# 1998 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

The 1998 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 12, 1998, and ended with the championship game on March 30, at the Alamodome in San Antonio. A total of 63 games were played.
The Final Four consisted of Kentucky, making their third consecutive Final Four, Stanford, making their first appearance since their initial Final Four run in 1942, Utah, making their fourth Final Four and first since 1966, and North Carolina, who returned for a fourteenth overall time and third in four seasons.
Kentucky won the national title, its second in three seasons and seventh overall, by defeating Utah 78–69 in the championship game.
Jeff Sheppard of Kentucky was named the tournament's Most Outstanding Player. Kentucky came back from double-digit deficits in each of its last three games in the tournament, including a 17-point second half comeback against the Duke Blue Devils, leading to the school's fans dubbing the team the "Comeback Cats". This was Kentucky's third straight championship game appearance.
Bryce Drew led the 13th-seeded Valparaiso Crusaders to the Sweet Sixteen, including a memorable play that remains part of March Madness lore.
For the second consecutive season, a #14 seed advanced from the first round; Richmond, coached by John Beilein, upset South Carolina.
For the second time in three years, a top seeded team failed to advance to the Sweet Sixteen. That distinction belonged to Midwest Region #1 seed Kansas, who was defeated by #8 seed Rhode Island.

## Schedule and venues

The following are the sites that were selected to host each round of the 1998 tournament:
First and Second Rounds
* March 12 and 14
** East Region
*** Hartford Civic Center, Hartford, Connecticut (Host: University of Connecticut)
*** MCI Center, Washington, D.C. (Host: George Mason University)
** West Region
*** BSU Pavilion, Boise, Idaho (Host: Boise State University)
*** ARCO Arena, Sacramento, California (Host: University of the Pacific)
* March 13 and 15
** Midwest Region
*** United Center, Chicago, Illinois (Host: Big Ten Conference)
*** Myriad Convention Center, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma (Host: University of Oklahoma)
** South Region
*** Georgia Dome, Atlanta, Georgia (Host: Georgia Tech)
*** Rupp Arena, Lexington, Kentucky (Host: University of Kentucky)
Regional semifinals and finals (Sweet Sixteen and Elite Eight)
* March 19 and 21
** East Regional, Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina (Host: Atlantic Coast Conference)
** West Regional, Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Anaheim, California (Host: Big West Conference)
* March 20 and 22
** Midwest Regional, Kiel Center, St. Louis, Missouri (Host: Missouri Valley Conference)
** South Regional, Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida (Host: University of South Florida)
National semifinals and championship (Final Four and championship)
* March 28 and 30
** Alamodome, San Antonio, Texas (Host: University of Texas at San Antonio)

## Teams

There were 30 automatic bids awarded to the tournament - of these, 28 were given to the winners of their conference's tournament, while two were awarded to the team with the best regular-season record in their conference (Ivy League and Pac-10).
Three conference champions made their first NCAA tournament appearances: Northern Arizona (Big Sky), Radford (Big South), and Prairie View A&M (SWAC). Additionally, UIC received an at-large bid for its first appearance in the NCAA tournament.

### Automatic qualifiers

Automatic qualifiers :
| Conference | Team | Appearance | Last bid |
| ACC | North Carolina | 32nd | 1997 |
| America East | Delaware | 3rd | 1993 |
| Atlantic 10 | Xavier | 12th | 1997 |
| Big 12 | Kansas | 27th | 1997 |
| Big East | Connecticut | 19th | 1995 |
| Big Sky | Northern Arizona | 1st | Never |
| Big South | Radford | 1st | Never |
| Big Ten | Michigan (vacated) | – | 1995 |
| Big West | Utah State | 12th | 1988 |
| CAA | Richmond | 6th | 1991 |
| Conference USA | Cincinnati | 17th | 1997 |
| Ivy League | Princeton | 21st | 1997 |
| MAAC | Iona | 4th | 1985 |
| MAC | Eastern Michigan | 4th | 1996 |
| MCC | Butler | 3rd | 1997 |
| MEAC | South Carolina State | 3rd | 1996 |
| Mid-Continent | Valparaiso | 3rd | 1997 |
| Missouri Valley | Illinois State | 6th | 1997 |
| NEC | Fairleigh Dickinson | 3rd | 1988 |
| Ohio Valley | Murray State | 9th | 1997 |
| Pac-10 | Arizona | 17th | 1997 |
| Patriot | Navy | 11th | 1997 |
| SEC | Kentucky | 39th | 1997 |
| Southern | Davidson | 6th | 1986 |
| Southland | Nicholls State | 2nd | 1995 |
| SWAC | Prairie View A&M | 1st | Never |
| Sun Belt | South Alabama | 6th | 1997 |
| TAAC | College of Charleston | 3rd | 1997 |
| WAC | UNLV | 13th | 1991 |
| West Coast | San Francisco | 16th | 1982 |

### Tournament seeds

East Regional – Greensboro Coliseum, Greensboro, North Carolina :
| Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type |
| 1 | North Carolina | ACC | 30–3 | Automatic |
| 2 | Connecticut | Big East | 29–4 | Automatic |
| 3 | South Carolina | SEC | 22–6 | At-Large |
| 4 | Michigan State | Big Ten | 20–7 | At-Large |
| 5 | Princeton | Ivy League | 26–1 | Automatic |
| 6 | Xavier | Atlantic 10 | 22–7 | Automatic |
| 7 | Indiana | Big Ten | 19–11 | At-Large |
| 8 | UNC Charlotte | Conference USA | 19–10 | At-Large |
| 9 | UIC | MCC | 22–5 | At-Large |
| 10 | Oklahoma | Big 12 | 22–10 | At-Large |
| 11 | Washington | Pac-10 | 18–9 | At-Large |
| 12 | UNLV | WAC | 20–12 | Automatic |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan | MAC | 20–9 | Automatic |
| 14 | Richmond | CAA | 22–7 | Automatic |
| 15 | Fairleigh Dickinson | NEC | 23–6 | Automatic |
| 16 | Navy | Patriot | 19–10 | Automatic |
South Regional – Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida :
| Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type |
| 1 | Duke | ACC | 29–3 | At-Large |
| 2 | Kentucky | SEC | 29–4 | Automatic |
| 3 | Michigan (vacated) | Big Ten | 24–8 | Automatic |
| 4 | New Mexico | WAC | 23–7 | At-Large |
| 5 | Syracuse | Big East | 24–8 | At-Large |
| 6 | UCLA | Pac-10 | 22–8 | At-Large |
| 7 | UMass | Atlantic 10 | 21–10 | At-Large |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | Big 12 | 21–7 | At-Large |
| 9 | George Washington | Atlantic 10 | 24–8 | At-Large |
| 10 | Saint Louis | Conference USA | 21–10 | At-Large |
| 11 | Miami (FL) | Big East | 18–9 | At-Large |
| 12 | Iona | MAAC | 27–5 | Automatic |
| 13 | Butler | MCC | 22–10 | Automatic |
| 14 | Davidson | Southern | 20–9 | Automatic |
| 15 | South Carolina State | MEAC | 22–7 | Automatic |
| 16 | Radford | Big South | 20–9 | Automatic |
West Regional – Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, Anaheim, California :
| Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type |
| 1 | Arizona | Pac-10 | 27–4 | Automatic |
| 2 | Cincinnati | Conference USA | 26–5 | Automatic |
| 3 | Utah | WAC | 25–3 | At-Large |
| 4 | Maryland | ACC | 19–10 | At-Large |
| 5 | Illinois | Big Ten | 22–9 | At-Large |
| 6 | Arkansas | SEC | 23–8 | At-Large |
| 7 | Temple | Atlantic 10 | 21–8 | At-Large |
| 8 | Tennessee | SEC | 20–8 | At-Large |
| 9 | Illinois State | Missouri Valley | 24–5 | Automatic |
| 10 | West Virginia | Big East | 22–8 | At-Large |
| 11 | Nebraska | Big 12 | 20–11 | At-Large |
| 12 | South Alabama | Sun Belt | 21–6 | Automatic |
| 13 | Utah State | Big West | 25–7 | Automatic |
| 14 | San Francisco | West Coast | 19–10 | Automatic |
| 15 | Northern Arizona | Big Sky | 21–7 | Automatic |
| 16 | Nicholls State | Southland | 19–9 | Automatic |
Midwest Regional – Kiel Center, St. Louis, Missouri :
| Seed | School | Conference | Record | Berth type |
| 1 | Kansas | Big 12 | 34–3 | Automatic |
| 2 | Purdue | Big Ten | 26–7 | At-Large |
| 3 | Stanford | Pac-10 | 26–4 | At-Large |
| 4 | Ole Miss | SEC | 22–6 | At-Large |
| 5 | TCU | WAC | 27–5 | At-Large |
| 6 | Clemson | ACC | 18–13 | At-Large |
| 7 | St. John's | Big East | 22–9 | At-Large |
| 8 | Rhode Island | Atlantic 10 | 22–8 | At-Large |
| 9 | Murray State | Ohio Valley | 29–3 | Automatic |
| 10 | Detroit | MCC | 24–5 | At-Large |
| 11 | Western Michigan | Mid-American | 20–7 | At-Large |
| 12 | Florida State | ACC | 17–13 | At-Large |
| 13 | Valparaiso | Mid-Continent | 21–9 | Automatic |
| 14 | College of Charleston | TAAC | 24–5 | Automatic |
| 15 | Delaware | America East | 20–9 | Automatic |
| 16 | Prairie View A&M | SWAC | 13–16 | Automatic |

## Bids by conference

Bids by Conference :
| Bids | Conference(s) |
| 5 | Atlantic 10, ACC, Big Ten, Big East, SEC |
| 4 | Big 12, Pac-10, WAC |
| 3 | C-USA, MCC (Horizon League) |
| 2 | MAC |
| 1 | 19 others |

## Bracket
### East Regional – Greensboro, North Carolina

| First round | First round | First round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | | Regional Final | Regional Final | Regional Final |
| 1 | North Carolina | 88 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Navy | 52 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Navy | 52 | 1 | North Carolina | 93$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | |
| Hartford | Hartford | Hartford | 1 | North Carolina | 93$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | |
| Hartford | Hartford | Hartford | 8 | Charlotte | 83 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Charlotte | 77 | 8 | Charlotte | 83 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | UIC | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | UIC | 62 | | | | 1 | North Carolina | 73 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Michigan State | 58 | | | | |
| 5 | Princeton | 69 | | | | | | | 4 | Michigan State | 58 | | | | |
| 12 | UNLV | 57 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | UNLV | 57 | 5 | Princeton | 56 | | | | | | | |
| Hartford | Hartford | Hartford | 5 | Princeton | 56 | | | | | | | |
| Hartford | Hartford | Hartford | 4 | Michigan State | 63 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Michigan State | 83 | 4 | Michigan State | 63 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan | 71 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Eastern Michigan | 71 | | | | | | | | 1 | North Carolina | 75 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Connecticut | 64 |
| 6 | Xavier | 68 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Connecticut | 64 |
| 11 | Washington | 69 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Washington | 69 | 11 | Washington | 81 | | | | | | | |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | 11 | Washington | 81 | | | | | | | |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | 14 | Richmond | 66 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | South Carolina | 61 | 14 | Richmond | 66 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Richmond | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Richmond | 62 | | | | 11 | Washington | 74 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Connecticut | 75 | | | | |
| 7 | Indiana | 94$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | 2 | Connecticut | 75 | | | | |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 87 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Oklahoma | 87 | 7 | Indiana | 68 | | | | | | | |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | 7 | Indiana | 68 | | | | | | | |
| Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | Washington, D.C. | 2 | Connecticut | 78 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Connecticut | 93 | 2 | Connecticut | 78 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Fairleigh Dickinson | 85 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Regional Final Summary

* CBS
* Saturday, March 21
#1 North Carolina Tar Heels 75, #2 Connecticut Huskies 64 :
| Scoring by half: 36–32, 39–32 |||
| Pts: A. Jamison – 20 Rebs: A. Jamison – 11 Asts: E. Cota – 9 | Pts: K. El-Amin – 24 Rebs: K. Freeman – 7 Asts: M. Hardnett – 4 |
* Greensboro Coliseum – Greensboro, NC Attendance: 23,235 Referees: Mark Reischling, Eddie Jackson, Dick Cartmell

#### East Regional all-tournament team

* Antawn Jamison – North Carolina (MOP)
* Khalid El-Amin – UConn
* Richard Hamilton – UConn
* Vince Carter – North Carolina
* Ed Cota – North Carolina
* Shammond Williams – North Carolina

### West Regional – Anaheim, California

| First round | First round | First round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | | Regional Final | Regional Final | Regional Final |
| 1 | Arizona | 99 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Nicholls State | 60 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Nicholls State | 60 | 1 | Arizona | 82 | | | | | | | |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | Sacramento | 1 | Arizona | 82 | | | | | | | |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | Sacramento | 9 | Illinois State | 49 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Tennessee | 81 | 9 | Illinois State | 49 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Illinois State | 82$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Illinois State | 82$^{OT}$ | | | | 1 | Arizona | 87 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 4 | Maryland | 79 | | | | |
| 5 | Illinois | 64 | | | | | | | 4 | Maryland | 79 | | | | |
| 12 | South Alabama | 51 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | South Alabama | 51 | 5 | Illinois | 61 | | | | | | | |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | Sacramento | 5 | Illinois | 61 | | | | | | | |
| Sacramento | Sacramento | Sacramento | 4 | Maryland | 67 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Maryland | 82 | 4 | Maryland | 67 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Utah State | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Utah State | 68 | | | | | | | | 1 | Arizona | 51 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Utah | 76 |
| 6 | Arkansas | 74 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Utah | 76 |
| 11 | Nebraska | 65 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Nebraska | 65 | 6 | Arkansas | 69 | | | | | | | |
| Boise | Boise | Boise | 6 | Arkansas | 69 | | | | | | | |
| Boise | Boise | Boise | 3 | Utah | 75 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Utah | 85 | 3 | Utah | 75 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | San Francisco | 68 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | San Francisco | 68 | | | | 3 | Utah | 65 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 10 | West Virginia | 62 | | | | |
| 7 | Temple | 52 | | | | | | | 10 | West Virginia | 62 | | | | |
| 10 | West Virginia | 82 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | West Virginia | 82 | 10 | West Virginia | 75 | | | | | | | |
| Boise | Boise | Boise | 10 | West Virginia | 75 | | | | | | | |
| Boise | Boise | Boise | 2 | Cincinnati | 74 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Cincinnati | 65 | 2 | Cincinnati | 74 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Northern Arizona | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Regional Final Summary

* CBS
* Saturday, March 21
* box score
#3 Utah Utes 76, #1 Arizona Wildcats 51 :
| Scoring by half: 29–20, 47–31 |||
| Pts: A. Miller – 18 Rebs: A. Miller – 14 Asts: A. Miller – 13 | Pts: J. Terry – 16 Rebs: B. Davison – 10 Asts: M. Simon – 4 |
* Arrowhead Pond – Anaheim, CA Attendance: 17,851 Referees: Gerald Boudreaux, Tony Greene, Tom Rucker

#### West Regional all-tournament team

* Andre Miller – Utah (MOP)
* Mike Bibby – Arizona
* Michael Doleac – Utah
* Alex Jensen – Utah
* Hanno Mottola – Utah

### South Regional – St. Petersburg, Florida

| First round | First round | First round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | | Regional Final | Regional Final | Regional Final |
| 1 | Duke | 99 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Radford | 63 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Radford | 63 | 1 | Duke | 79 | | | | | | | |
| Lexington | Lexington | Lexington | 1 | Duke | 79 | | | | | | | |
| Lexington | Lexington | Lexington | 8 | Oklahoma State | 73 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Oklahoma State | 74 | 8 | Oklahoma State | 73 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | George Washington | 59 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | George Washington | 59 | | | | 1 | Duke | 80 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 5 | Syracuse | 67 | | | | |
| 5 | Syracuse | 63 | | | | | | | 5 | Syracuse | 67 | | | | |
| 12 | Iona | 61 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Iona | 61 | 5 | Syracuse | 56 | | | | | | | |
| Lexington | Lexington | Lexington | 5 | Syracuse | 56 | | | | | | | |
| Lexington | Lexington | Lexington | 4 | New Mexico | 46 | | | | | | | |
| 4 | New Mexico | 79 | 4 | New Mexico | 46 | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Butler | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Butler | 62 | | | | | | | | 1 | Duke | 84 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Kentucky | 86 |
| 6 | UCLA | 65 | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | Kentucky | 86 |
| 11 | Miami (FL) | 62 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Miami (FL) | 62 | 6 | UCLA | 85 | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta | 6 | UCLA | 85 | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta | 3 | Michigan | 82 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Michigan | 80 | 3 | Michigan | 82 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Davidson | 61 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | Davidson | 61 | | | | 6 | UCLA | 68 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Kentucky | 94 | | | | |
| 7 | Massachusetts | 46 | | | | | | | 2 | Kentucky | 94 | | | | |
| 10 | Saint Louis | 51 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Saint Louis | 51 | 10 | Saint Louis | 61 | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta | 10 | Saint Louis | 61 | | | | | | | |
| Atlanta | Atlanta | Atlanta | 2 | Kentucky | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Kentucky | 82 | 2 | Kentucky | 88 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | South Carolina State | 67 | | | | | | | | | | |
All of Michigan's wins from the 1997–98 season were vacated on November 7, 2002, as part of the settlement of the University of Michigan basketball scandal. Unlike forfeiture, a vacated game does not result in the other school being credited with a win, only with the removal of any Michigan wins from all records.

#### Regional Final Summary

* CBS
* Sunday, March 22
* box score
#2 Kentucky Wildcats 86, #1 Duke Blue Devils 84 :
| Scoring by half: 39–49, 47–35 |||
| Pts: J. Sheppard – 18 Rebs: H. Evans, J. Sheppard – 11 Asts: W. Turner – 8 | Pts: R. McLeod – 19 Rebs: R. McLeod, S. Battier – 8 Asts: S. Wojciechowski, T. Langdon – 4 |
* Tropicana Field – St. Petersburg, FL Attendance: 40,589 Referees: Tom Harrington, Mike Sanzere, Curtis Shaw

#### South Regional all-tournament team

* Wayne Turner – Kentucky (MOP)
* Trajan Langdon – Duke
* Roshown McLeod – Duke
* Scott Padgett – Kentucky
* Jeff Sheppard – Kentucky

### Midwest Regional – St. Louis, Missouri

| First round | First round | First round | Second Round | Second Round | Second Round | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | Regional semifinals | | Regional Final | Regional Final | Regional Final |
| 1 | Kansas | 110 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Prairie View A&M | 52 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 16 | Prairie View A&M | 52 | 1 | Kansas | 75 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | 1 | Kansas | 75 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | 8 | Rhode Island | 80 | | | | | | | |
| 8 | Rhode Island | 97 | 8 | Rhode Island | 80 | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Murray State | 74 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 9 | Murray State | 74 | | | | 8 | Rhode Island | 74 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 13 | Valparaiso | 68 | | | | |
| 5 | TCU | 87 | | | | | | | 13 | Valparaiso | 68 | | | | |
| 12 | Florida State | 96 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 12 | Florida State | 96 | 12 | Florida State | 77 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | 12 | Florida State | 77 | | | | | | | |
| Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | Oklahoma City | 13 | Valparaiso | 83$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | |
| 4 | Ole Miss | 69 | 13 | Valparaiso | 83$^{OT}$ | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Valparaiso | 70 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 13 | Valparaiso | 70 | | | | | | | | 8 | Rhode Island | 77 |
| | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stanford | 79 |
| 6 | Clemson | 72 | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | Stanford | 79 |
| 11 | Western Michigan | 75 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 11 | Western Michigan | 75 | 11 | Western Michigan | 65 | | | | | | | |
| Chicago | Chicago | Chicago | 11 | Western Michigan | 65 | | | | | | | |
| Chicago | Chicago | Chicago | 3 | Stanford | 83 | | | | | | | |
| 3 | Stanford | 67 | 3 | Stanford | 83 | | | | | | | |
| 14 | College of Charleston | 57 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 14 | College of Charleston | 57 | | | | 3 | Stanford | 67 | | | | |
| | | | | | | 2 | Purdue | 59 | | | | |
| 7 | St. John's | 64 | | | | | | | 2 | Purdue | 59 | | | | |
| 10 | Detroit | 66 | | | | | | | | | | |
| 10 | Detroit | 66 | 10 | Detroit | 65 | | | | | | | |
| Chicago | Chicago | Chicago | 10 | Detroit | 65 | | | | | | | |
| Chicago | Chicago | Chicago | 2 | Purdue | 80 | | | | | | | |
| 2 | Purdue | 95 | 2 | Purdue | 80 | | | | | | | |
| 15 | Delaware | 56 | | | | | | | | | | |

#### Regional Final Summary

* CBS
* Sunday, March 22
* box score
#3 Stanford Cardinal 79, #8 Rhode Island 77 :
| Scoring by half: 38–38, 41–39 |||
| Pts: A. Lee – 26 Rebs: T. Young – 12 Asts: A. Lee – 7 | Pts: T. Wheeler – 24 Rebs: A. Reynolds-Dean – 10 Asts: T. Wheeler – 5 |
* Kiel Center – St. Louis, MO Attendance: 22,172 Referees: Frank Scagliotta, Mike Kitts, Larry Rose

#### Midwest Regional all-tournament team

* Arthur Lee – Stanford (MOP)
* Cuttino Mobley – Rhode Island
* Tyson Wheeler – Rhode Island
* Mark Madsen – Stanford
* Bryce Drew – Valparaiso

### Final Four – San Antonio, Texas

| National semifinals | National semifinals | National semifinals | National Championship Game | National Championship Game | National Championship Game |
| E1 | North Carolina | 59 | | | |
| W3 | Utah | 65 | | | |
| W3 | Utah | 65 | W3 | Utah | 69 |
| | | | S2 | Kentucky | 78 |
| S2 | Kentucky | 86$^{OT}$ | S2 | Kentucky | 78 |
| MW3 | Stanford | 85 | | | |

#### National semifinals

* CBS
* Saturday, March 28
* box score
#2 Kentucky Wildcats 86, #3 Stanford Cardinal 85 (OT) :
| Scoring by half: 32–37, 41–36 Overtime: 13–12 |||
| Pts: J. Sheppard – 27 Rebs: J.Sheppard, H. Evans, S. Padgett – 6 Asts: J. Sheppard, W. Turner – 4 | Pts: A. Lee – 26 Rebs: M. Madsen – 16 Asts: A. Lee – 5 |
* Alamodome – San Antonio, TX Attendance: 40,509 Referees: Tim Higgins, Bob Donato, Larry Rose
* CBS
* Saturday, March, 28
* box score
#3 Utah Utes 65, #1 North Carolina Tar Heels 59 :
| Scoring by half: 35–22, 30–37 |||
| Pts: M. Doleac, A. Miller – 16 Rebs: A. Miller – 14 Asts: A. Miller – 7 | Pts: V. Carter – 21 Rebs: A. Jamison – 12 Asts: E. Cota – 7 |
* Alamodome – San Antonio, TX Attendance: 40,590 Referees: John Clougherty, Andre Pattillo, Don Rutledge

#### National Championship

* CBS
* Monday, March 30
* Box score
#2 Kentucky Wildcats 78, #3 Utah Utes 69 :
| Scoring by half: 31–41, 47–28 |||
| Pts: S. Padgett – 17 Rebs: H. Evans – 6 Asts: A. Edwards – 5 | Pts: A. Miller – 16 Rebs: M. Doleac – 10 Asts: A. Miller – 5 |
* Alamodome – San Antonio, TX Attendance: 40,509 Referees: Jim Burr, Donnie Gray, Mike Sanzere

#### Final Four all-tournament team

* Jeff Sheppard – Kentucky (MOP)
* Scott Padgett – Kentucky
* Arthur Lee – Stanford
* Andre Miller – Utah
* Michael Doleac – Utah

## Announcers

* Jim Nantz/Billy Packer/Michele Tafoya – First & Second Round at Atlanta, Georgia; South Regional at St. Petersburg, Florida; Final Four at San Antonio, Texas
* Sean McDonough/Bill Raftery/Andrea Joyce – First & Second Round at Washington, D.C.; East Regional at Greensboro, North Carolina
* Gus Johnson/Jon Sundvold/Armen Keteyian – First & Second Round at Hartford, Connecticut; West Regional at Anaheim, California
* Tim Brando/Al McGuire/Craig James – First & Second Round at Lexington, Kentucky; Midwest Regional at St. Louis, Missouri
* Ted Robinson/Rolando Blackman/Beth Mowins – First & Second Round at Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
* Jim Durham/Greg Kelser/Mike Mayock – First & Second Round at Boise, Idaho
* Tim Ryan/Dan Bonner/Jimmy Dykes – First & Second Round at Chicago, Illinois
* Ian Eagle/Jim Spanarkel/Mike Harris – First & Second Round at Sacramento, California
Greg Gumbel rejoined CBS Sports and for the first time served as the studio host, joined by analyst Clark Kellogg and former North Carolina coach Dean Smith.