1997 TAAC Men's Basketball Tournament

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1997 TAAC Men's Basketball Tournament
ClassificationDivision I
Season1996–97
Teams8
SiteF. Mitchell Johnson Arena
Charleston, SC
ChampionsCollege of Charleston (1st title)
Winning coachJohn Kresse (1st title)
MVPAnthony Johnson (College of Charleston)
← 1996
1998 →
1996–97 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings
Conf Overall
Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT
East
No. 16 College of Charleston† 16 – 0   1.000 29 – 3   .906
Florida International 12 – 4   .750 16 – 13   .552
Florida Atlantic 11 – 5   .688 16 – 11   .593
Campbell 8 – 8   .500 11 – 16   .407
Stetson 5 – 11   .313 9 – 18   .333
Central Florida 4 – 12   .250 7 – 19   .269
West
Samford 11 – 5   .688 19 – 9   .679
Jacksonville State 9 – 7   .563 10 – 17   .370
Southeastern Louisiana 7 – 9   .438 10 – 18   .357
Georgia State 6 – 10   .375 10 – 17   .370
Centenary 6 – 10   .375 9 – 18   .333
Mercer 1 – 15   .063 3 – 23   .115
† 1997 TAAC Tournament winner
Rankings from AP Poll[1]

The 1997 Trans America Athletic Conference Men's Basketball Tournament (now known as the Atlantic Sun Men's Basketball Tournament) was held February 27–March 1 at F. Mitchell Johnson Arena at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.[2]

College of Charleston defeated Florida International in the championship game, 83–73, to win their first TAAC/Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament.

The Cougars, therefore, received the TAAC's automatic bid to the 1997 NCAA Tournament, their first automatic bid to the Division I tournament. Charleston defeated Maryland in the First Round before falling to eventual-champion Arizona in the Round of 32.

Format[]

For conference scheduling, the 12 teams in the TAAC were separated into two six-team divisions. However, only the top eight teams in the standings, regardless of division, were invited to participate in the tournament. College of Charleston became eligible for the tournament this year after becoming a full Division I member. However, transitioning members Florida Atlantic and Jacksonville State were not eligible.

Bracket[]

Quarterfinals
Thursday, February 27 		Semifinals
Friday, February 28 		Championship
Saturday, March 1
         
1 #20 College of Charleston 89
8 Centenary (LA) 71
1 #20 College of Charleston 93
5 SE Louisiana 63
5 SE Louisiana 61
4 Campbell 55
1 #20 College of Charleston 83
2 Florida International 73
3 Samford 60
6 Stetson 51
3 Samford 67
2 Florida International 90
7 Georgia State 57
2 Florida International 70

References[]

  1. ^ sports-reference.com 1996-97 Trans America Athletic Conference Season Summary
  2. ^ "1996-97 Atlantic Sun Conference Season Summary". sports-reference.com. Sports Reference LLC. 2016. Retrieved March 3, 2016.
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