1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
The 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season concluded in the 64-team 1998 NCAA Men's Division I 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 the 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
- Tubby Smith led the Kentucky Wildcats to its seventh National Championship.
Pre-season polls
Conference membership changes
These schools joined new conferences for the 1997–98 season.| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Arkansas–Pine Bluff | NCAA Division II | Southwestern Athletic Conference |
| Central Connecticut State | Mid-Continent Conference | Northeast Conference |
| Marist | Northeast Conference | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
| Marshall | Southern Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Norfolk State | NCAA Division II | Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference |
| Northern Illinois | Midwestern Collegiate Conference | Mid-American Conference |
| Oral Roberts | NCAA Division I Independent | Mid-Continent Conference |
| Rider | Northeast Conference | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
| Southeastern Louisiana | Trans America Athletic Conference | Southland Conference |
| Southern Utah | NCAA Division I Independent | Mid-Continent Conference |
| Troy State | Mid-Continent Conference | Trans America Athletic Conference |
| UNC Greensboro | Big South Conference | Southern Conference |
| Wofford | NCAA Division I Independent | Southern Conference |
Regular season
Conference winners and tournaments
28 conference seasons concluded with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Ivy League and the Pac-10 choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Conference tournament winners generally received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament.Statistical leaders
Postseason tournaments
NCAA Tournament
Final Four – [Alamodome], [San Antonio, Texas]
National Invitation Tournament
Semifinals & Finals
- Third Place - Georgia 95, Fresno State 79
Award winners
Consensus All-American teams
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 : 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 : Tom Izzo, Michigan State
- NABC Coach of the Year: Bill Guthridge, North Carolina
- Naismith College Coach of the Year: Bill Guthridge, North Carolina
Other major awards
- NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Steve Wojciechowski, Duke
- Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award : Earl Boykins, Eastern Michigan
- Robert V. Geasey Trophy : Rashid Bey, St. Joseph's
- NIT/Haggerty Award : Felipe López, St. John's