1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

Basketball season March 2026 1997 File:NCAA primary logo 1980.svg Arizona Wildcats November 1997 –March 1998 March 12 30, 1998 Alamodome San Antonio, Texas Kentucky Wildcats Minnesota Golden Gophers Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Tar Heels The 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1997 and concluded with the 64-team 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament, whose finals were held at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Kentucky Wildcats earned their seventh national championship by defeating the Utah Utes 78–69 on March 30, 1998. They were coached by Tubby Smith and the NCAA basketball tournament Most Outstanding Player was Kentucky's Jeff Shepherd. In the 32-team 1998 National Invitation Tournament, the Minnesota Golden Gophers defeated the Penn State Nittany Lions at Madison Square Garden in New York City. Following the season, the 1998 NCAA Men's Basketball All-American Consensus First Team included Mike Bibby, Antawn Jamison, Raef LaFrentz, Paul Pierce, and Miles Simon. The consensus second team was composed of Vince Carter, Mateen Cleaves, Pat Garrity, Richard Hamilton, and Ansu Sesay. Season headlines All NCAA Division I teams played as members of conferences for the first time in American college basketball history. Tubby Smith led the Kentucky Wildcats to their seventh national championship. Pre-season polls The top 25 from the pre-season AP Poll. Associated PressRankingTeam1Arizona2Kansas3Duke4North Carolina5Clemson6UCLA7South Carolina8Kentucky9Purdue10Xavier11New Mexico12Connecticut13Fresno State14Stanford15Iowa16Utah17Indiana18Charlotte19Georgia20Oklahoma21Rhode Island22Texas23Ole Miss24Temple25Louisville Conference membership changes These schools joined new conferences for the 1997–98 season. SchoolFormer conferenceNew conference Arkansas–Pine Bluff Arkansas–Pine Bluff Golden Lions NAIA independent Southwestern Athletic Conference Central Connecticut State Central Connecticut State Blue Devils Mid-Continent Conference Northeast Conference Marist Marist Red Foxes Northeast Conference Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Marshall Marshall Thundering Herd Southern Conference Mid-American Conference Norfolk State Norfolk State Spartans CIAA (D-II) Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference Northern Illinois Northern Illinois Huskies Midwestern Collegiate Conference Mid-American Conference Oral Roberts Oral Roberts Golden Eagles NCAA Division I independent Mid-Continent Conference Rider Rider Broncs Northeast Conference Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference Southeastern Louisiana Southeastern Louisiana Lions Trans America Athletic Conference Southland Conference Southern Utah Southern Utah Thunderbirds NCAA Division I independent Mid-Continent Conference Troy State Troy State Trojans Mid-Continent Conference Trans America Athletic Conference Greensboro UNC Greensboro Spartans Big South Conference Southern Conference Wofford Wofford Terriers NCAA Division I independent Southern Conference New arenas Georgetown, which had used off-campus USAirways Arena (previously known as Capital Centre and USAir Arena) in Landover, Maryland, as its home court since the 1981–82 season, played three last home games there in November 1997 before moving in December 1997 to the new MCI Center (later known as the Verizon Center and as Capital One Arena), an off-campus site in Washington, D.C. The Hoyas played their first home game at the MCI Center on December 3, 1997, losing their Big East Conference opener to 1997 men Villanova Wildcats Villanova University Villanova 73–69 before a crowd of 13,181. Regular season Early-season tournaments Name Dates Site Teams Champions Coaches vs. Cancer IKON Classic Nov. 11–12 Continental Airlines Arena, East Rutherford, NJ 4 North Carolina State Red Auerbach Classic Nov. 14–15 Charles E. Smith Center, Washington, DC 4 George Washington Preseason NIT Nov. 17–28 Campus sites and Madison Square Garden, New York, NY 16 Kansas AT&T Shootout Nov. 21–22 Alumni Hall, Fairfield, CT 4 Fairfield Lobo Classic Nov. 21–22 University Arena, Albuquerque, NM 4 New Mexico Top of the World Classic Nov. 21–23 Carlson Center, Fairbanks, AK 8 Gonzaga Maui Invitational Nov. 24–26 Lahaina Civic Center, Maui, HI 8 Duke Great Alaska Shootout Nov. 27–29 Sullivan Arena, Anchorage, AK 8 North Carolina Puerto Rico Shootout Nov. 27–29 Eugene Guerra Sports Complex, San Juan, PR 8 Georgia Tech Coca-Cola Classic Nov. 28–29 Cumberland County Crown Coliseum, Fayetteville, NC 4 UNC Wilmington Coca-Cola Spartan Classic Nov. 28–29 Breslin Center, East Lansing, MI 4 Michigan State Pepsi Marist Classic Nov. 28–29 McCann Arena, Poughkeepsie, NY 4 Wagner Racer Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 28–29 Racer Arena, Murray, KY 4 Murray State Big Island Invitational Nov. 28–30 Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium, Hilo, HI 8 Stanford San Juan Shootout Nov. 28–30 Caguas Municipal Complex, San Juan, PR 8 West Virginia Golden Panther Thanksgiving Tournament Nov. 29–30 Golden Panther Arena, Miami, FL 4 Florida International United Airlines Tip-Off Tournament Nov. 29–30 Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI 4 Hawaii Phoenix Classic Dec. 4–5 Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, CT 4 Fairfield Ameritas Classic Dec. 5–6 Devaney Center, Lincoln, NE 4 Nebraska Cyclone Challenge Dec. 5–6 Hilton Coliseum, Ames, IA 4 Iowa State First Merchants Bank/CVC Classic Dec. 5–6 Worthen Arena, Muncie, IN 4 Ball State Jam Fest Tournament Dec. 5–6 Moby Arena, Fort Collins, CO 4 Colorado State Marquette Tournament Dec. 5–6 Bradley Center, Milwaukee, WI 4 Marquette Montana Holiday Tournament Dec. 5–6 Harry Adams Field House, Missoula, MT 4 UIC Northwestern Mutual Classic Dec. 5–6 War Memorial Gymnasium, San Francisco, CA 4 San Francisco Pizza Hut Classic Dec. 5–6 Hammons Student Center, Springfield, MO 4 Southwest Missouri State Super Chevy Shootout Dec. 5–6 Carver-Hawkeye Arena, Iowa City, IA 4 Iowa TCBY Holiday Classic Dec. 5–6 Barton Coliseum, Little Rock, AR 4 Southern Miss PowerBar Classic Dec. 6–7 Stan Sheriff Center, Honolulu, HI 4 Hawaii Franklin National Bank Classic Dec. 7–8 MCI Center, Washington, DC 4 George Washington Conferences Conference winners and tournaments Twenty-eight conferences concluded their regular seasons with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Ivy League and the Pacific-10 Conference choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Most conference tournament winners received an automatic bid to the 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament. ConferenceRegular season winnerhttps://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/stats/m_basketball_RB/2001/2000Standings.pdf 2001 NCAA Men's Basketball Record Book – Conferences Section 2001 NCAA 2009-02-04Conference player of the yearConference tournamentTournament venue (City)Tournament winnerAmerica East Conference Delaware Speedy Claxton, HofstraAmerica East Players of the Year, America East Conference, retrieved 2012-10-14 1998 America East men's basketball tournament Bob Carpenter Center(Newark, Delaware) DelawareAmerica East Championship results, America East Conference, retrieved 2012-10-14Atlantic 10 Conference Temple (East)Xavier (West) Cuttino Mobley, Rhode Island2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Awards section https://web.archive.org/web/20110523131521/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mg-pt8.pdf May 23, 2011 , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2012-10-14 1998 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament The Spectrum (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) Xavier2008–09 A-10 men's basketball media guide – Championship section https://web.archive.org/web/20110523131639/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/atl10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/0809-mg-pt9.pdf May 23, 2011 , Atlantic 10 Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27Atlantic Coast Conference Duke Antawn Jamison, North Carolina2010–11 ACC men's basketball media guide https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155444/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011mbbguide.pdf 2012-11-12 , Atlantic Coast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 ACC men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) North Carolinahttp://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011mbbguide.pdf 2010–11 ACC Men's Basketball Media Guide – History Section Atlantic Coast Conference 2010 2011-01-27 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155444/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/acc/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/1011mbbguide.pdf November 12, 2012 mdy Big 12 Conference Kansas Raef LaFrentz, Kansas2008–09 Big 12 Men's Basketball Media Guide – Awards section, Big 12 Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Big 12 men's basketball tournament Kemper Arena(Kansas City, Missouri) Kansashttp://www.big12sports.com/fls/10410/championships/pdfs/09mbb-champ-guide.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10410 2007–08 Big 12 Tournament Media Guide March 2000 Big 12 Conference 2011-01-27Big East Conference Connecticut (Big East 6)Syracuse (Big East 7) Richard Hamilton, Connecticut2008–09 Big East men's basketball media guide – Records section https://web.archive.org/web/20090428211249/http://www.bigeast.org/fls/19400/pdfs/mensbball/record-book.pdf?SPSID=92557&SPID=11228&DB_OEM_ID=19400 April 28, 2009 , Big East Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Big East men's basketball tournament Madison Square Garden(New York City, New York) ConnecticutBig Sky Conference Northern Arizona Andrew Mavis, Northern Arizona2010–11 Big Sky men's basketball media guide, Big Sky Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament Dee Events Center(Ogden, Utah) Northern ArizonaBig South Conference UNC Asheville Josh Pittman, UNC Asheville2010–11 Big South men's basketball media guide – History section, Big South Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament Vines Center(Lynchburg, Virginia) RadfordBig Ten Conference Michigan State Mateen Cleaves, Michigan State2010–11 Big Ten Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155454/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/big10/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/mbb_guide_awards_honors.pdf November 12, 2012 , Big Ten, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament United Center(Chicago, Illinois) MichiganBig West Conference Pacific (Eastern)Utah State (Western) Michael Olowokandi, Pacific2010–11 Big West Conference men's basketball media guide, Big West Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament Lawlor Events Center(Reno, Nevada) Utah StateColonial Athletic Association William & Mary Jarod Stevenson, RichmondCAA men's basketball record book https://web.archive.org/web/20090326170036/http://www.nmnathletics.com/fls/8500/supportfiles/Records/recordbookmbask.pdf March 26, 2009 , Colonial Athletic Association, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 CAA men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia) RichmondConference USA Cincinnati (American)Memphis (National) DeMarco Johnson, Charlotte2010–11 Conference USA Men's Basketball Media Guide – History Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212402/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/c-usa/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11-color-mbk-mg.pdf July 8, 2011 , Conference USA, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Conference USA men's basketball tournament Shoemaker Center(Cincinnati, Ohio) CincinnatiIvy League Princeton Steve Goodrich, Princeton2010–11 Ivy League men's basketball media guide, Ivy League, retrieved 2011-01-27 No TournamentMetro Atlantic Athletic Conference Iona Kashif Hameed, IonaMen's Basketball All-MAAC Awards https://web.archive.org/web/20090312044952/http://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=940275 March 12, 2009 , Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 MAAC men's basketball tournament Pepsi Arena(Buffalo, New York) Ionahttp://www.maacsports.com/ViewArticle.dbml?DB_OEM_ID=17400&ATCLID=1060599 Men's Basketball Championship History MAAC June 30, 2007 2011-01-27Mid-American Conference Akron (East)Ball State (West) Bonzi Wells, Ball State2010–11 MAC men's basketball media guide, Mid-American Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 MAC men's basketball tournament SeaGate Convention Centre(Toledo, Ohio) Eastern MichiganMid-Continent Conference Valparaiso Bryce Drew, Valparaiso2010–11 Summit League men's basketball media guide https://web.archive.org/web/20120304221200/http://www.thesummitleague.org/fls/3900/sports/mbball/mediaguides/2010-11/History%20Section_58-89.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=3900 March 4, 2012 , Summit League, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament The MARK of the Quad Cities(Moline, Illinois) ValparaisoMid-Eastern Athletic Conference Coppin State Antoine Brockington, Coppin State 1998 MEAC men's basketball tournament Richmond Coliseum(Richmond, Virginia) South Carolina StateMidwestern Collegiate Conference Detroit Mark Miller, Illinois-Chicago2008–09 Horizon League Men's Basketball Record Book https://web.archive.org/web/20110523142907/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/hori/genrel/auto_pdf/Records-MBB.pdf May 23, 2011 , Horizon League, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament Brown County Veterans Memorial Arena(Green Bay, Wisconsin) ButlerMissouri Valley Conference Illinois State Rico Hill, Illinois State2010–11 MVC Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110714131506/http://epublish.multiad.com/MVC_MBB_2010-11/ July 14, 2011 , Missouri Valley Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Savvis Center(St. Louis, Missouri) Illinois StateNortheast Conference Long Island Charles Jones, Long Island1998–99 NEC Men's Basketball All-Conference Team, Northeast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament Spiro Sports Center(Staten Island, New York) Fairleigh Dickinson1998–99 NEC Men's Basketball media guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110727131406/http://www.northeastconference.org/Sports/mbball/2010-11/guide/guide(68-101).pdf July 27, 2011 , Northeast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27Ohio Valley Conference Murray State De'Teri Mayes, Murray State2010–11 OVC men's basketball media guide, Ohio Valley Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament Gaylord Entertainment Center(Nashville, Tennessee)(Semifinals and Finals) Murray StatePacific-10 Conference Arizona Mike Bibby, Arizonahttp://www.pac-10.org/portals/7/images/MBasketball/2010-11media-guide/4-10-11-History.pdf 2010–11 Pacific-10 Men's Basketball Media Guide – History & Records Pac-10 Conference 2010 2011-01-27 dead https://web.archive.org/web/20110817084230/http://www.pac-12.org/portals/7/images/MBasketball/2010-11media-guide/4-10-11-History.pdf 2011-08-17 No TournamentPatriot League Lafayette Stefan Ciosici, Lafayette2010–11 Patriot League Men's Basketball media guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212424/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/HonorsAwardsRecords.pdf July 8, 2011 , Patriot League, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Patriot League men's basketball tournament Kirby Sports Center(Easton, Pennsylvania) Navy2010–11 Patriot League Men's Basketball media guide https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155542/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/patr/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11YearbyYear.pdf November 12, 2012 , Patriot League, retrieved 2011-01-27Southeastern Conference Kentucky (East)Ole Miss (West) Ansu Sesay, Ole Miss2010–11 SEC Men's Basketball Record Book https://web.archive.org/web/20110718132245/http://sec.xosdigitallabs.com/Portals/3/SEC%20Website/menshoops/MenMediaGuide.pdf July 18, 2011 , Southeastern Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 SEC men's basketball tournament Georgia Dome(Atlanta, Georgia) KentuckySouthern Conference Appalachian State (North)Chattanooga (South) Bobby Phillips, Western Carolina (Coaches)2010–11 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Honors Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110917171759/http://epublish.multiad.com/SoConBBall/ September 17, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 & Chuck Vincent, Furman (Media) 1998 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament Greensboro Coliseum(Greensboro, North Carolina) Davidson2010–11 SoCon Men's Basketball Media Guide – Postseason Section https://web.archive.org/web/20110917171759/http://epublish.multiad.com/SoConBBall/ September 17, 2011 , Southern Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27Southland Conference UTSA Roderic Hall, UTSA2010–11 Southland Conference Men’s Basketball Media Guide, Southland Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament Hirsch Memorial Coliseum(Shreveport, Louisiana)(Semifinals & Finals) Nicholls StateSouthwestern Athletic Conference Texas Southern Randy Bolden, Texas Southern2010–11 SWAC Men’s Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20121112155545/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/swac/sports/w-baskbl/auto_pdf/BasketballMediaGuide.pdf November 12, 2012 , SWAC, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 SWAC men's basketball tournament F. G. Clark Center(Baton Rouge, Louisiana) Prairie View A&MSun Belt Conference South Alabama Chico Fletcher, Arkansas State2010–11 Sun Belt Men's Basketball Media Guide, Sun Belt Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament Cajundome(Lafayette, Louisiana) South AlabamaTrans America Athletic Conference Charleston (East) Georgia State (West) Mark Jones, UCFAtlantic Sun men's basketball record book, Atlantic Sun Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 TAAC men's basketball tournament Memorial Coliseum(Jacksonville, Florida) CharlestonWest Coast Conference Gonzaga Bakari Hendrix, Gonzaga2010–11 WCC Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20110708212940/http://grfx.cstv.com/photos/schools/west/sports/m-baskbl/auto_pdf/2010-11MBBGuide.pdf July 8, 2011 , West Coast Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament Toso Pavilion(Santa Clara, California) San FranciscoWestern Athletic Conference TCU (Mountain)Utah (Pacific) Lee Nailon, TCU2010–11 WAC Men's Basketball Media Guide https://web.archive.org/web/20160303222606/http://www.wacsports.com//pdf8/723552.pdf?DB_OEM_ID=10100 March 3, 2016 , Western Athletic Conference, retrieved 2011-01-27 1998 WAC men's basketball tournament Thomas & Mack Center(Las Vegas, Nevada) UNLV Conference standings Informal championships ConferenceRegular season winnerMost Valuable PlayerPhiladelphia Big 5 La Salle, Penn, Saint Joseph's, Temple, & Villanova Rashid Bey, Saint Joseph's For the seventh consecutive season, the Philadelphia Big 5 did not play a full round-robin schedule in which each team met each other team once, a format it had used from its first season of competition in 1955–56 through the 1990–91 season. Instead, each team played only two games against other Big 5 members, and all five teams finished with 1–1 records in head-to-head competition among the Big 5. The Big 5 did not revive its full round-robin schedule until the 1999–2000 season. Statistical leaders Source for additional stats categories Points per game Rebounds per game Assists per game Steals per game Player School PPG Player School RPG Player School APG Player School SPG Charles Jones Long Island 29.0 Ryan Perryman Dayton 12.5 Ahlon Lewis Arizona St. 9.2 Bonzi Wells Ball St. 3.6 Earl Boykins E. Michigan 25.7 Eric Taylor St. Francis (PA) 11.9 Chico Fletcher Arkansas State 8.3 Pepe Sánchez Temple 3.4 Lee Nailon TCU 24.9 Raef LaFrentz Kansas 11.4 Sean Colson UNC Charlotte 8.0 Willie Coleman DePaul 3.3 Brett Eppehimer Lehigh 24.7 Tremaine Fowlkes Fresno St. 11.2 Ed Cota North Carolina 7.4 J. R. Camel Montana 3.1 Cory Carr Texas Tech 23.3 Michael Olowokandi Pacific 11.2 Charles Jones Long Island 7.4 Jason Rowe Loyola (MD) 3.1 Blocked shots per game Field-goal percentage Three-Point FG percentage Free-throw percentage Player School BPG Player School FG% Player School 3FG% Player School FT% Jerome James Florida A&M 4.6 Todd MacCulloch Washington 65.0 Jim Cantamessa Siena 56.4 Matt Sundblad Lamar 92.3 Calvin Booth Penn St. 4.4 Ryan Moss UALR 65.0 Coby Turner Dayton 51.7 Louis Bullock Michigan 91.1 Alvin Jones Georgia Tech 4.3 Jarrett Stephens Penn St. 64.0 Royce Olney New Mexico 51.3 Shammond Williams N. Carolina 91.1 Etan Thomas Syracuse 3.9 Isaac Spencer Murray St. 63.3 Mike Beam Harvard 51.3 Kevin Ault Missouri St. 90.0 Brian Skinner Baylor 3.5 Brad Miller Purdue 63.2 Kenyan Weaks Florida 50.8 Clifton Ellis Texas St. 90.0 Postseason tournaments NCAA tournament 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament Final Four – Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas National semifinals National championship game E1 North Carolina 59 W3 Utah 65 S2 Kentucky 86 M3 Stanford 85 W3 Utah 69 S2 Kentucky 78 National Invitation tournament 1998 National Invitation Tournament Semifinals & finals no Semifinals Finals Third place   Georgia 60   Penn State 66   Fresno State 89   Minnesota 91   Penn State 72   Minnesota 79   Georgia 95   Fresno State 79 Award winners Consensus All-American teams 1998 NCAA Men's Basketball All-AmericansNCAA Record Book - DIVISION I CONSENSUS ALL-AMERICA SELECTIONS p.6 + Consensus First Team Player Position Class Team Mike Bibby G Sophomore Arizona Antawn Jamison F Junior North Carolina Raef LaFrentz C Senior Kansas Paul Pierce F Junior Kansas Miles Simon G Senior Arizona + Consensus Second Team Player Position Class Team Vince Carter F Junior North Carolina Mateen Cleaves G Sophomore Michigan State Pat Garrity F Senior Notre Dame Richard Hamilton F-G Sophomore Connecticut Ansu Sesay F Senior Mississippi Major player of the year awards Wooden Award: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Naismith Award: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Associated Press Player of the Year: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina NABC Player of the Year: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Adolph Rupp Trophy: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Sporting News Player of the Year: Antawn Jamison, North Carolina Major freshman of the year awards USBWA Freshman of the Year: Larry Hughes, St. Louis Sporting News Freshman of the Year: Larry Hughes, St. Louis Major coach of the year awards Associated Press Coach of the Year: Tom Izzo, Michigan State Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Tom Izzo, Michigan State NABC Coach of the Year: Bill Guthridge, North Carolina Naismith College Coach of the Year: Bill Guthridge, North Carolina Sporting News Coach of the Year: Bill Guthridge, North Carolina Other major awards NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Wojciechowski, Duke Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Earl Boykins, Eastern Michigan Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Rashid Bey, St. Joseph's NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Felipe López, St. John's Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award (Strong personal character): Hassan Booker, Navy Coaching changes A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended. TeamFormerCoachInterimCoachNewCoachReasonAlabamaDavid HobbsMark GottfriedArizona StateBill FriederDon NewmanRob EvansFrieder resigned before the start of the 1997–98 season. Evans was interim for the entire season. Chicago StatePhillip GaryBo Ellis Ellis was hired from the Marquette coaching staff.ClemsonRick BarnesLarry ShyattBarnes left to coach Texas.Coastal CarolinaMichael HopkinsPete Strickland Strickland was hired from the Dayton coaching staff.ColgatePaul AielloEmmett Davis Aiello was an interim for the season. Davis was hired from the Navy coaching staff.Colorado StateStew MorrillRitchie McKay Morrill left to coach Utah State.DuquesneScott EdgarDarelle Porter Edgar was let go after three seasons going 29–55.FairfieldPaul CormierTim O'Toole O'Toole was hired from the Seton Hall coaching staff.George WashingtonMike JarvisTom Penders Jarvis left to coach St. John's.HoustonAlvin BrooksClyde Drexler Drexler was hired at his alma mater after retiring from the NBA.HowardMike McLeeseKirk SaulnyIdaho StateHerb WilliamsDoug Oliver Oliver was hired from the Stanford coaching staff.IonaTim WelshJeff Ruland Welsh left to coach Providence. Ruland was promoted from assistant.Iowa StateTim FloydLarry EustachyFloyd left to coach in the NBA for the Chicago Bulls.Jacksonville StateBill JonesMark Turgeon Turgeon was hired from the Philadelphia 76ers coaching staff.LibertyJeff MeyerRandy DuntonMel HankinsonMeyer stepped down to be assistant to the president of Liberty. Dunton was promoted from assistant. Hankinson was hired from the West Virginia coaching staff.Louisiana TechJim WooldridgeKeith Richard Wooldridge left to be an assistant for the Chicago Bulls. Richard was promoted from assistant to head coach.Loyola ChicagoKen BurmeisterLarry Farmer Farmer was hired from the Rhode Island coaching staff.Mississippi StateRichard WilliamsRick Stansbury Stansbury was promoted from assistant.MonmouthWayne SzokeDave CallowaySzoke resigned on January 18, 1998. Calloway at first served as interim head coach, then was named permanent head coach in February 1998.MontanaBlaine TaylorDon HolstMurray StateMark GottfriedTevester Anderson Gottfried left to coach Alabama. Anderson was promoted from assistant.NiagaraJack ArmstrongJoe Mihalich Mihalich was hired from the La Salle coaching staff.Norfolk StateMichael BernardMel ColemanNorthern IowaEldon MillerSame WeaverOle MissRob EvansRod Barnes Evans left to coach Arizona State. Barnes was promoted to head coach and coach his alma mater.Portland StateRitchie McKayJoel Sobotka McKay left to coach Colorado State.ProvidencePete GillenTim Welsh Gillen left to coach Virginia.Sam Houston StateJerry HopkinsBob Marlin Marlin was hired from the Alabama coaching staff.San Jose StateStan MorrisonPhil Johnson Morrison resigned. Johnson was hired from the Arizona coaching staff.Southern IllinoisRich HerrinBruce Weber Weber was hired from the Purdue coaching staff.Tennessee TechFrank HarrellJeff Lebo Lebo was hired from the South Carolina coaching staff.TexasTom PendersRick Barnes Penders left to coach George Washington.Texas A&MTony BaroneMelvin WatkinsUC Santa BarbaraJerry PimmBob Williams Pimm resigned.UNC CharlotteMelvin WatkinsBobby Lutz Watkins left to coach Texas A&M. Lutz was promoted from assistant.Utah StateLarry EustachyStew Morrill Eustachy left to coach Iowa State.VCUSonny SmithMack McCarthy Smith retired. McCarthy was promoted from associate head coach.VirginiaJeff JonesPete GillenWinthropDan KenneyGregg Marshall Marshall ware hired from Marshall University coaching staff.WyomingLarry ShyattSteve McClain Shyatt left to coach Clemson. McClain was hired from the TCU coaching staff. References 2 March 2012