# 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1988 and ended with the Final Four at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington, on April 3, 1989.

## Season headlines

* The ECAC Metro renamed itself the North Atlantic Conference. It renamed itself the America East Conference in 1996.
* The ECAC North renamed itself the Northeast Conference.
* The Pacific Coast Athletic Association changed its name to the Big West Conference on July 1, 1988.
* Loyola Marymount junior All-American Hank Gathers became the second player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring (32.7) and rebounding (13.7) in the same season.
* Neutral courts were used in all rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time.
* All the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the NCAA tournament advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" for the first time.
* The NCAA notes that P. J. Carlesimo of Seton Hall became the first head coach with a beard to advance to the NCAA tournament's Final Four.
* Steve Fisher of Michigan became the first head coach to win the NCAA title in his first year as a head coach.

## Major rule changes

Beginning in 1988–89, the following rules changes were implemented:
* Any player who participates in a fight is ejected from the game and placed on probation. If he participates in a second fight during the season, he is suspended for one game. If he participates in a third fight during the season, he is suspended for the rest of the season, including championship competition.

## Season outlook
### Pre-season polls

The top 20 from the AP Poll and Coaches Poll during the pre-season.
Associated Press :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | Duke |
| 2 | Georgetown |
| 3 | Michigan |
| 4 | Louisville |
| 5 | Oklahoma |
| 6 | North Carolina |
| 7 | Iowa |
| 8 | Syracuse |
| 9 | Illinois |
| 10 | UNLV |
| 11 | Arizona |
| 12 | Villanova |
| 13 | Georgia Tech |
| 14 | Missouri |
| 15 | Florida |
| 16 | Florida State |
| 17 | Ohio State |
| 18 | NC State |
| 19 | Temple |
| 20 | Stanford |
UPI Coaches :
| Ranking | Team |
| 1 | Duke |
| 2 | Michigan |
| 3 | North Carolina |
| 4 | Georgetown |
| 5 | Illinois |
| 6 | Oklahoma |
| 7 | UNLV |
| 8 | Syracuse |
| 9 | Iowa |
| 10 | Louisville |
| 11 | Arizona |
| 12 | Villanova |
| 13 | Missouri |
| 14 | Florida |
| 15 | Temple |
| 16 | Georgia Tech |
| 17 | Indiana |
| 18 | Florida State |
| 19 | Stanford |
| 20 | NC State |
| 20 | Purdue |

## Conference membership changes

| School | Former conference | New conference |
| Davidson Wildcats | Southern Conference | NCAA Division I independent |
| Liberty Flames | Mason–Dixon Conference (NCAA Division II) | NCAA Division I independent |
| Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers | Mason–Dixon Conference (NCAA Division II) | NCAA Division I independent |
| Southern Utah Thunderbirds | non-NCAA Division I | NCAA Division I independent |
| Youngstown State Penguins | Ohio Valley Conference | NCAA Division I independent |

## 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 | New Orleans | Randy White, Louisiana Tech | Al Barbre, Lamar & Tim Floyd, New Orleans | 1989 American South Conference men's basketball tournament | Cajundome (Lafayette, LA) | Louisiana Tech |
| Association of Mid-Continent Universities | SW Missouri State | Jay Taylor, Eastern Illinois | Charlie Spoonhour, SW Missouri State | 1989 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament | Hammons Student Center (Springfield, MO) | SW Missouri State |
| Atlantic 10 Conference | West Virginia | Mark Macon, Temple | Bob Wenzel, Rutgers | 1989 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament | Rutgers Athletic Center Piscataway, New Jersey | Rutgers |
| Atlantic Coast Conference | NC State | Danny Ferry, Duke | Jim Valvano, NC State | 1989 ACC men's basketball tournament | Omni Coliseum Atlanta, Georgia | North Carolina |
| Big East Conference | Georgetown | Charles Smith, Georgetown | P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall | 1989 Big East men's basketball tournament | Madison Square Garden New York, New York | Georgetown |
| Big Eight Conference | Oklahoma | Stacey King, Oklahoma | Billy Tubbs, Oklahoma | 1989 Big Eight Conference men's basketball tournament | Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri | Missouri |
| Big Sky Conference | Boise State & Idaho | Chris Childs, Idaho | Kermit Davis Jr., Idaho | 1989 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament | BSU Pavilion Boise, Idaho | Idaho |
| Big South Conference | Coastal Carolina | Henry Wilson, Campbell | Russ Bergman, Coastal Carolina | 1989 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament | Winthrop Coliseum Rock Hill, South Carolina | UNC Asheville |
| Big Ten Conference | Indiana | Jay Edwards, Indiana Glen Rice, Michigan | Bob Knight, Indiana | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Big West Conference | UNLV | Stacey Augmon, UNLV | Neil McCarthy, New Mexico State | 1989 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament | Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California | UNLV |
| Colonial Athletic Association | Richmond | Blue Edwards, East Carolina | Dick Tarrant, Richmond | 1989 CAA men's basketball tournament | Hampton Coliseum Hampton, Virginia | George Mason |
| East Coast Conference | Bucknell | Kurk Lee, Towson State | | 1989 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournament | Towson Center Towson, Maryland | Bucknell |
| Ivy League | Princeton | Bob Scrabis, Princeton | Not named | No Tournament | No Tournament | No Tournament |
| Metro Conference | Florida State | George McCloud, Florida State | Larry Finch, Memphis State | 1989 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament | Carolina Coliseum Columbia, South Carolina | Louisville |
| Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference | La Salle | Lionel Simmons, La Salle | Ted Fiore, Saint Peter's, & Speedy Morris, La Salle | 1989 MAAC men's basketball tournament | Meadowlands Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey | La Salle |
| Mid-American Conference | Ball State | Paul Graham, Ohio | Rick Majerus, Ball State | 1989 MAC men's basketball tournament | John F. Savage Hall Toledo, Ohio | Ball State |
| Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference | South Carolina State | Tom Davis, Delaware State | Cy McClairen, Bethune-Cookman | 1989 MEAC men's basketball tournament | Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina | South Carolina State |
| Midwestern Collegiate Conference | Evansville | Scott Haffner, Evansville | Jim Crews, Evansville | 1989 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament | UD Arena Dayton, Ohio | Xavier |
| Missouri Valley Conference | Creighton | Anthony Manuel, Bradley | Tony Barone, Creighton | 1989 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament | Levitt Arena Wichita, Kansas | Creighton |
| North Atlantic Conference | Siena | Jeff Robinson, Siena | Mike Deane, Siena | 1989 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball tournament | Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut | Siena |
| Northeast Conference | Robert Morris | Vaughn Luton, Robert Morris | Jarrett Durham, Robert Morris | 1989 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament | Charles L. Sewall Center Moon Township, Pennsylvania | Robert Morris |
| Ohio Valley Conference | Middle Tennessee & Murray State | Jeff Martin, Murray State | Bruce Stewart, Middle Tennessee | 1989 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament | Nashville Municipal Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee | Middle Tennessee |
| Pacific-10 Conference | Arizona | Sean Elliott, Arizona | Lute Olson, Arizona, & Ralph Miller, Oregon State | 1989 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament | Great Western Forum Inglewood, California | Arizona |
| Southeastern Conference | Florida | Chris Jackson, LSU | Wimp Sanderson, Alabama | 1989 SEC men's basketball tournament | Thompson–Boling Arena Knoxville, Tennessee | Alabama |
| Southern Conference | Chattanooga | John Taft, Marshall | Randy Nesbit, The Citadel | 1989 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament | Asheville Civic Center Asheville, North Carolina | East Tennessee State |
| Southland Conference | North Texas State | Deon Hunter, North Texas State | Jimmy Gales, North Texas State | 1989 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament | Super Pit Denton, Texas | McNeese State |
| Southwest Conference | Arkansas | Travis Mays, Texas | Nolan Richardson, Arkansas | 1989 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament | Reunion Arena Dallas, Texas | Arkansas |
| Southwestern Athletic Conference | Grambling State, Southern, & Texas Southern | Terry Brooks, Alabama State | | 1989 SWAC men's basketball tournament | F. G. Clark Center Baton Rouge, Louisiana | Southern |
| Sun Belt Conference | South Alabama | Jeff Hodge, South Alabama | Ronnie Arrow, South Alabama | 1989 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament | Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina | South Alabama |
| Trans America Athletic Conference | Georgia Southern | Jeff Sanders, Georgia Southern | Mike Newell, Arkansas–Little Rock | 1989 TAAC men's basketball tournament | Barton Coliseum Little Rock, Arkansas | Arkansas–Little Rock |
| West Coast Athletic Conference | Saint Mary's | Hank Gathers, Loyola Marymount | Lynn Nance, Saint Mary's | 1989 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament | War Memorial Gymnasium (San Francisco, CA) | Loyola Marymount |
| Western Athletic Conference | Colorado State | Tim Hardaway, UTEP | Riley Wallace, Hawaii | 1989 WAC men's basketball tournament | Jon M. Huntsman Center (Salt Lake City, UT) | UTEP |

#### Conference standings

1988–89 American South Conference men's basketball standings :
| 1988–89 American South Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT New Orleans7–3 .70019–11  .633 Louisiana Tech †6–4 .60023–9  .719 Arkansas State6–4 .60020–10  .667 Southwestern Louisiana4–6 .40017–12  .586 Pan American4–6 .40015–13  .536 Lamar3–7 .30012–16  .429 † 1989 American South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Southwest Missouri State †10–2 .83321–10  .677 Northern Iowa8–4 .66719–9  .679 Eastern Illinois7–5 .58316–16  .500 Green Bay6–6 .50014–14  .500 Valparaiso4–8 .33310–19  .345 Western Illinois4–8 .3339–19  .321 UIC3–9 .25013–17  .433 Cleveland State0–0 –16–12  .571 † 1989 AMCU-8 tournament winner | 1988–89 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 17 West Virginia17–1 .94426–5  .839 Temple15–3 .83318–12  .600 Rutgers †13–5 .72218–13  .581 Penn State12–6 .66720–12  .625 Rhode Island9–9 .50013–15  .464 St. Bonaventure7–11 .38913–15  .464 Duquesne7–11 .38913–16  .448 UMass5–13 .27810–18  .357 Saint Joseph's4–14 .2228–21  .276 George Washington1–17 .0561–27  .036 † 1989 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1988–89 ACC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 19 NC State10–4 .71422–9  .710 No. 9 Duke9–5 .64328–8  .778 Virginia9–5 .64322–11  .667 No. 5 North Carolina †9–5 .64329–8  .784 Georgia Tech8–6 .57120–12  .625 Clemson7–7 .50019–11  .633 Wake Forest3–11 .21413–15  .464 Maryland1–13 .0719–20  .310 † 1989 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Big East men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 2 Georgetown †13–3 .81329–5  .853 No. 11 Seton Hall11–5 .68831–7  .816 No. 7 Syracuse10–6 .62530–8  .789 Pittsburgh9–7 .56317–13  .567 Villanova7–9 .43818–16  .529 Providence7–9 .43818–11  .621 Connecticut6–10 .37518–13  .581 St. John's6–10 .37520–13  .606 Boston College3–13 .18812–17  .414 † 1989 Big East tournament winner As of April 3, 1989 Rankings from AP poll | 1988–89 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 4 Oklahoma12–2 .85730–6  .833 No. 6 Missouri †10–4 .71429–8  .784 Kansas State8–6 .57119–11  .633 Oklahoma State7–7 .50017–13  .567 Iowa State7–7 .50017–12  .586 Kansas6–8 .42919–12  .613 Nebraska4–10 .28617–16  .515 Colorado2–12 .1437–21  .250 † 1989 Big Eight tournament winner As of March 3, 2012 Rankings from AP poll |
| 1988–89 Big Sky men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Boise State13–3 .81323–7  .767 Idaho †13–3 .81325–6  .806 Montana11–5 .68820–11  .645 Nevada10–6 .62516–12  .571 Weber State9–7 .56317–11  .607 Montana State6–10 .37515–16  .484 Eastern Washington5–11 .3138–22  .267 Idaho State4–12 .2509–18  .333 Northern Arizona1–15 .0632–25  .074 † Conference tournament winner | 1988–89 Big South Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Coastal Carolina9–3 .75014–14  .500 Campbell8–4 .66718–12  .600 Baptist6–6 .50012–16  .429 UNC Asheville †6–6 .50016–14  .533 Radford5–7 .41715–13  .536 Winthrop5–7 .41716–13  .552 Augusta State3–9 .2505–23  .179 † 1989 Big South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 8 Indiana15–3 .83327–8  .771 No. 3 Illinois14–4 .77831–5  .861 No. 10 Michigan12–6 .66730–7  .811 No. 14 Iowa10–8 .55623–10  .697 Minnesota9–9 .50019–12  .613 Wisconsin8–10 .44418–12  .600 Purdue8–10 .44415–16  .484 Ohio State6–12 .33319–15  .559 Michigan State6–12 .33318–15  .545 Northwestern2–16 .1119–19  .321 Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1988–89 Big West men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 15 UNLV †16–2 .88929–8  .784 New Mexico State12–6 .66721–11  .656 UC Santa Barbara11–7 .61121–9  .700 Cal State Fullerton10–8 .55616–13  .552 Long Beach State10–8 .55613–15  .464 Utah State10–8 .55612–16  .429 Fresno State9–9 .50015–14  .517 UC Irvine8–10 .44412–17  .414 Pacific3–15 .1677–21  .250 San Jose State1–17 .0565–23  .179 † 1989 Big West tournament winner Rankings from AP poll | 1988-89 CAA men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Richmond13–1 .92921–10  .677 George Mason †10–4 .71420–11  .645 American9–5 .64317–11  .607 UNC Wilmington9–5 .64316–14  .533 James Madison6–8 .42916–14  .533 East Carolina6–8 .42915–14  .517 William & Mary2–12 .1435–23  .179 Navy1–13 .0716–22  .214 † 1989 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 East Coast Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Bucknell †11–3 .78623–8  .742 Towson State10–4 .71419–10  .655 Lafayette8–6 .57120–10  .667 Hofstra7–7 .50014–15  .483 Drexel7–7 .50012–16  .429 Delaware6–8 .42914–14  .500 Lehigh5–9 .35710–18  .357 Rider2–12 .1435–23  .179 † 1989 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll |
| 1988–89 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Siena †16–1 .94125–5  .833 Boston University14–4 .77821–9  .700 Northeastern12–5 .70617–11  .607 Canisius11–7 .61113–15  .464 Hartford10–7 .58815–13  .536 Maine7–11 .3899–19  .321 Niagara6–12 .3339–19  .321 Colgate5–13 .2786–22  .214 Vermont4–14 .2226–21  .222 New Hampshire3–14 .1764–22  .154 † 1989 NAC tournament winner | 1988-89 Ivy League men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Princeton11–3 .78619–8  .704 Dartmouth10–4 .71417–9  .654 Penn9–5 .64313–13  .500 Harvard7–7 .50011–15  .423 Cornell7–7 .50010–16  .385 Yale6–8 .42911–17  .393 Columbia4–10 .2868–18  .308 Brown2–12 .1437–19  .269 Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Metro Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 16 Florida State9–3 .75022–8  .733 No. 12 Louisville †8–4 .66724–9  .727 Memphis State8–4 .66721–11  .656 South Carolina8–4 .66719–11  .633 Cincinnati5–7 .41715–12  .556 Virginia Tech2–10 .16711–17  .393 Southern Miss2–10 .16710–17  .370 † 1989 Metro Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll |
| 1988–89 MAAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT La Salle †13–1 .92926–6  .813 Saint Peter's11–3 .78622–9  .710 Iona8–6 .57115–16  .484 Fordham8–6 .57114–15  .483 Army6–8 .42912–16  .429 Holy Cross5–9 .35713–15  .464 Manhattan3–11 .2147–21  .250 Fairfield2–12 .1437–21  .250 † 1989 MAAC tournament winner | 1988–89 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 18 Ball State †14–2 .87529–3  .906 Kent State12–4 .75021–10  .677 Toledo11–5 .68818–13  .581 Eastern Michigan8–8 .50017–12  .586 Central Michigan7–9 .43813–15  .464 Bowling Green7–9 .43813–15  .464 Western Michigan6–10 .37512–16  .429 Ohio6–10 .37513–16  .448 Miami (OH)1–15 .0635–23  .179 † 1989 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll | 1988–89 MEAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT South Carolina State †14–2 .87525–8  .758 Florida A&M12–4 .75020–10  .667 Coppin State11–5 .68818–11  .621 Morgan State9–7 .56316–13  .552 Bethune–Cookman8–8 .50012–16  .429 Delaware State6–10 .37511–17  .393 North Carolina A&T6–10 .3759–18  .333 Howard5–11 .3139–19  .321 Maryland Eastern Shore1–15 .0631–26  .037 † 1989 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1988–89 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Evansville10–2 .83325–6  .806 Saint Louis8–4 .66727–10  .730 Xavier †7–5 .58321–12  .636 Dayton6–6 .50012–17  .414 Detroit Mercy4–8 .3337–21  .250 Loyola (IL)4–8 .33311–17  .393 Butler3–9 .25011–17  .393 † 1989 MCC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Creighton †11–3 .78620–11  .645 Wichita State10–4 .71419–11  .633 Tulsa10–4 .71418–13  .581 Bradley7–7 .50013–14  .481 Drake6–8 .42912–17  .414 Southern Illinois6–8 .42920–14  .588 Illinois State6–8 .42913–17  .433 Indiana State0–14 .0004–24  .143 † 1989 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Robert Morris†12–4 .75021–9  .700 Fairleigh Dickinson11–5 .68817–12  .586 Marist*9–7 .56313–15  .464 Monmouth9–7 .56315–13  .536 Long Island7–9 .4389–19  .321 Loyola (MD)7–9 .43810–18  .357 Saint Francis (PA)6–10 .37513–16  .448 Wagner6–10 .37511–16  .407 St. Francis (NY)5–11 .31311–16  .407 † 1989 NEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll *Ineligible for conference tournament |
| 1988–89 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Middle Tennessee †10–2 .83323–8  .742 Murray State10–2 .83319–11  .633 Austin Peay8–4 .66718–12  .600 Morehead State5–7 .41715–16  .484 Eastern Kentucky4–8 .3337–22  .241 Tennessee Tech3–9 .25010–20  .333 Tennessee State2–10 .1674–24  .143 † 1989 OVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings ConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT No. 1 Arizona †17–1 .94429–4  .879 No. 13 Stanford15–3 .83326–7  .788 UCLA13–5 .72221–10  .677 Oregon State13–5 .72222–8  .733 California10–8 .55620–13  .606 Washington8–10 .44412–16  .429 Arizona State5–13 .27812–16  .429 Washington State4–14 .22210–19  .345 Oregon3–15 .1678–21  .276 USC2–16 .11110–22  .313 † Conference tournament winner As of April 15, 1989 Rankings from AP poll | 1988–89 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Florida13–5 .72221–13  .618 No. 20 Alabama †12–6 .66723–8  .742 Vanderbilt12–6 .66719–14  .576 LSU11–7 .61120–12  .625 Tennessee11–7 .61119–11  .633 Kentucky8–10 .44413–19  .406 Ole Miss8–10 .44415–15  .500 Mississippi State7–11 .38913–15  .464 Georgia6–12 .33315–16  .484 Auburn2–16 .1119–19  .321 † 1989 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll |
| 1988–89 Southern Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Chattanooga10–4 .71418–12  .600 Furman9–5 .64317–12  .586 Appalachian State8–6 .57120–8  .714 East Tennessee State †7–7 .50020–11  .645 The Citadel7–7 .50016–12  .571 Marshall6–8 .42915–15  .500 VMI5–9 .35711–17  .393 Western Carolina4–10 .28612–16  .429 † 1989 SoCon Tournament winner As of April 30, 1988 Rankings from AP poll | 1988–89 Southland Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT North Texas State10–4 .71414–15  .483 NE Louisiana9–5 .64317–12  .586 McNeese State †9–5 .64316–14  .533 Sam Houston State8–6 .57112–16  .429 Northwestern State7–7 .50013–16  .448 Texas State6–8 .42913–17  .433 UT Arlington4–10 .2867–21  .250 Stephen F. Austin3–11 .21410–18  .357 † 1989 Southland Conference tournament winner | 1988–89 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Arkansas †13–3 .81325–7  .781 Texas12–4 .75025–9  .735 TCU9–7 .56317–13  .567 Houston8–8 .50017–14  .548 Texas A&M8–8 .50016–14  .533 Texas Tech8–8 .50013–15  .464 SMU7–9 .43813–16  .448 Rice6–10 .37512–16  .429 Baylor1–15 .0635–22  .185 † 1989 SWC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1988–89 SWAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Southern †10–4 .71420–11  .645 Texas Southern10–4 .71417–13  .567 Grambling State10–4 .71415–14  .517 Jackson State7–7 .50015–13  .536 Alabama State7–7 .50013–16  .448 Prairie View A&M5–9 .35711–16  .407 Alcorn State4–10 .2865–23  .179 Mississippi Valley State3–11 .2148–20  .286 † 1989 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT South Alabama †11–3 .78623–9  .719 UNC Charlotte10–4 .71417–12  .586 VCU9–5 .64313–15  .464 UAB8–6 .57122–12  .647 Old Dominion7–7 .50015–13  .536 Jacksonville5–9 .35714–16  .467 Western Kentucky4–10 .28614–15  .483 South Florida2–12 .1437–21  .250 † 1989 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll | 1988–89 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Georgia Southern16–2 .88923–6  .793 Arkansas–Little Rock †14–4 .77823–8  .742 Stetson10–8 .55617–12  .586 Centenary (LA)9–9 .50016–14  .533 Georgia State9–9 .50014–14  .500 Mercer9–9 .50014–14  .500 UTSA8–10 .44415–13  .536 Houston Baptist6–12 .3339–20  .310 Samford5–13 .2788–19  .296 Hardin-Simmons4–14 .2228–19  .296 † 1989 TAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |
| 1988–89 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Saint Mary's12–2 .85725–5  .833 Pepperdine10–4 .71420–13  .606 Loyola Marymount †10–4 .71420–11  .645 San Francisco8–6 .57116–12  .571 Santa Clara7–7 .50020–11  .645 Gonzaga5–9 .35714–14  .500 San Diego2–12 .1438–20  .286 Portland2–12 .1432–26  .071 † Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll | 1988–89 WAC men's basketball standings vteConfOverall TeamW L PCTW L PCT Colorado State12–4 .75023–10  .697 UTEP †11–5 .68826–7  .788 New Mexico11–5 .68822–11  .667 Hawaii9–7 .56317–13  .567 BYU7–9 .43814–15  .483 Air Force6–10 .37514–14  .500 Wyoming6–10 .37514–17  .452 Utah6–10 .37516–17  .485 San Diego State4–12 .25012–17  .414 † 1989 WAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll |

### Division I independents

A total of 22 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Akron (21–8) had the best winning percentage (.724) and Akron, Notre Dame (21–9), and DePaul (21–12) finished with the most wins.
1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings :
* 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings
* vteConfOverall
* TeamW L PCTW L PCT
* Akron-–- –21–8
* .724
* Notre Dame-–- –21–9
* .700
* DePaul-–- –21–12
* .636
* Miami (Fla.)-–- –19–12
* .613
* UMBC-–- –17–11
* .607
* Wright State-–- –17–11
* .607
* Marquette-–- –13–15
* .464
* Mount St. Mary's-–- –12–15
* .444
* Chicago State-–- –12–16
* .429
* Nicholls State-–- –12–16
* .429
* Northern Illinois-–- –11–17
* .393
* U.S. International-–- –11–17
* .393
* Liberty-–- –10–17
* .370
* Central Connecticut State-–- –10–18
* .357
* Florida International-–- –10–18
* .357
* Southern Utah-–- –10–18
* .357
* Oral Roberts-–- –8–20
* .286
* Central Florida-–- –7–20
* .259
* Davidson-–- –7–24
* .226
* Youngstown State-–- –5–23
* .179
* Brooklyn-–- –4–23
* .148
* Southeastern Louisiana-–- –3–24
* .111
* Rankings from AP Poll

### Informal championships

| Conference | Regular season winner | Most Valuable Player |
| Philadelphia Big 5 | La Salle & Temple | Lionel Simmons, La Salle |
La Salle and Temple both finished with 3–1 records 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 |
| Hank Gathers | Loyola Marymount | 32.7 | Hank Gathers | Loyola Marymount | 13.7 | Glenn Williams | Holy Cross | 9.9 | Alonzo Mourning | Georgetown | 5.0 |
| Chris Jackson | LSU | 30.2 | Carl Herrera | Jacksonville | 13.2 | Chris Corchiani | NC State | 8.8 | Duane Causwell | Temple | 4.1 |
| Lionel Simmons | La Salle | 28.4 | Tyrone Hill | Xavier | 12.2 | Sherman Douglas | Syracuse | 8.6 | Alan Ogg | UAB | 3.8 |
| Gerald Glass | Ole Miss | 28.0 | Ron Draper | American | 12.0 | Gary Payton | Oregon State | 8.1 | Derrick Coleman | Syracuse | 3.4 |
| Blue Edwards | East Carolina | 26.7 | Daryl Battles | Southern | 11.6 | Anthony Manuel | Bradley | 8.0 | Eric Murdock | Providence | 3.3 |

## Postseason tournaments
### NCAA tournament
#### Final Four - Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

| National semifinals | National semifinals | National semifinals | National championship game | National championship game | National championship game |
| E2 | Duke | 78 | | | |
| W3 | Seton Hall | 95 | | | |
| W3 | Seton Hall | 95 | W3 | Seton Hall | 79* |
| | | | S3 | Michigan | 80 |
| S3 | Michigan | 83 | S3 | Michigan | 80 |
| M1 | Illinois | 81 | | | |
(* – Denotes Overtime)

### National Invitation tournament
#### NIT Semifinals and Final

| Semifinals | Semifinals | Semifinals | Finals | Finals | Finals |
| UAB | UAB | 65 | | | |
| St. John's | St. John's | 76 | | | |
| St. John's | St. John's | 76 | St. John's | St. John's | 73 |
| | | | Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 65 |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 64 | Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 65 |
| Saint Louis | Saint Louis | 74 | | | |
| Third place game | Third place game | Third place game |
| UAB | UAB | 78 |
| Michigan State | Michigan State | 76 |

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

Consensus First Team :
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
| Sean Elliott | F | Senior | Arizona |
| Pervis Ellison | C | Senior | Louisville |
| Danny Ferry | F | Senior | Duke |
| Chris Jackson | G | Freshman | Louisiana State |
| Stacey King | C | Senior | Oklahoma |
Consensus Second Team :
| Player | Position | Class | Team |
| Mookie Blaylock | G | Senior | Oklahoma |
| Sherman Douglas | G | Senior | Syracuse |
| Jay Edwards | G | Sophomore | Indiana |
| Todd Lichti | G | Senior | Stanford |
| Glen Rice | F | Senior | Michigan |
| Lionel Simmons | F | Junior | La Salle |

### Major player of the year awards

* Wooden Award: Sean Elliott, Arizona
* Naismith Award: Danny Ferry, Duke
* Associated Press Player of the Year: Sean Elliott, Arizona
* UPI Player of the Year: Danny Ferry, Duke
* NABC Player of the Year: Sean Elliott, Arizona
* Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Danny Ferry, Duke
* Adolph Rupp Trophy: Sean Elliott, Arizona
* Sporting News Player of the Year: Stacey King, Oklahoma

### Major freshman of the year awards

* USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Chris Jackson, LSU

### Major coach of the year awards

* Associated Press Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
* UPI Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
* Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Bob Knight, Indiana
* NABC Coach of the Year: P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall
* Naismith College Coach of the Year: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
* CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Lute Olson, Arizona
* Sporting News Coach of the Year: P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall

### Other major awards

* Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Tim Hardaway, UTEP
* Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Lionel Simmons, La Salle
* NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): John Morton, Seton Hall

## Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.
| Team | Former Coach | Interim Coach | New Coach | Reason |
| Akron | Bob Huggins | | Coleman Crawford | |
| Arizona State | Steve Patterson | Bob Schermerhorn | Bill Frieder | Patterson resigned on February 4 under pressure and assistant Schermerhorn completed the season as interim. Michigan coach Frieder took the job at the conclusion of the season. |
| BYU | LaDell Andersen | | Roger Reid | |
| Cincinnati | Tony Yates | | Bob Huggins | |
| Kentucky | Eddie Sutton | | Rick Pitino | |
| Marshall | Rick Huckabay | | Dana Altman | |
| Maryland | Bob Wade | | Gary Williams | |
| Michigan | Bill Frieder | Steve Fisher | Steve Fisher | Frieder announced he would take the Arizona State job before the 1989 NCAA Tournament but was immediately fired by Michigan AD Bo Schembechler, saying he wanted a “Michigan man” to lead the team. Assistant Fisher then led the team to the national title as interim and was made full-time coach after. |
| Ohio State | Gary Williams | | Randy Ayers | |
| Oregon State | Ralph Miller | | Jim Anderson | |