# 1997–98 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team

The 1997–98 Valparaiso Crusaders men's basketball team represented Valparaiso University during the 1997–98 NCAA Division I men's basketball season. The Crusaders, led by tenth-year head coach Homer Drew, played their home games at the Athletics–Recreation Center as members of the Mid-Continent Conference. This season is one of the most memorable in program history as the Crusaders made a run to the Sweet Sixteen of the NCAA tournament. The opening round victory over Ole Miss is best known for "The Shot" that sparked the Crusaders' Cinderella run. The team finished with a record of 23–10 (13–3 Mid-Con).

## Schedule and results

| Date time, TV | Rank$^#$ | Opponent$^#$ | Result | Record | Site (attendance) city, state |
| Regular season ||||||
| Nov 15, 1997 | | Bethel (TN) | L 75–85 | 0–1 | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,011) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Nov 17, 1997* | | No. 8 Purdue | L 56–73 | 0–2 | Athletics-Recreation Center (5,412) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Nov 28, 1997* | | vs. Montana Big Island Invitational | W 70–58 | 1–2 | Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium (NA) Hilo, Hawaii |
| Nov 29, 1997* | | vs. No. 15 Stanford Big Island Invitational | L 65–70 | 1–3 | Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium (NA) Hilo, Hawaii |
| Nov 30, 1997* | | vs. Pacific Big Island Invitational | W 75–73 | 2–3 | Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium (NA) Hilo, Hawaii |
| Dec 6, 1997 | | Elmhurst | W 85–70 | 3–3 | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,481) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Dec 9, 1997* | | at Wisconsin–Green Bay | L 52–60 | 3–4 | Brown County Arena (3,096) Green Bay, Wisconsin |
| Dec 13, 1997* | | at UIC | L 51–72 | 3–5 | UIC Pavilion (3,466) Chicago, Illinois |
| Dec 20, 1997 | | at Missouri-Kansas City | W 80–68 | 4–5 (1–0) | Municipal Auditorium (1,823) Kansas City, Missouri |
| Dec 22, 1997 | | at Belmont | W 78–62 | 5–5 | Striplin Gymnasium (230) Nashville, Tennessee |
| Dec 31, 1997 | | at Western Illinois | L 62–63 | 5–6 (1–1) | Western Hall (3,144) Macomb, Illinois |
| Jan 3, 1998 | | Chicago State | W 82–62 | 6–6 (2–1) | Athletics-Recreation Center (2,214) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 5, 1998 | | Northeastern Illinois | W 72–69 | 7–6 (3–1) | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,102) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 8, 1998 | | at Southern Utah | W 79–70 | 8–6 (4–1) | America First Event Center (3,081) Cedar City, Utah |
| Jan 10, 1998 | | at Oral Roberts | L 60–68 | 8–7 (4–2) | Mabee Center (6,910) Tulsa, Oklahoma |
| Jan 17, 1998 | | Buffalo | W 82–80 | 9–7 (5–2) | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,012) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 21, 1998* | | Northern Illinois | W 87–73 | 10–7 | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,339) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 24, 1998 | | Youngstown State | L 66–69 | 10–8 (5–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,413) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Jan 26, 1998* | | at Saint Louis | L 66–77 | 10–9 | Scottrade Center (15,977) St. Louis, Missouri |
| Jan 29, 1998 | | at Northeastern Illinois | W 88–82 | 11–9 (6–3) | Physical Education Complex (550) Chicago, Illinois |
| Jan 31, 1998 | | at Chicago State | W 102–74 | 12–9 (7–3) | Dickens Athletic Center (403) Chicago, Illinois |
| Feb 5, 1998 | | Oral Roberts | W 90–68 | 13–9 (8–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,341) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 7, 1998 | | Southern Utah | W 66–56 | 14–9 (9–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,453) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 11, 1998 | | at Buffalo | W 73–64 | 15–9 (10–3) | Alumni Arena (3,366) Buffalo, New York |
| Feb 14, 1998 | | Belmont | W 95–61 | 16–9 | Athletics-Recreation Center (3,876) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 19, 1998 | | at Youngstown State | W 70–68 | 17–9 (11–3) | Beeghly Center (5,568) Youngstown, Ohio |
| Feb 23, 1998 | | Missouri-Kansas City | W 75–65 | 18–9 (12–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,019) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Feb 25, 1998 | | Western Illinois | W 66–56 | 19–9 (13–3) | Athletics-Recreation Center (4,524) Valparaiso, Indiana |
| Mid-Con tournament ||||||
| Mar 2, 1998* | (1) | vs. (5) Buffalo Semifinals | W 84–73 | 20–9 | The MARK of the Quad Cities (NA) Moline, Illinois |
| Mar 3, 1998* | (1) | vs. (3) Youngstown State Championship Game | W 67–48 | 21–9 | The MARK of the Quad Cities (NA) Moline, Illinois |
| NCAA tournament ||||||
| Mar 13, 1998* | (13 MW) | vs. (4 MW) No. 13 Ole Miss First round | W 70–69 | 22–9 | Myriad Convention Center (13,349) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Mar 15, 1998* | (13 MW) | vs. (5 MW) Florida State Second Round | W 83–77 | 23–9 | Myriad Convention Center (13,369) Oklahoma City, Oklahoma |
| Mar 20, 1998* | (13 MW) | vs. (8 MW) Rhode Island Midwest Regional semifinal – Sweet Sixteen | L 68–74 | 23–10 | Scottrade Center (22,172) St. Louis, Missouri |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from AP poll. (#) Tournament seedings in parentheses. All times are in Central Time. ||||||
Source

## 1998 NBA draft

| Round | Pick | Player | NBA Team |
| 1 | 16 | Bryce Drew | Houston Rockets |