The 2003–04 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2003, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2004 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 5, 2004 at the Alamodome in San Antonio, Texas. The Connecticut Huskies won their second NCAA national championship with an 82–73 victory over the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets.
The preseason AP All-American team was named on November 12. Emeka Okafor of Connecticut was the leading vote-getter (71 of 72 votes). The rest of the team included Jameer Nelson of Saint Joseph's (49 votes), Rickey Paulding of Missouri (37), Ike Diogu of Arizona State (34) and Raymond Felton of North Carolina (24).Beginning in 2003–04, the following rules changes were implemented:
Officials could consult courtside monitor at the end of either half or any extra period to determine: (1) if a field-goal try beat the horn; (2) whether a shot-clock violation at the end of the first half beat the horn; or, (3) whether a shot-clock violation that would determine the outcome of a game beat the horn. The officials also could use a courtside monitor to correct a timer’s mistake or to determine if the game clock or shot clock expired at or near the end of a period.A team would have control when a player of that team had disposal of the ball for a throw-in.The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 13, 2003.
Wooden Award: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sNaismith Award: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sAssociated Press Player of the Year: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sNABC Player of the Year: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sOscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sAdolph Rupp Trophy: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sCBS/Chevrolet Player of the Year: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sSporting News Player of the Year: Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sUSBWA Freshman of the Year: Luol Deng, DukeSporting News Freshman of the Year: Chris Paul, Wake ForestAssociated Press Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, St. Joseph'sHenry Iba Award (USBWA): Phil Martelli, St. Joseph'sNABC Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, St. Joseph's & Mike Montgomery, StanfordNaismith College Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, St. Joseph'sCBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Phil Martelli, St. Joseph'sAdolph Rupp Cup: Phil Martelli, St. Joseph'sSporting News Coach of the Year: Mike Montgomery, StanfordBob Cousy Award (Best point guard): Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sPete Newell Big Man Award (Best big man): Emeka Okafor, ConnecticutNABC Defensive Player of the Year: Emeka Okafor, ConnecticutFrances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sLowe's Senior CLASS Award (top senior): Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sRobert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph'sNIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in NYC): Luis Flores, ManhattanA number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.
