Classification Division I | Teams 8 | |
Site John Kresse Arena
Charleston, SC Champions College of Charleston (1st title) Winning coach John Kresse (1st title) MVP Anthony Johnson (College of Charleston) | ||
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 the John Kresse Arena at the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.
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.