The 1999–2000 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 11, 1999, with the Coaches Vs. Cancer Classic, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2000 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 3, 2000, at the RCA Dome in Indianapolis, Indiana.
Tom Izzo led Michigan State to its second National Championship behind the play of the "Flintstones," a trio of players from Flint, Michigan. Mateen Cleaves, Morris Peterson and Charlie Bell led the Spartans to an 89–76 win over Florida, with Cleaves named Final Four Most Outstanding Player and Peterson also making the All-Tournament team.Cincinnati was 28–2 and had been arguably the best team in the country when Player of the Year Kenyon Martin had a season-ending leg fracture three minutes into their first-round Conference USA tournament game against Saint Louis. The Bearcats lost that game and gave the NCAA Tournament selection committee a difficult decision to make about seeding. Ultimately, the Bearcats were made a #2 seed in the NCAA Tournament and lost in the second round to Tulsa.The preseason AP All-American team was named on November 10. Chris Porter of Auburn was the leading vote-getter (53 of 65 votes). The rest of the team included Quentin Richardson of DePaul (46 votes), Mateen Cleaves of Michigan State (44), Scoonie Penn of Ohio State (44) and Terence Morris of Maryland (30).The top 25 from the AP Poll November 9, 1999 and the ESPN/USA Today Poll November 4, 1999.
Conference winners and tournaments
29 conference seasons concluded with a single-elimination tournament, with only the Ivy League or the Pac-10 choosing not to conduct conference tournaments. Conference tournament winners generally received an automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament. The Mountain West Conference began operation in 1999-00 and their tournament winner did not receive an automatic bid (although UNLV, winners of the inaugural MWC tournament, did receive an at-large bid).
Third Place – Penn State 74, N.C. State 72Wooden Award: Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiNaismith Award: Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiAssociated Press Player of the Year: Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiNABC Player of the Year: Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiOscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiAdolph Rupp Trophy: Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiSporting News Player of the Year: Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiUSBWA Freshman of the Year: Jason Gardner, ArizonaSporting News Freshman of the Year: Jason Williams, DukeAssociated Press Coach of the Year: Larry Eustachy, Iowa StateHenry Iba Award (USBWA): Larry Eustachy, Iowa StateNABC Coach of the Year: Gene Keady, PurdueNaismith College Coach of the Year: Mike Montgomery, StanfordCBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Mike Krzyzewski, DukeSporting News Coach of the Year: Bob Huggins, Cincinnati & Bill Self, TulsaPete Newell Big Man Award (Best big man): Marcus Fizer, Iowa StateNABC Defensive Player of the Year: Shane Battier, Duke & Kenyon Martin, CincinnatiFrances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Scoonie Penn, Ohio StateRobert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Pepe Sanchez, TempleNIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in NYC): Craig "Speedy" Claxton, HofstraA number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.
