# 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1989 and ended with the Final Four at McNichols Sports Arena in Denver, Colorado on April 2, 1990. The UNLV Runnin' Rebels won their first NCAA national championship with a 103–73 victory over the Duke Blue Devils.

## Season headlines

* The Associated Press (AP) Poll expanded from a Top 20 to a Top 25 format.
* Prior to the season, the West Coast Athletic Conference renamed itself the West Coast Conference.
* In a 1990 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament semifinal game on March 4, 1990, Loyola Marymount forward Hank Gathers collapsed during the first half and stopped breathing. He was pronounced dead two hours later. The game and the rest of the tournament were cancelled. Regular-season champion Loyola Marymount received the conference's automatic bid in the 1990 NCAA tournament and made a run to the Elite Eight.
* Lionel Simmons became the first NCAA Division I player to score more than 3,000 points and gather more than 1,100 rebounds. The senior forward from La Salle averaged 26.5 points and 11.1 rebounds to earn National Player of the Year.

## Season outlook
### Pre-season polls

The top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.
Associated Press :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | UNLV |
| 2 | LSU |
| 3 | Syracuse |
| 4 | Michigan |
| 5 | Georgetown |
| 6 | Arizona |
| 7 | North Carolina |
| 8 | Illinois |
| 9 | Arkansas |
| 10 | Duke |
| 11 | Missouri |
| 12 | Louisville |
| 13 | UCLA |
| 14 | Indiana |
| 15 | Temple |
| 16 | Oklahoma |
| 17 | Notre Dame |
| 18 | Pittsburgh |
| 19 | NC State |
| 20 | Minnesota |
| 21 | Oklahoma State |
| 22 | Georgia Tech |
| 23 | Florida |
| 24 | Memphis |
| 25 | St. John's |
UPI Coaches :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | UNLV |
| 2 | Syracuse |
| 3 | LSU |
| 4 | Georgetown |
| 5 | Michigan |
| 6 | Arizona |
| 7 | North Carolina |
| 8 | Illinois |
| 9 | Duke |
| 10 | Arkansas |
| 10 | Arizona |
| 12 | Indiana |
| 13 | UCLA |
| 14 | Louisville |
| 15 | Georgia Tech |
| 16 | Oklahoma |
| 17 | Temple |
| 18 | Pittsburgh |
| 19 | Notre Dame |
| 20 | Oklahoma State |

## Conference membership changes

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Houston Baptist Huskies | Trans American Athletic Conference | NAIA independent |
| Loyola (Md.) Greyhounds | Northeast Conference | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
| Marquette Warriors | NCAA Division I independent | Midwestern Collegiate Conference |
| Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers | NCAA Division I independent | Northeast Conference |
| Oral Roberts Titans | NCAA Division I independent | non-Division I |
| Siena Saints | North Atlantic Conference | Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference |
| Southeastern Louisiana Lions | NCAA Division I independent | No team |

## Regular season
### Conferences
#### Conference winners and tournaments

| Conference | Regular season first place | Conference player of the year | Conference Coach of the Year | Conference tournament | Tournament venue (city) | Tournament winner |
| American South Conference | Louisiana Tech & New Orleans | Tony Harris, New Orleans | | 1990 American South Conference men's basketball tournament | Convocation Center Jonesboro, Arkansas | New Orleans |
| Atlantic 10 Conference | Temple | Kenny Green, Rhode Island | Bruce Parkhill, Penn State | 1990 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament | The Palestra & McGonigle Hall Philadelphia, Pennsylvania | Temple |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | Clemson | Dennis Scott, Georgia Tech | Cliff Ellis, Clemson | 1990 ACC men's basketball tournament | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina | Georgia Tech |
| Big East Conference | Connecticut & Syracuse | Derrick Coleman, Syracuse | Jim Calhoun, Connecticut | 1990 Big East men's basketball tournament | Madison Square Garden New York, New York | Connecticut |
| Big Eight Conference | Missouri | Doug Smith, Missouri | Roy Williams, Kansas | 1990 Big Eight Conference men's basketball tournament | Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri | Oklahoma |
| Big Sky Conference | Idaho | Riley Smith, Idaho | Bob Hofman, Eastern Washington | 1990 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament | BSU Pavilion Boise, Idaho | Idaho |
| Big South Conference | Coastal Carolina | Tony Dunkin, Coastal Carolina | Russ Bergman, Coastal Carolina | 1990 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament | Winthrop Coliseum Rock Hill, South Carolina | Coastal Carolina |
| Big Ten Conference | Michigan State | Steve Scheffler, Purdue | Gene Keady, Purdue | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Big West Conference | UNLV | Larry Johnson, UNLV | Neil McCarthy, New Mexico State | 1990 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament | Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California | UNLV |
| Colonial Athletic Association | James Madison | Steve Hood, James Madison | Lefty Driesell, James Madison | 1990 CAA men's basketball tournament | Richmond Coliseum Richmond, Virginia | Richmond |
| East Coast Conference | Hofstra, Lehigh, & Towson State | Kurk Lee, Towson State | Dave Duke, Lehigh | 1990 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournament | Towson Center Towson, Maryland | Towson State |
| Ivy League | Princeton | Kit Mueller, Princeton | Not named | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Metro Conference | Louisville | Clarence Weatherspoon, Southern Mississippi | Bob Huggins, Cincinnati | 1990 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament | Mississippi Coast Coliseum Biloxi, Mississippi | Louisville |
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | Holy Cross (North) La Salle (South) | Lionel Simmons, La Salle | George Blaney, Holy Cross | 1990 MAAC men's basketball tournament | Knickerbocker Arena Albany, New York | La Salle |
| Mid-American Conference | Ball State | Dave Jamerson, Ohio | Jim McDonald, Kent State | 1990 MAC men's basketball tournament | Cobo Arena Detroit, Michigan | Ball State |
| Mid-Continent Conference | SW Missouri State | Lee Campbell, SW Missouri State | Dick Bennett, Wisconsin-Green Bay | 1990 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament | UNI-Dome Cedar Falls, Iowa | Northern Iowa |
| Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference | Coppin State | Larry Stewart, Coppin State | Fang Mitchell, Coppin State | 1990 MEAC men's basketball tournament | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina | Coppin State |
| Midwestern Collegiate Conference | Xavier | Tyrone Hill, Xavier | Pete Gillen, Xavier | 1990 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament | UD Arena Dayton, Ohio | Dayton |
| Missouri Valley Conference | Southern Illinois | Bob Harstad, Creighton | Rich Herrin, Southern Illinois | 1990 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament | Redbird Arena Normal, Illinois | Illinois State |
| North Atlantic Conference | Northeastern | Steven Key, Boston University | Mike Jarvis, Boston University | 1990 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball tournament | Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut | Boston University |
| Northeast Conference | Robert Morris | Desi Wilson, Fairleigh Dickinson | Jarrett Durham, Robert Morris | 1990 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament | Charles L. Sewall Center Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Robert Morris |
| Ohio Valley Conference | Murray State | Popeye Jones, Murray State | Steve Newton, Murray State | 1990 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament | Racer Arena Murray, Kentucky | Murray State |
| Pacific-10 Conference | Arizona & Oregon State | Gary Payton, Oregon State | Jimmy Anderson, Oregon State | 1990 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament | University Activity Center Tempe, Arizona | Arizona |
| Southeastern Conference | Georgia | Chris Jackson, LSU | Tommy Joe Eagles, Auburn | 1990 SEC men's basketball tournament | Orlando Arena Orlando, Florida | Alabama |
| Southern Conference | East Tennessee State | Keith Jennings, East Tennessee State, & John Taft, Marshall | Dana Altman, Marshall, & Les Robinson East Tennessee State | 1990 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament | Asheville Civic Center Asheville, North Carolina | East Tennessee State |
| Southland Conference | Northeast Louisiana | Anthony Pullard, McNeese State | Mike Vining, Northeast Louisiana | 1990 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament | Fant–Ewing Coliseum Monroe, Louisiana | Northeast Louisiana |
| Southwest Conference | Arkansas | Travis Mays, Texas | Nolan Richardson, Arkansas | 1990 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament | Reunion Arena Dallas, Texas | Arkansas |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Southern | Joe Faulkner, Southern | | 1990 SWAC men's basketball tournament | Health and Physical Education Arena Houston, Texas | Texas Southern |
| Sun Belt Conference | UAB | Chris Gatling, Old Dominion | Bobby Paschal, South Florida | 1990 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament | Birmingham–Jefferson Civic Center Birmingham, Alabama | South Florida |
| Trans America Athletic Conference | Centenary | Larry Robinson, Centenary | Tommy Vardeman, Centenary | 1990 TAAC men's basketball tournament | Barton Coliseum Little Rock, Arkansas | Arkansas–Little Rock |
| West Coast Athletic Conference | Loyola Marymount | Bo Kimble, Loyola Marymount | Paul Westhead, Loyola Marymount | 1990 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament | Gersten Pavilion Los Angeles, California | Semifinals and championship canceled |
| Western Athletic Conference | BYU & Colorado State | Mike Mitchell, Colorado State | Roger Reid, BYU | 1990 WAC men's basketball tournament | Special Events Center El Paso, Texas | UTEP |

#### Conference standings

1989–90 American South Conference men's basketball standings :
| 1989–90 American South Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Louisiana Tech8–2 .80020–8  .714 New Orleans †8–2 .80021–11  .656 Texas–Pan American7–3 .70021–9  .700 Southwestern Louisiana4–6 .40020–9  .690 Arkansas State2–8 .20015–13  .536 Lamar1–9 .1007–21  .250 † 1990 American South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Temple †15–3 .83320–11  .645 Penn State13–5 .72225–9  .735 West Virginia11–7 .61116–12  .571 Rhode Island11–7 .61115–13  .536 Rutgers11–7 .61118–17  .514 UMass10–8 .55617–14  .548 George Washington6–12 .33314–17  .452 Saint Joseph's5–13 .2787–21  .250 Duquesne5–13 .2787–22  .241 St. Bonaventure3–15 .1678–20  .286 † 1990 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 ACC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 17 Clemson10–4 .71426–9  .743 No. 15 Duke9–5 .64329–9  .763 #9 Georgia Tech†8–6 .57128–7  .800 North Carolina8–6 .57121–13  .618 Virginia6–8 .42920–12  .625 NC State6–8 .42918–12  .600 Maryland6–8 .42919–14  .576 Wake Forest3–11 .21412–16  .429 † 1990 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1989–90 Big East men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 4 Connecticut†12–4 .75031–6  .838 No. 6 Syracuse12–4 .75026–7  .788 No. 8 Georgetown11–5 .68824–7  .774 St. John's10–6 .62524–10  .706 Villanova8–8 .50018–15  .545 Providence8–8 .50017–12  .586 Seton Hall5–11 .31312–16  .429 Pittsburgh5–11 .31312–17  .414 Boston College1–15 .0638–20  .286 † 1990 Big East tournament winner As of April 2, 1990 Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 11 Missouri12–2 .85726–6  .813 No. 1 Oklahoma †11–3 .78627–5  .844 No. 5 Kansas11–3 .78630–5  .857 Kansas State7–7 .50017–15  .531 Oklahoma State6–8 .42917–14  .548 Iowa State4–10 .28610–18  .357 Nebraska3–11 .21410–18  .357 Colorado2–12 .14312–18  .400 † 1990 Big Eight tournament winner As of March 3, 2012 Rankings from AP poll | 1989–90 Big Sky men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Idaho †13–3 .81325–6  .806 Eastern Washington11–5 .68818–11  .621 Montana10–6 .62518–11  .621 Nevada9–7 .56315–13  .536 Weber State8–8 .50014–15  .483 Montana State8–8 .50017–12  .586 Boise State7–9 .43812–15  .444 Northern Arizona3–13 .1888–20  .286 Idaho State3–13 .1886–21  .222 † Conference tournament winner |
| 1989–90 Big South Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Coastal Carolina †11–1 .91723–6  .793 Campbell7–5 .58315–13  .536 UNC Asheville7–5 .58318–12  .600 Winthrop6–6 .50019–10  .655 Baptist4–8 .3339–19  .321 Augusta State4–8 .3338–20  .286 Radford3–9 .2507–22  .241 † 1990 Big South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 3 Michigan State15–3 .83328–6  .824 No. 10 Purdue13–5 .72222–8  .733 No. 13 Michigan12–6 .66723–8  .742 No. 18 Illinois11–7 .61121–8  .724 No. 20 Minnesota11–7 .61123–9  .719 Ohio State10–8 .55617–13  .567 Indiana8–10 .44418–11  .621 Wisconsin4–14 .22214–17  .452 Iowa4–14 .22212–16  .429 Northwestern2–16 .1119–19  .321 Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Big West men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 24 New Mexico State16–2 .88926–5  .839 No. 2 UNLV†16–2 .88935–5  .875 UC Santa Barbara13–5 .72221–9  .700 Long Beach State12–6 .66723–9  .719 Utah State8–10 .44414–16  .467 Pacific7–11 .38915–14  .517 Cal State Fullerton6–12 .33313–16  .448 San Jose State5–13 .2788–20  .286 Fresno State4–14 .22210–19  .345 UC Irvine3–15 .1675–23  .179 † 1990 Big West tournament winner Rankings from AP poll |
| 1989–90 CAA men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT James Madison11–3 .78620–11  .645 Richmond †10–4 .71422–10  .688 American10–4 .71420–9  .690 George Mason10–4 .71420–12  .625 East Carolina6–8 .42913–18  .419 Navy4–10 .2865–23  .179 UNC Wilmington3–11 .2148–20  .286 William & Mary2–12 .1436–22  .214 † 1990 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 East Coast Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Lehigh8–6 .57118–12  .600 Towson State †8–6 .57118–13  .581 Hofstra8–6 .57113–15  .464 Delaware7–7 .50016–13  .552 Lafayette7–7 .50015–13  .536 Drexel7–7 .50013–15  .464 Bucknell6–8 .42915–14  .517 Rider5–9 .35710–18  .357 † 1990 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll | 1989-90 Ivy League men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Princeton11–3 .78620–7  .741 Yale10–4 .71419–7  .731 Dartmouth7–7 .50012–14  .462 Harvard7–7 .50012–14  .462 Penn7–7 .50012–14  .462 Brown7–7 .50010–16  .385 Cornell5–9 .35712–17  .414 Columbia2–12 .1434–22  .154 Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1989–90 Metro Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 16 Louisville †12–2 .85727–8  .771 Southern Miss9–5 .64320–12  .625 Cincinnati9–5 .64320–14  .588 Memphis State8–6 .57118–12  .600 Florida State6–8 .42916–15  .516 South Carolina6–8 .42914–14  .500 Virginia Tech5–9 .35713–18  .419 Tulane1–13 .0714–24  .143 † 1990 Metro Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 MAAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT North Holy Cross14–2 .87524–6  .800 Siena11–5 .68816–13  .552 Fordham10–6 .62520–13  .606 Canisius5–11 .31311–18  .379 Army5–11 .31310–19  .345 Niagara5–11 .3136–22  .214 South No. 12 La Salle †16–0 1.00030–2  .938 Iona8–8 .50013–15  .464 Saint Peter's7–9 .43814–14  .500 Manhattan7–9 .43811–17  .393 Fairfield6–10 .37510–19  .345 Loyola (MD)2–14 .1254–24  .143 † 1990 MAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll | 1989–90 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Ball State†13–3 .81326–7  .788 Kent State12–4 .75021–8  .724 Miami9–7 .56314–15  .483 Bowling Green9–7 .56318–11  .621 Eastern Michigan8–8 .50019–13  .594 Toledo7–9 .43812–16  .429 Central Michigan6–10 .37513–17  .433 Ohio5–11 .31312–16  .429 Western Michigan3–13 .1889–18  .333 † 1990 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1989–90 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Southwest Missouri State11–1 .91722–7  .759 Green Bay9–3 .75024–8  .750 Western Illinois6–6 .50016–13  .552 Northern Iowa †6–6 .50023–9  .719 UIC6–6 .50016–12  .571 Eastern Illinois3–9 .25010–18  .357 Valparaiso1–11 .0834–24  .143 Cleveland State0–0 –15–13  .536 † 1990 Mid-Con Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 MEAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Coppin State †15–1 .93826–7  .788 Florida A&M13–3 .81318–11  .621 Delaware State9–7 .56314–14  .500 South Carolina State8–8 .50013–16  .448 Bethune–Cookman8–8 .50010–18  .357 North Carolina A&T6–10 .37512–17  .414 Howard5–11 .3138–19  .296 Maryland Eastern Shore4–12 .25010–17  .370 Morgan State4–12 .2508–20  .286 † 1990 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 25 Xavier12–2 .85728–5  .848 Dayton †10–4 .71422–10  .688 Saint Louis9–5 .64321–12  .636 Marquette9–5 .64315–14  .517 Evansville8–6 .57117–15  .531 Loyola (IL)3–11 .2147–22  .241 Detroit3–11 .21410–18  .357 Butler2–12 .1436–22  .214 † 1990 MCC tournament winner Rankings from AP |
| 1989–90 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Southern Illinois10–4 .71426–8  .765 Illinois State †9–5 .64318–13  .581 Creighton9–5 .64321–12  .636 Tulsa9–5 .64317–13  .567 Bradley6–8 .42911–20  .355 Wichita State6–8 .42910–19  .345 Drake5–9 .35713–18  .419 Indiana State2–12 .1438–20  .286 † 1990 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Northeastern9–3 .75016–12  .571 Boston University †9–3 .75018–12  .600 Hartford8–4 .66717–11  .607 Maine6–6 .50011–17  .393 Vermont4–8 .33313–17  .433 Colgate3–9 .2508–21  .276 New Hampshire3–9 .2505–23  .179 † 1990 NAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Robert Morris†12–4 .75022–8  .733 Monmouth11–5 .68817–12  .586 Marist10–6 .62517–11  .607 Mount St. Mary's*10–6 .62516–12  .571 Saint Francis (PA)10–6 .62517–11  .607 Fairleigh Dickinson8–8 .50016–13  .552 Wagner6–10 .37511–17  .393 St. Francis (NY)4–12 .2509–18  .333 Long Island1–15 .0633–23  .115 † 1990 NEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll *Ineligible for conference tournament |
| 1989–90 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Murray State †10–2 .83321–9  .700 Tennessee Tech9–3 .75019–9  .679 Morehead State7–5 .58316–13  .552 Eastern Kentucky7–5 .58313–17  .433 Middle Tennessee5–7 .41712–15  .444 Tennessee State2–10 .1677–20  .259 Austin Peay2–10 .16710–19  .345 † 1990 OVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 22 Oregon State15–3 .83322–7  .759 No. 14 Arizona †15–3 .83325–7  .781 California12–6 .66722–10  .688 UCLA11–7 .61122–11  .667 Oregon10–8 .55615–14  .517 Stanford9–9 .50018–12  .600 USC6–12 .33312–16  .429 Arizona State6–12 .33315–16  .484 Washington5–13 .27811–17  .393 Washington State1–17 .0567–22  .241 † Conference tournament winner As of April 15, 1990 Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Georgia13–5 .72220–9  .690 No. 23 Alabama †12–6 .66726–9  .743 No. 19 LSU12–6 .66723–9  .719 Tennessee10–8 .55616–14  .533 Kentucky10–8 .55614–14  .500 Ole Miss8–10 .44413–17  .433 Auburn8–10 .44413–18  .419 Mississippi State7–11 .38916–14  .533 Vanderbilt7–11 .38921–14  .600 Florida3–15 .1677–21  .250 † 1990 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll |
| 1989–90 Southern Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT East Tennessee State †12–2 .85727–7  .794 Marshall9–5 .64315–13  .536 Appalachian State8–6 .57119–11  .633 VMI7–7 .50014–15  .483 Chattanooga7–7 .50014–14  .500 The Citadel5–9 .35712–16  .429 Furman5–9 .35715–16  .484 Western Carolina3–11 .21410–18  .357 † SoCon Tournament winner As of April 30, 1990 Rankings from AP poll | 1989–90 Southland Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Northeast Louisiana †13–1 .92922–8  .733 McNeese State11–3 .78614–13  .519 Southwest Texas State9–5 .64313–15  .464 Sam Houston State8–6 .57110–18  .357 Texas–Arlington6–8 .42913–16  .448 Northwestern State5–9 .35710–19  .345 North Texas State3–11 .2145–25  .167 Stephen F. Austin1–13 .0712–25  .074 † 1990 Southland Conference tournament winner | 1989–90 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 7 Arkansas †14–2 .87530–5  .857 Houston13–3 .81325–8  .758 Texas12–4 .75024–9  .727 TCU9–7 .56316–13  .552 Baylor7–9 .43816–14  .533 Texas A&M7–9 .43814–17  .452 Rice5–11 .31311–17  .393 SMU5–11 .31310–18  .357 Texas Tech0–16 .0005–22  .185 † 1990 SWC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1989–90 SWAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Southern12–2 .85725–6  .806 Texas Southern †10–4 .71419–12  .613 Alabama State7–7 .50015–13  .536 Mississippi Valley State7–7 .50011–18  .379 Alcorn State6–8 .4297–22  .241 Prairie View A&M5–9 .3579–18  .333 Grambling5–9 .3579–19  .321 Jackson State4–10 .2869–19  .321 † 1990 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT UAB12–2 .85722–9  .710 South Florida †9–5 .64320–11  .645 Old Dominion7–7 .50014–14  .500 Western Kentucky7–7 .50013–17  .433 UNC Charlotte6–8 .42916–14  .533 Jacksonville5–9 .35713–16  .448 South Alabama5–9 .35711–17  .393 VCU5–9 .35711–17  .393 † 1990 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1989–90 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Centenary14–2 .87522–8  .733 UTSA13–3 .81322–7  .759 Arkansas–Little Rock †12–4 .75020–10  .667 Georgia Southern11–5 .68817–11  .607 Stetson8–8 .50015–17  .469 Hardin–Simmons5–11 .3139–18  .333 Samford4–12 .2506–22  .214 Georgia State3–13 .1885–23  .179 Mercer2–14 .1257–20  .259 † 1990 TAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1989–90 West Coast Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 21 Loyola Marymount13–1 .92926–6  .813 Pepperdine10–4 .71417–11  .607 San Diego9–5 .64316–12  .571 Portland7–7 .50011–17  .393 Santa Clara6–8 .4299–19  .321 San Francisco4–10 .2868–20  .286 Saint Mary's4–10 .2867–20  .259 Gonzaga3–11 .2148–20  .286 Rankings from AP poll | 1989–90 WAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Colorado State11–5 .68821–9  .700 BYU11–5 .68821–9  .700 Hawaii10–6 .62525–10  .714 UTEP †10–6 .62521–11  .656 New Mexico9–7 .56320–14  .588 Wyoming7–9 .43815–14  .517 Utah7–9 .43816–14  .533 San Diego State4–12 .25013–18  .419 Air Force3–13 .18812–20  .375 † 1990 WAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |

### Division I independents

A total of 19 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Wright State (21–7) had both the best winning percentage (.750) and the most wins.
1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings :
* 1989–90 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings
* vteConfOverall
* TeamW L PCTW L PCT
* Wright State– –21–7
* .750
* Northern Illinois– –17–11
* .607
* Akron– –16–12
* .571
* DePaul– –20–15
* .571
* Notre Dame– –16–13
* .552
* Miami (FL)– –13–15
* .464
* Missouri-Kansas City– –13–15
* .464
* Southern Utah– –13–15
* .464
* UMBC– –12–16
* .429
* U.S. International– –12–16
* .429
* Liberty– –11–17
* .393
* Youngstown State– –8–20
* .286
* Brooklyn– –7–21
* .250
* Central Florida– –7–21
* .250
* Florida International– –7–21
* .250
* Central Connecticut State– –6–22
* .214
* Chicago State– –6–22
* .214
* Nicholls State– –4–23
* .148
* Davidson– –4–24
* .143
* Rankings from AP Poll

### Informal championships

| Conference | Regular season winner | Most Valuable Player |
| Philadelphia Big 5 | La Salle | Lionel Simmons, La Salle |
La Salle finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

### Statistical leaders

| Points per game | Points per game | Points per game | Rebounds per game | Rebounds per game | Rebounds per game | Assists per game | Assists per game | Assists per game | Blocked shots per game | Blocked shots per game | Blocked shots per game |
| Player | School | PPG | Player | School | RPG | Player | School | APG | Player | School | BPG |
| Bo Kimble | Loyola Marymount | 35.3 | Anthony Bonner | Saint Louis | 13.8 | Todd Lehmann | Drexel | 9.3 | Kenny Green | Rhode Island | 4.8 |
| Kevin Bradshaw | U.S. International | 31.3 | Eric McArthur | UCSB | 13.0 | Aaron Mitchell | Louisiana-Lafayette | 9.1 | Dikembe Mutombo | Georgetown | 4.1 |
| Dave Jamerson | Ohio | 31.2 | LaPhonso Ellis | Notre Dame | 12.6 | Keith Jennings | East Tennessee State | 8.7 | Kevin Roberson | Vermont | 3.8 |
| Alphonso Ford | Mississippi Valley State | 29.9 | Tyrone Hill | Xavier | 12.6 | Otis Livingston | Idaho | 8.5 | Lorenzo Williams | Stetson | 3.8 |
| Steve Rogers | Alabama State | 29.7 | Lee Campbell | Missouri State | 12.5 | Kenny Anderson | Georgia Tech | 8.1 | Omar Roland | Marshall | 3.6 |

## Postseason tournaments
### NCAA Tournament
#### Final Four - McNichols Sports Arena, Denver, Colorado

| National semifinals | National semifinals | National semifinals | National championship game | National championship game | National championship game |
| E3 | Duke | 97 | | | |
| M4 | Arkansas | 83 | | | |
| M4 | Arkansas | 83 | E3 | Duke | 73 |
| | | | W1 | UNLV | 103 |
| S4 | Georgia Tech | 81 | W1 | UNLV | 103 |
| W1 | UNLV | 90 | | | |

### National Invitation Tournament
#### NIT Semifinals and Final

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| Penn State | Penn State | 62 | | | |
| Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 75 | | | |
| Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 75 | Vanderbilt | Vanderbilt | 74 |
| | | | Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 72 |
| Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 80 | Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 72 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico | 73 | | | |
| Third place game | Third place game | Third place game |
| Penn State | Penn State | 83 |
| New Mexico | New Mexico | 81 |

## Award winners
### Consensus All-American teams

Consensus First Team :
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
| Derrick Coleman | F | Senior | Syracuse |
| Chris Jackson | G | Sophomore | Louisiana State |
| Larry Johnson | F | Junior | UNLV |
| Gary Payton | G | Senior | Oregon State |
| Lionel Simmons | F | Senior | La Salle |
Consensus Second Team :
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
| Hank Gathers | F/C | Senior | Loyola Marymount |
| Kendall Gill | G | Senior | Illinois |
| Bo Kimble | G/F | Senior | Loyola Marymount |
| Alonzo Mourning | C | Sophomore | Georgetown |
| Rumeal Robinson | G | Senior | Michigan |
| Dennis Scott | F | Junior | Georgia Tech |
| Doug Smith | F | Junior | Missouri |

### Major player of the year awards

* Wooden Award: Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* Naismith Award: Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* Associated Press Player of the Year: Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* UPI Player of the Year: Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* NABC Player of the Year: Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* Adolph Rupp Trophy: Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* Sporting News Player of the Year: Dennis Scott, Georgia Tech

### Major freshman of the year awards

* USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Kenny Anderson, Georgia Tech

### Major coach of the year awards

* Associated Press Coach of the Year: Jim Calhoun, Connecticut
* UPI Coach of the Year: Jim Calhoun, Connecticut
* Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Roy Williams, Kansas
* NABC Coach of the Year: Jud Heathcote, Michigan State
* Naismith College Coach of the Year: Bobby Cremins, Georgia Tech
* CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Jim Calhoun, Connecticut
* Sporting News Coach of the Year: Jim Calhoun, Connecticut

### Other major awards

* Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Greg "Boo" Harvey, St. John's
* Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Lionel Simmons, La Salle (3-time recipient)
* NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Greg "Boo" Harvey, St. John's

## Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.
| Team | Former Coach | Interim Coach | New Coach |
| Drake | Tom Abatemarco | Eddie Fields | Rudy Washington |
| Florida | Norm Sloan | Don DeVoe | Lon Kruger |
| Kansas State | Lon Kruger | | Dana Altman |
| Marshall | Dana Altman | | Dwight Freeman |
| Miami (Florida) | Bill Foster | | Leonard Hamilton |
| Oklahoma State | Leonard Hamilton | | Eddie Sutton |
| Virginia | Terry Holland | | Jeff Jones |