1997 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament

1997 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament
Classification	Division I
Season	1996–97
Teams	8
Site	Kiel Center St. Louis, Missouri
Champions	Illinois State (3rd title)
Winning coach	Kevin Stallings (1st title)
MVP	Rico Hill (Illinois State)
Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournaments

1996–97 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings

	Conf							Overall
Team	W		L		PCT			W		L		PCT
Illinois State †	14	–	4		.778			24	–	6		.800
Bradley	12	–	6		.667			17	–	13		.567
Southwest Missouri State	12	–	6		.667			24	–	9		.727
Northern Iowa	11	–	7		.611			16	–	12		.571
Evansville	11	–	7		.611			17	–	14		.548
Creighton	10	–	8		.556			15	–	15		.500
Wichita State	8	–	10		.444			14	–	13		.519
Southern Illinois	6	–	12		.333			13	–	17		.433
Indiana State	6	–	12		.333			12	–	16		.429
Drake	0	–	18		.000			2	–	26		.071
† 1997 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

The 1997 Missouri Valley Conference Men's Basketball Tournament was played from February 28-March 3, 1997 at the Kiel Center in St. Louis, Missouri at the conclusion of the 1996–97 regular season. The Illinois State Redbirds won their 3rd MVC Tournament title to earn an automatic bid to the 1997 NCAA Tournament.

Tournament Bracket

	First Round February 28, 1997					Quarterfinals March 1, 1997					Semifinals March 2, 1997					Championship March 3, 1997
						1	Illinois State	72
	8	Southern Illinois	71			9	Indiana State	58
	9	Indiana State	86								1	Illinois State	69
											4	Northern Iowa	65
						4	Northern Iowa	73
						5	Evansville	65
																1	Illinois State	75
																3	Southwest Missouri State	72
						3	Southwest Missouri State	77
	7	Wichita State	63			6	Creighton	58
	10	Drake	74								3	Southwest Missouri State	60
											2	Bradley	58
						2	Bradley	66
						10	Drake	47

See also

• Missouri Valley Conference