1997 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
Encyclopedia
The 1997 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 6-9, 1997 in Greensboro, North Carolina
at the Greensboro Coliseum
. In what would be Coach Dean Smith
's last season as the head coach of The University of North Carolina
, his Tar Heels
won the tournament, defeating a surprising NC State
team in the final.
NC State became the first team in ACC history to advance past the quarterfinal round after playing in the play-in game. The ACC adopted the play-in game format in 1992 when Florida State
joined the conference. After defeating top seed Duke
in the quarterfinals, NC State surprisingly defeated #5 seed Maryland
to advance to the championship game. Their Cinderella run through the tournament ended against rival North Carolina in the final. The 1997 NC State Wolfpack remained the lowest seeded team to ever make the ACC Tournament Final, until the 2007 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
. Shammond Williams was the tournament MVP.
Greensboro, North Carolina
Greensboro is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the third-largest city by population in North Carolina and the largest city in Guilford County and the surrounding Piedmont Triad metropolitan region. According to the 2010 U.S...
at the Greensboro Coliseum
Greensboro Coliseum
The Greensboro Coliseum Complex is an entertainment complex located in College Hill neighborhood of Greensboro, North Carolina. Opening in 1959, the arena was one of the largest venues in the South, with a seating capacity of over 7,000...
. In what would be Coach Dean Smith
Dean Smith
Dean Edwards Smith is a retired American head coach of men's college basketball. Originally from Emporia, Kansas, Smith has been called a “coaching legend” by the Basketball Hall of Fame. Smith is best known for his successful 36-year coaching tenure at the University of North Carolina at Chapel...
's last season as the head coach of The University of North Carolina
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill is a public research university located in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States...
, his Tar Heels
North Carolina Tar Heels
The North Carolina Tar Heels are the athletic teams for the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. The name Tar Heel is a nickname used to refer to individuals from the state of North Carolina, the Tar Heel State...
won the tournament, defeating a surprising NC State
NC State Wolfpack
The athletic teams of the North Carolina State University, known as the Wolfpack, compete in 24 intercollegiate varsity sports. NC State is a founding member of the Atlantic Coast Conference and has won eight national championships: two NCAA championships, two AIAW championships, and four titles...
team in the final.
NC State became the first team in ACC history to advance past the quarterfinal round after playing in the play-in game. The ACC adopted the play-in game format in 1992 when Florida State
Florida State Seminoles
The Florida State Seminoles are the men's and women's sports teams of Florida State University in Tallahassee, Florida. Florida State participates in the NCAA's Division I . FSU joined the Atlantic Coast Conference in 1991, and competes in the Atlantic Division in any sports split into a...
joined the conference. After defeating top seed Duke
Duke Blue Devils
Duke University's 26 varsity sports teams, known as the Blue Devils, compete in the Atlantic Coast Conference. The name comes from the French "les Diables Bleus" or "the Blue Devils," which was the nickname given during World War I to the Chasseurs Alpins, the French Alpine light infantry...
in the quarterfinals, NC State surprisingly defeated #5 seed Maryland
Maryland Terrapins
The Maryland Terrapins, commonly referred to as the Terps, consist of 27 men's and women's athletic teams that represent the University of Maryland, College Park in National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I competition...
to advance to the championship game. Their Cinderella run through the tournament ended against rival North Carolina in the final. The 1997 NC State Wolfpack remained the lowest seeded team to ever make the ACC Tournament Final, until the 2007 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
2007 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament
The 2007 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 8-11, 2007, in Tampa, Florida at the St. Pete Times Forum. The tournament was held in the state of Florida for the first time in its 54-year history. The quarterfinal games were televised nationwide on ESPN2....
. Shammond Williams was the tournament MVP.
Bracket
Everett Case Award
| Player | School |
|---|---|
| Shammond Williams | North Carolina |
First Team
| Player | School |
|---|---|
| Tim Duncan | Wake Forest |
| Justin Gainey | NC State |
| C.C. Harrison | NC State |
| Antawn Jamison | North Carolina |
| Shammond Williams | North Carolina |
Second Team
| Player | School |
|---|---|
| Keith Booth | Maryland |
| Ed Cota | North Carolina |
| Jeremy Hyatt | NC State |
| Danny Strong | NC State |
| Serge Zwikker | North Carolina |
See also
- List of Atlantic Coast Conference men's basketball tournament champions
- 1996 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament1996 ACC Men's Basketball TournamentThe 1996 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 7-10, 1996 at the Greensboro Coliseum in Greensboro, North Carolina. Wake Forest won their second consecutive tournament, 75-74 over Georgia Tech. For the second consecutive year, the Demon Deacons got a heroic...
- 1998 ACC Men's Basketball Tournament1998 ACC Men's Basketball TournamentThe 1998 Atlantic Coast Conference Men's Basketball Tournament took place from March 5-8, 1998 in Greensboro, North Carolina at the Greensboro Coliseum. North Carolina won the tournament for the second year in a row, defeating arch-rival Duke in the championship game. The Tar Heels won the...