1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	Syracuse
NCAA Tournament	1988
Tournament dates	March 17, 1988 – April 4, 1988
National Championship	Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri
NCAA Champions	Kansas
Other champions	Connecticut (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Danny Manning, Kansas

The 1987–88 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1987 and ended with the Final Four in Kansas City, Missouri on April 4, 1988.

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1987–88, the following rules changes were implemented:

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 Syracuse 2 Purdue 3 North Carolina 4 Pittsburgh 5 Kentucky 6 Indiana 7 Kansas 8 Missouri 9 Michigan 10 Wyoming 11 Iowa 12 Temple 13 Louisville 14 Florida 15 Duke 16 Georgetown 17 Arizona 18 Georgia Tech 19 Oklahoma 20 DePaul

Conference membership changes

These schools joined new conferences for the 1987–88 season.

School	Former conference	New conference
Arkansas State	Southland Conference	American South Conference
Lamar	Southland Conference	American South Conference
Louisiana Tech	Southland Conference	American South Conference
New Orleans	NCAA Division I Independent	American South Conference
SW Louisiana	NCAA Division I Independent	American South Conference
Texas-Rio Grande Valley	NCAA Division I Independent	American South Conference
UCF	NCAA Division I Independent	American South Conference

Regular season

Conference standings

1987–88 American South Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Louisiana Tech † 7 – 3   .700 22 – 9   .710 New Orleans 7 – 3   .700 21 – 11   .656 Lamar 5 – 5   .500 20 – 11   .645 Arkansas State 4 – 6   .400 21 – 14   .600 Pan American 4 – 6   .400 14 – 14   .500 Southwestern Louisiana 3 – 7   .300 12 – 16   .429 † 1988 American South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT SW Missouri State 12 – 2   .857 22 – 7   .759 Cleveland State 11 – 3   .786 22 – 8   .733 Wisconsin–Green Bay 9 – 5   .643 18 – 9   .667 Eastern Illinois 7 – 7   .500 17 – 11   .607 Western Illinois 6 – 8   .429 15 – 12   .556 Northern Iowa 4 – 10   .286 10 – 18   .357 Illinois-Chicago 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Valparaiso 3 – 11   .214 12 – 16   .429 Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 1 Temple † 18 – 0   1.000 32 – 2   .941 Rhode Island 14 – 4   .778 28 – 7   .800 West Virginia 12 – 6   .667 18 – 14   .563 Saint Joseph's 9 – 9   .500 15 – 14   .517 Penn State 9 – 9   .500 13 – 14   .481 George Washington 7 – 11   .389 13 – 15   .464 St. Bonaventure 7 – 11   .389 13 – 15   .464 Duquesne 6 – 12   .333 11 – 21   .344 UMass 5 – 13   .278 10 – 17   .370 Rutgers 3 – 15   .167 7 – 22   .241 † 1988 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1987–88 ACC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 7 North Carolina 11 – 3   .786 27 – 7   .794 No. 14 NC State 10 – 4   .714 24 – 8   .750 No. 5 Duke † 9 – 5   .643 28 – 7   .800 Georgia Tech 8 – 6   .571 22 – 10   .688 Maryland 6 – 8   .429 18 – 13   .581 Virginia 5 – 9   .357 13 – 18   .419 Clemson 4 – 10   .286 14 – 15   .483 Wake Forest 3 – 11   .214 10 – 18   .357 † 1988 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Big East men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 8 Pittsburgh 12 – 4   .750 24 – 7   .774 No. 9 Syracuse† 11 – 5   .688 26 – 9   .743 Georgetown 9 – 7   .563 20 – 10   .667 Villanova 9 – 7   .563 24 – 13   .649 St. John's 8 – 8   .500 17 – 12   .586 Seton Hall 8 – 8   .500 22 – 13   .629 Boston College 6 – 10   .375 18 – 15   .545 Providence 5 – 11   .313 11 – 17   .393 Connecticut 4 – 12   .250 20 – 14   .588 † 1988 Big East tournament winner As of April 4, 1988 Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 4 Oklahoma† 12 – 2   .857 35 – 4   .897 No. 20 Kansas State 11 – 3   .786 25 – 9   .735 Kansas 9 – 5   .643 27 – 11   .711 Missouri 7 – 7   .500 19 – 11   .633 Iowa State 6 – 8   .429 20 – 12   .625 Oklahoma State 4 – 10   .286 14 – 16   .467 Nebraska 4 – 10   .286 13 – 18   .419 Colorado 3 – 11   .214 7 – 21   .250 † 1988 Big Eight tournament winner As of March 3, 2012 Rankings from AP poll
1987-88 Big Sky men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Boise State † 13 – 3   .813 24 – 6   .800 Idaho 11 – 5   .688 19 – 11   .633 Montana State 10 – 6   .625 19 – 11   .633 Idaho State 8 – 8   .500 15 – 13   .536 Nevada 8 – 8   .500 15 – 13   .536 Montana 7 – 9   .438 18 – 11   .621 Northern Arizona 7 – 9   .438 10 – 18   .357 Weber State 6 – 10   .375 9 – 21   .300 Eastern Washington 2 – 14   .125 6 – 21   .222 † Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1987–88 Big South Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Coastal Carolina 9 – 3   .750 17 – 11   .607 Baptist 8 – 4   .667 17 – 12   .586 Radford 8 – 4   .667 16 – 14   .533 Winthrop † 5 – 7   .417 17 – 13   .567 UNC Asheville 5 – 7   .417 13 – 15   .464 Augusta State 4 – 8   .333 8 – 18   .308 Campbell 3 – 9   .250 11 – 16   .407 † 1988 Big South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 3 Purdue 16 – 2   .889 29 – 4   .879 No. 10 Michigan 13 – 5   .722 26 – 8   .765 No. 17 Iowa 12 – 6   .667 24 – 10   .706 No. 16 Illinois 12 – 6   .667 23 – 10   .697 Indiana 11 – 7   .611 19 – 10   .655 Ohio State 9 – 9   .500 20 – 13   .606 Wisconsin 6 – 12   .333 12 – 16   .429 Michigan State 5 – 13   .278 10 – 18   .357 Minnesota 4 – 14   .222 10 – 18   .357 Northwestern 2 – 16   .111 7 – 21   .250 Rankings from AP Poll
1987-88 CAA men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Richmond † 11 – 3   .786 26 – 7   .788 American 9 – 5   .643 14 – 14   .500 George Mason 9 – 5   .643 20 – 10   .667 UNC-Wilmington 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 Navy 6 – 8   .429 12 – 16   .429 James Madison 5 – 9   .357 10 – 18   .357 William & Mary 5 – 9   .357 10 – 19   .345 East Carolina 3 – 11   .214 8 – 20   .286 † 1988 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 East Coast Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Lafayette 11 – 3   .786 19 – 10   .655 Delaware 9 – 5   .643 19 – 9   .679 Drexel 9 – 5   .643 18 – 10   .643 Lehigh † 8 – 6   .571 21 – 10   .677 Bucknell 7 – 7   .500 16 – 12   .571 Rider 6 – 8   .429 10 – 19   .345 Towson State 4 – 10   .286 14 – 16   .467 Hofstra 2 – 12   .143 6 – 21   .222 † 1988 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1987–88 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Siena 16 – 2   .889 23 – 6   .793 Boston University † 14 – 4   .778 23 – 8   .742 Hartford 12 – 6   .667 15 – 16   .484 Niagara 12 – 6   .667 15 – 15   .500 Northeastern 11 – 7   .611 15 – 13   .536 Maine 10 – 8   .556 13 – 15   .464 Canisius 7 – 11   .389 7 – 20   .259 New Hampshire 3 – 15   .167 4 – 25   .138 Colgate 3 – 15   .167 4 – 23   .148 Vermont 2 – 16   .111 3 – 24   .111 † 1988 North Atlantic tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
Independent	1987–88 Ivy League men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Cornell 11 – 3   .786 17 – 10   .630 Dartmouth 10 – 4   .714 18 – 8   .692 Princeton 9 – 5   .643 17 – 9   .654 Yale 8 – 6   .571 12 – 14   .462 Penn 8 – 6   .571 10 – 16   .385 Harvard 6 – 8   .429 11 – 15   .423 Brown 2 – 12   .143 6 – 20   .231 Columbia 2 – 12   .143 6 – 20   .231 Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 MAAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT La Salle † 14 – 0   1.000 24 – 10   .706 Saint Peter's 11 – 3   .786 20 – 9   .690 Fordham 9 – 5   .643 18 – 15   .545 Holy Cross 8 – 6   .571 14 – 15   .483 Iona 5 – 9   .357 11 – 16   .407 Army 4 – 10   .286 9 – 19   .321 Fairfield 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Manhattan 1 – 13   .071 7 – 23   .233 † 1988 MAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1987–88 Metro Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Louisville † 9 – 3   .750 24 – 11   .686 Florida State 7 – 5   .583 19 – 11   .633 South Carolina 6 – 6   .500 19 – 10   .655 Virginia Tech 6 – 6   .500 19 – 10   .655 Memphis State 6 – 6   .500 20 – 12   .625 Southern Miss 5 – 7   .417 19 – 11   .633 Cincinnati 3 – 9   .250 11 – 17   .393 † 1988 Metro Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 18 Xavier † 9 – 1   .900 26 – 4   .867 Evansville 6 – 4   .600 21 – 8   .724 Saint Louis 5 – 5   .500 14 – 14   .500 Butler 5 – 5   .500 14 – 14   .500 Loyola (IL) 3 – 7   .300 13 – 16   .448 Detroit Mercy 2 – 8   .200 7 – 23   .233 † 1988 MCC tournament winner Rankings from AP	1987–88 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Eastern Michigan † 14 – 2   .875 22 – 8   .733 Central Michigan 10 – 6   .625 19 – 13   .594 Ohio 9 – 7   .563 16 – 14   .533 Ball State 8 – 8   .500 14 – 14   .500 Western Michigan 7 – 9   .438 12 – 17   .414 Bowling Green 7 – 9   .438 12 – 16   .429 Kent State 6 – 10   .375 10 – 18   .357 Miami (OH) 6 – 10   .375 9 – 18   .333 Toledo 5 – 11   .313 15 – 12   .556 † 1988 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1987–88 MEAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT North Carolina A&T † 16 – 0   1.000 26 – 3   .897 Florida A&M 11 – 5   .688 22 – 8   .733 South Carolina State 10 – 6   .625 16 – 13   .552 Howard 9 – 7   .563 15 – 12   .556 Coppin State 8 – 7   .533 13 – 14   .481 Morgan State 7 – 8   .467 13 – 17   .433 Maryland Eastern Shore 5 – 11   .313 7 – 20   .259 Bethune–Cookman 4 – 12   .250 6 – 21   .222 Delaware State 1 – 15   .063 3 – 25   .107 † 1988 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 11 Bradley † 12 – 2   .857 26 – 5   .839 Wichita State 11 – 3   .786 20 – 10   .667 Illinois State 9 – 5   .643 18 – 13   .581 Southern Illinois 6 – 8   .429 12 – 16   .429 Creighton 6 – 8   .429 16 – 16   .500 Drake 5 – 9   .357 14 – 14   .500 Tulsa 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Indiana State 3 – 11   .214 7 – 21   .250 † 1988 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 ECAC Metro men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Fairleigh Dickinson† 13 – 3   .813 23 – 7   .767 Marist* 13 – 3   .813 18 – 9   .667 Monmouth 11 – 5   .688 16 – 13   .552 Robert Morris 9 – 7   .563 14 – 14   .500 Long Island 8 – 8   .500 14 – 14   .500 Loyola (MD) 6 – 10   .375 8 – 22   .267 St. Francis (NY) 5 – 11   .313 11 – 18   .379 Saint Francis (PA) 4 – 12   .250 7 – 20   .259 Wagner 3 – 13   .188 9 – 18   .333 † 1988 ECAC Metro tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll *Ineligible for conference tournament
1987–88 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Murray State † 13 – 1   .929 22 – 9   .710 Middle Tennessee 11 – 3   .786 23 – 11   .676 Austin Peay 10 – 4   .714 17 – 13   .567 Eastern Kentucky 10 – 4   .714 18 – 11   .621 Tennessee Tech 5 – 9   .357 12 – 16   .429 Tennessee State 4 – 10   .286 11 – 17   .393 Youngstown State 2 – 12   .143 7 – 21   .250 Morehead State 1 – 13   .071 5 – 22   .185 † 1988 Ohio Valley Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 12 UNLV 15 – 3   .833 28 – 6   .824 UC Santa Barbara 13 – 5   .722 22 – 8   .733 Utah State † 13 – 5   .722 21 – 10   .677 Long Beach State 11 – 7   .611 17 – 12   .586 UC Irvine 9 – 9   .500 16 – 14   .533 New Mexico State 8 – 10   .444 16 – 16   .500 San Jose State 8 – 10   .444 14 – 15   .483 Cal State Fullerton 7 – 11   .389 12 – 17   .414 Fresno State 6 – 12   .333 9 – 19   .321 Pacific 0 – 18   .000 5 – 24   .172 † 1988 PCAA tournament winner	1987–88 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 2 Arizona † 17 – 1   .944 35 – 3   .921 Oregon State 12 – 6   .667 20 – 11   .645 UCLA 12 – 6   .667 16 – 14   .533 Stanford 11 – 7   .611 21 – 12   .636 Oregon 10 – 8   .556 16 – 14   .533 Washington State 7 – 11   .389 13 – 16   .448 Arizona State 6 – 12   .333 13 – 16   .448 USC 5 – 13   .278 7 – 21   .250 California 5 – 13   .278 9 – 20   .310 Washington 5 – 13   .278 10 – 19   .345 † Conference tournament winner As of April 15, 1988 Rankings from AP Poll
1987–88 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 6 Kentucky † 13 – 5   .722 27 – 6   .818 Auburn 11 – 7   .611 19 – 11   .633 Florida 11 – 7   .611 23 – 12   .657 LSU 10 – 8   .556 16 – 14   .533 Vanderbilt 10 – 8   .556 20 – 11   .645 Tennessee 9 – 9   .500 16 – 13   .552 Georgia 8 – 10   .444 20 – 16   .556 Ole Miss 6 – 12   .333 13 – 16   .448 Alabama 6 – 12   .333 14 – 17   .452 Mississippi State 6 – 12   .333 14 – 15   .483 † 1988 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Marshall 14 – 2   .875 24 – 8   .750 Furman 11 – 5   .688 18 – 10   .643 Davidson 9 – 7   .563 15 – 13   .536 East Tennessee State 9 – 7   .563 14 – 15   .483 Chattanooga † 8 – 8   .500 20 – 13   .606 Appalachian State 8 – 8   .500 16 – 13   .552 VMI 6 – 10   .375 13 – 17   .433 The Citadel 5 – 11   .313 8 – 20   .286 Western Carolina 2 – 14   .125 8 – 19   .296 † 1988 SoCon Tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	Southland Conference
1987–88 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT SMU † 12 – 4   .750 28 – 7   .800 Arkansas 11 – 5   .688 21 – 9   .700 Baylor 11 – 5   .688 23 – 11   .676 Houston 10 – 6   .625 18 – 13   .581 Texas 10 – 6   .625 16 – 13   .552 Texas A&M 8 – 8   .500 16 – 15   .516 Texas Tech 4 – 12   .250 9 – 19   .321 TCU 3 – 13   .188 9 – 19   .321 Rice 3 – 13   .188 6 – 21   .222 † 1988 SWC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 SWAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Southern † 12 – 2   .857 24 – 7   .774 Texas Southern 11 – 3   .786 21 – 8   .724 Grambling State 9 – 5   .643 13 – 17   .433 Jackson State 7 – 7   .500 13 – 15   .464 Mississippi Valley State 5 – 9   .357 8 – 20   .286 Alcorn State 5 – 9   .357 8 – 21   .276 Alabama State 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Prairie View A&M 3 – 11   .214 5 – 22   .185 † 1988 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1987–88 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT UNC Charlotte † 11 – 3   .786 22 – 9   .710 VCU 10 – 4   .714 23 – 12   .657 Old Dominion 9 – 5   .643 18 – 12   .600 South Alabama 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 UAB 7 – 7   .500 16 – 15   .516 Western Kentucky 6 – 8   .429 15 – 13   .536 South Florida 3 – 11   .214 6 – 22   .214 Jacksonville 2 – 12   .143 8 – 21   .276 † 1988 Sun Belt Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
Trans America Athletic Conference	1987–88 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 15 Loyola Marymount † 14 – 0   1.000 28 – 4   .875 Saint Mary's 9 – 5   .643 19 – 9   .679 Santa Clara 9 – 5   .643 20 – 11   .645 Pepperdine 8 – 6   .571 17 – 13   .567 Gonzaga 7 – 7   .500 16 – 12   .571 San Francisco 5 – 9   .357 13 – 15   .464 San Diego 3 – 11   .214 11 – 17   .393 Portland 1 – 13   .071 6 – 22   .214 † Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1987–88 WAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 19 BYU 13 – 3   .813 26 – 6   .813 No. 13 Wyoming † 11 – 5   .688 26 – 6   .813 Utah 11 – 5   .688 19 – 11   .633 UTEP 10 – 6   .625 23 – 10   .697 New Mexico 8 – 8   .500 22 – 14   .611 Colorado State 8 – 8   .500 22 – 13   .629 San Diego State 5 – 11   .313 12 – 17   .414 Air Force 4 – 12   .250 11 – 17   .393 Hawaii 2 – 14   .125 4 – 25   .138 † 1988 WAC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll

Statistical leaders

Points Per Game				Rebounds Per Game				Assists Per Game				Blocked Shots Per Game
Player	School	PPG		Player	School	RPG		Player	School	APG		Player	School	BPG
Hersey Hawkins	Bradley	36.3		Kenny Miller	Loyola (IL)	13.5		Avery Johnson	Southern	13.3		Rodney Blake	Saint Joseph's	4.0

Postseason tournaments

NCAA Tournament

Main article: 1988 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament

Final Four - Kemper Arena, Kansas City, Missouri

	National Semifinals					National Championship Game
	E2	Duke	59
	M6	Kansas	66
						M6	Kansas	83
						S1	Oklahoma	79
	S1	Oklahoma	86
	W1	Arizona	78

National Invitation Tournament

Main article: 1988 National Invitation Tournament

NIT Semifinals and Final

	Semifinals					Finals
		Boston College	67
		Connecticut	73
							Connecticut	72
							Ohio State	67
		Ohio State	64
		Colorado State	62

	Third place game
		Boston College	57
		Colorado State	58

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1988 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Sean Elliott	F	Junior	Arizona
Gary Grant	G	Senior	Michigan
Hersey Hawkins	G	Senior	Bradley
Danny Manning	F	Senior	Kansas
J.R. Reid	F/C	Sophomore	North Carolina

Consensus Second Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Danny Ferry	F	Junior	Duke
Jerome Lane	F	Junior	Pittsburgh
Mark Macon	G	Freshman	Temple
Mitch Richmond	G	Senior	Kansas State
Rony Seikaly	C	Senior	Syracuse
Michael Smith	F/C	Junior	Brigham Young

Major player of the year awards

• Wooden Award: Danny Manning, Kansas
• Naismith Award: Danny Manning, Kansas
• Associated Press Player of the Year: Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
• UPI Player of the Year: Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
• NABC Player of the Year: Danny Manning, Kansas
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
• Adolph Rupp Trophy: Hersey Hawkins, Bradley
• Sporting News Player of the Year: Hersey Hawkins, Bradley

Major coach of the year awards

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: John Chaney, Temple
• UPI Coach of the Year: John Chaney, Temple
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): John Chaney, Temple
• NABC Coach of the Year: John Chaney, Temple
• Naismith College Coach of the Year: Larry Brown, Kansas
• CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: John Chaney, Temple

Other major awards

• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Jerry Johnson, Florida Southern
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Lionel Simmons, La Salle
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in NYC): Mark Bryant, Seton Hall