State 72
UMass Dartmouth 63
Tufts 65
Tufts 63
Salem State 83
Salem State 69
Springfield 61
Rowan 62
Williams 71
William Paterson 51
Kings Point 43
William Paterson 60
Richard Stockton 64
Richard Stockton 78
York (NY) 71
Richard Stockton 61
Williams 85
Amherst 83
Colby 60
Amherst 63
Williams 86
Williams 76
Wentworth 51

Bottom right sectional

First round Second round Sectional semifinals Sectional finals
        
Hope 69
Denison 66
Hope 67
Wooster 56
Ohio Northern 58
Wooster 84
Hope 75
Nebraska Wesleyan 92
UW–Whitewater 67
Gustavus Adolphus 82
Gustavus Adolphus 59
Nebraska Wesleyan 61
Nebraska Wesleyan 93
Buena Vista 54
Nebraska Wesleyan 69
UW–Stevens Point 66
Wittenberg 82
John Carroll 68
Wittenberg 65
Mount Union 73
Mount Union 77
Alfred 69
Mount Union 67
UW–Stevens Point 68*
Pomona–Pitzer 58
UW–Stevens Point 68
UW–Stevens Point 46
UW–Platteville 43
UW–Platteville 51
UW–Oshkosh 43

National finals

National Semifinals National Championship
      
Alvernia 82
Illinois Wesleyan 85
Illinois Wesleyan 89
Nebraska Wesleyan 86
Williams 90
Nebraska Wesleyan 101 National Third-place
Alvernia 77
Williams 78

See also

References

  1. ^ "Division III Men's Basketball Championship" (PDF). NCAA. NCAA.org. p. 24. Retrieved April 13, 2019.