The 1997 NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Tournament involved 64 schools playing in single-elimination play to determine the national champion of men's NCAA Division I college basketball. It began on March 13, 1997, and ended with the championship game on March 31 in Indianapolis, Indiana at the RCA Dome. A total of 63 games were played.
The Final Four consisted of Kentucky, who entered the tournament as the defending national champions, Minnesota, making their first Final Four appearance, Arizona, making their third Final Four appearance and first since 1994, and North Carolina, making their thirteenth Final Four appearance and first since 1995.
In the national championship game, Arizona defeated Kentucky in overtime 84-79 to win their first national championship. For the second time in the last three seasons, the defending national champions reached the final game and lost.
Miles Simon of Arizona was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player.
Several years later, Minnesota was stripped of its Final Four appearance following the discovery of NCAA academic rule violations. In addition, the Gophers were stripped of their Big Ten title they had also won.
Arizona also became the only school since the introduction of the 64-team bracket in 1985, to defeat three number 1 seeds in the tournament, having upset overall number one seed Kansas in addition to their two Final Four victories.
The tournament also saw the third victory by a #15 seed over a #2 seed, as Coppin State defeated South Carolina in their first round matchup. In addition, a #14 seed advanced to the Sweet Sixteen for only the second time, as Southeast Region #14 seed Chattanooga defeated both Georgia and Illinois.
Maps, Directions, and Place Reviews
Locations
First and second rounds
Regionals
Final Four
Ncaa Basketball Indianapolis Video
Teams
Bracket
- *Overtime game
East Regional - Syracuse, New York
Southeast Regional - Birmingham, Alabama
Midwest Regional - San Antonio, Texas
West Regional - San Jose, California
Final Four @ Indianapolis, Indiana
- *Overtime Game
Announcers
- Jim Nantz and Billy Packer - First & Second Round at Tucson, Arizona; Southeast Regional at Birmingham, Alabama; Final Four at Indianapolis, Indiana
- Sean McDonough and Bill Raftery - First & Second Round at Winston-Salem, North Carolina; West Regional at San Jose, California
- Tim Ryan and Al McGuire - First & Second Round at Memphis, Tennessee; Midwest Regional at San Antonio, Texas
- Gus Johnson and Quinn Buckner - First & Second Round at Auburn Hills, Michigan; East Regional at Syracuse, New York
- Tim Brando and George Raveling - First & Second Round at Charlotte, North Carolina
- Mike Gorman and Jon Sundvold - First & Second Round at Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
- Ted Robinson and Derrek Dickey - First & Second Round at Kansas City, Missouri
- Gary Thorne and Dan Bonner - First & Second Round at Salt Lake City, Utah
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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