Arizona became the first team since tournament expansion to 64 teams in 1985 to defeat three No. 1 seeds en route to winning the 1997 NCAA tournament. Arizona beat defending champion Kentucky in the final.
The Final Four was in Indianapolis, with Minnesota and North Carolina also making it, though the Golden Gophers later vacated their appearance.
In other notable events, No. 14 seed Chattanooga reached the Sweet 16 and No. 15 seed Coppin State shocked No. 2 South Carolina. This was also the final NCAA tournament appearance for North Carolina coach Dean Smith.
1997 NCAA tournament: Bracket
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1997 NCAA tournament: Scores
- First Round
- East Regional
- No. 1 North Carolina 82, No. 16 Fairfield 74
- No. 9 Colorado 80, No. 8 Indiana 62
- No. 5 California 55, No. 12 Princeton 52
- No. 4 Villanova 101, No. 13 Long Island 91
- No. 6 Louisville 65, No. 11 UMass 57
- No. 3 New Mexico 59, No. 14 Old Dominion 55
- No. 10 Texas 71, No. 7 Wisconsin 58
- No. 15 Coppin State 78, No. 2 South Carolina 65
- Southeast Regional
- No. 1 Kansas 78, No. 16 Jackson State 64
- No. 8 Purdue 83, No. 9 Rhode Island 76 (OT)
- No. 12 College of Charleston 75, No. 5 Maryland 66
- No. 4 Arizona 65, No. 13 South Alabama 57
- No. 6 Illinois 90, No. 11 USC 77
- No. 14 Chattanooga 73, No. 3 Georgia 70
- No. 10 Providence 81, No. 7 Marquette 59
- No. 2 Duke 71, No. 15 Murray State 68
- Midwest Regional
- No. 1 Minnesota 78, No. 16 Southwest Texas State 46
- No. 9 Temple 62, No. 8 Ole Miss 40
- No. 5 Tulsa 81, No. 12 Boston University 52
- No. 4 Clemson 68, No. 13 Miami (Ohio) 56
- No. 6 Iowa State 69, No. 11 Illinois State 57
- No. 3 Cincinnati 86, No. 14 Butler 69
- No. 7 Xavier 80, No. 10 Vanderbilt 68
- No. 2 UCLA 109, No. 15 Charleston Southern 75
- West Regional
- No. 1 Kentucky 92, No. 16 Montana 54
- No. 8 Iowa 73, No. 9 Virginia 60
- No. 5 Boston College 73, No. 12 Valparaiso 66
- No. 4 Saint Joseph's 75, No. 13 Pacific 65
- No. 6 Stanford 80, No. 11 Oklahoma 67
- No. 3 Wake Forest 68, No. 14 Saint Mary's 46
- No. 7 UNC Charlotte 79, No. 10 Georgetown 67
- No. 2 Utah 75, No. 15 Navy 61
- East Regional
- Second Round
- East Regional
- No. 1 North Carolina 73, No. 9 Colorado 56
- No. 5 California 75, No. 4 Villanova 68
- No. 6 Louisville 64, No. 3 New Mexico 63
- No. 10 Texas 82, No. 15 Coppin State 81
- Southeast Regional
- No. 1 Kansas 75, No. 8 Purdue 61
- No. 4 Arizona 73, No. 12 College of Charleston 69
- No. 14 Chattanooga 75, No. 6 Illinois 63
- No. 10 Providence 98, No. 2 Duke 87
- Midwest Regional
- No. 1 Minnesota 76, No. 9 Temple 57
- No. 4 Clemson 65, No. 5 Tulsa 59
- No. 6 Iowa State 67, No. 3 Cincinnati 66
- No. 2 UCLA 96, No. 7 Xavier 83
- West Regional
- No. 1 Kentucky 75, No. 8 Iowa 69
- No. 4 Saint Joseph's 81, No. 5 Boston College 77 (OT)
- No. 6 Stanford 72, No. 3 Wake Forest 66
- No. 2 Utah 77, No. 7 UNC Charlotte 58
- East Regional
- Sweet 16
- East Regional
- No. 1 North Carolina 63, No. 5 California 57
- No. 6 Louisville 78, No. 10 Texas 63
- Southeast Regional
- No. 4 Arizona 85, No. 1 Kansas 82
- No. 10 Providence 71, No. 14 Chattanooga 65
- Midwest Regional
- No. 1 Minnesota 90, No. 4 Clemson 84 (2OT)
- No. 2 UCLA 74, No. 6 Iowa State 73 (OT)
- West Regional
- No. 1 Kentucky 83, No. 4 Saint Joseph's 68
- No. 2 Utah 82, No. 6 Stanford 77 (OT)
- East Regional
- Elite Eight
- East Regional
- No. 1 North Carolina 97, No. 6 Louisville 74
- Southeast Regional
- No. 4 Arizona 96, No. 10 Providence 92 (OT)
- Midwest Regional
- No. 1 Minnesota 80, No. 2 UCLA 72
- West Regional
- No. 1 Kentucky 72, No. 2 Utah 59
- East Regional
- Final Four (Indianapolis, Indiana)
- National semifinals
- No. 4 Arizona 66, No. 1 North Carolina 58
- No. 1 Kentucky 78, No. 1 Minnesota 69
- National championship
- No. 4 Arizona 84, No. 1 Kentucky 79 (OT) |
- National semifinals
1997 NCAA tournament: Upsets
The following double-digit seeds won games:
Team | Score | Opponent |
---|---|---|
FIRST ROUND | ||
No. 15 Coppin State | 78-65 | No. 2 South Carolina |
No. 14 Chattanooga | 73-70 | No. 3 Georgia |
No. 12 College of Charleston | 75-66 | No. 5 Maryland |
No. 10 Texas | 71-58 | No. 7 Wisconsin |
No. 10 Providence | 81-59 | No. 7 Marquette |
SECOND ROUND | ||
No. 14 Chattanooga | 75-63 | No. 6 Illinois |
No. 10 Texas | 82-81 | No. 15 Coppin State |
No. 10 Providence | 98-87 | No. 2 Duke |
SWEET 16 | ||
No. 10 Providence | 71-65 | No. 14 Chattanooga |
1997 NCAA tournament: Stats, records
Here are the tournament leaders, with games in parentheses (minimum three games):
Individual scoring
- Dedric Willoughby, Iowa State (3) — 24.7
Individual rebounding
- Paul Pierce, Kansas (3) — 12.0
Individual assists
- Brevin Knight, Stanford (3) — 8.0
Records
- Chattanooga's Sweet 16 appearance is tied with 1986 Cleveland State as the deepest NCAA tournament run by a No. 14 seed.
- Arizona became the first team since the tournament expanded to 64 teams in 1985 to defeat three No. 1 seeds (Kansas in the Sweet 16, North Carolina in the Final Four and Kentucky in the national championship).