1997 National Invitation Tournament

The 1997 National Invitation Tournament was the 1997 edition of the annual NCAA college basketball competition. Michigan's tournament victory was later vacated due to players Robert Traylor and Louis Bullock being ruled ineligible by the NCAA. Traylor also vacated his tournament Most Valuable Player award.

1997 National Invitation Tournament
Season1996–97
Teams32
Finals siteMadison Square Garden
New York City
ChampionsMichigan Wolverines (vacated) (2nd title)
Runner-upFlorida State Seminoles (1st title game)
Semifinalists
Winning coachSteve Fisher (1st title)
MVPRobert Traylor (vacated) (Michigan)
National Invitation Tournaments
«19961998»
Giallo e Blu
Giallo e Blu

Selected teams

Below is a list of the 32 teams selected for the tournament.[1]

Bracket

Below are the four first round brackets, along with the four-team championship bracket.[1]

First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals
         
Michigan State65
George Washington50
Michigan State63
Florida State68
Florida State82
Syracuse67
Florida State76
West Virginia71
West Virginia98
Bowling Green95
West Virginia76
NC State73
NC State77
SW Missouri State66
First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals
         
Nevada97
Fresno State86
Nevada68
Nebraska78
Nebraska67
Washington63
Nebraska67
Connecticut76
Bradley66
Drexel53
Bradley47
Connecticut63
Connecticut71
Iona66
First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals
         
Michigan76
Miami (FL)63
Michigan75
Oklahoma State65
Oklahoma State79
Tulane72
Michigan67
Notre Dame66
Notre Dame74
Oral Roberts58
Notre Dame82
TCU72
TCU85
UAB62
First RoundSecond RoundQuarterfinals
         
UNLV66
Memphis62
UNLV89
Hawaii80
Hawaii71
Oregon61
UNLV73
Arkansas86
Arkansas101
Northern Arizona75
Arkansas76
Pittsburgh71
Pittsburgh82
New Orleans63

Semifinals & finals

SemifinalsFinals
      
Florida State71
Connecticut65
Florida State73
Michigan82
Michigan77
Arkansas62
Third place game
   
Connecticut74
Arkansas64

Michigan later forfeited its entire 1996–97 schedule after Robert Traylor, Maurice Taylor and Louis Bullock were found to have taken money from a Michigan booster.

See also

References