1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1988 and ended with the Final Four at the Kingdome in Seattle, Washington, on April 3, 1989.

1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	Duke
NCAA Tournament	1989
Tournament dates	March 16 – April 3, 1989
National Championship	Kingdome Seattle, Washington
NCAA Champions	Michigan
Other champions	St. John's (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	Danny Ferry, Duke (Naismith), Sean Elliott, Arizona (Wooden)

Season headlines

• The ECAC Metro renamed itself the North Atlantic Conference. It renamed itself the America East Conference in 1996.
• The ECAC North renamed itself the Northeast Conference.
• The Pacific Coast Athletic Association changed its name to the Big West Conference on July 1, 1988.
• Loyola Marymount junior All-American Hank Gathers became the second player in NCAA Division I history to lead the nation in scoring (32.7) and rebounding (13.7) in the same season.
• Neutral courts were used in all rounds of the NCAA tournament for the first time.
• All the No. 1 and No. 2 seeds in the NCAA tournament advanced to the "Sweet Sixteen" for the first time.
• The NCAA notes that P. J. Carlesimo of Seton Hall became the first head coach with a beard to advance to the NCAA tournament's Final Four.
• Steve Fisher of Michigan became the first head coach to win the NCAA title in his first year as a head coach.

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1988–89, the following rules changes were implemented:

• Any player who participates in a fight is ejected from the game and placed on probation. If he participates in a second fight during the season, he is suspended for one game. If he participates in a third fight during the season, he is suspended for the rest of the season, including championship competition.

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

Main article: 1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball rankings

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

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 Duke 2 Georgetown 3 Michigan 4 Louisville 5 Oklahoma 6 North Carolina 7 Iowa 8 Syracuse 9 Illinois 10 UNLV 11 Arizona 12 Villanova 13 Georgia Tech 14 Missouri 15 Florida 16 Florida State 17 Ohio State 18 NC State 19 Temple 20 Stanford

UPI Coaches Ranking Team 1 Duke 2 Michigan 3 North Carolina 4 Georgetown 5 Illinois 6 Oklahoma 7 UNLV 8 Syracuse 9 Iowa 10 Louisville 11 Arizona 12 Villanova 13 Missouri 14 Florida 15 Temple 16 Georgia Tech 17 Indiana 18 Florida State 19 Stanford 20 NC State Purdue

Conference membership changes

School	Former conference	New conference
Davidson Wildcats	Southern Conference	NCAA Division I independent
Liberty Flames	Mason–Dixon Conference (NCAA Division II)	NCAA Division I independent
Mount St. Mary's Mountaineers	Mason–Dixon Conference (NCAA Division II)	NCAA Division I independent
Southern Utah Thunderbirds	non-NCAA Division I	NCAA Division I independent
Youngstown State Penguins	Ohio Valley Conference	NCAA Division I independent

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference	Regular season first place	Conference player of the year	Conference Coach of the Year	Conference tournament	Tournament venue (city)	Tournament winner
American South Conference	New Orleans	Randy White, Louisiana Tech	Al Barbre, Lamar & Tim Floyd, New Orleans	1989 American South Conference men's basketball tournament	Cajundome (Lafayette, LA)	Louisiana Tech
Association of Mid-Continent Universities	SW Missouri State	Jay Taylor, Eastern Illinois	Charlie Spoonhour, SW Missouri State	1989 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament	Hammons Student Center (Springfield, MO)	SW Missouri State
Atlantic 10 Conference	West Virginia	Mark Macon, Temple	Bob Wenzel, Rutgers	1989 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament	Rutgers Athletic Center Piscataway, New Jersey	Rutgers
Atlantic Coast Conference	NC State	Danny Ferry, Duke	Jim Valvano, NC State	1989 ACC men's basketball tournament	Omni Coliseum Atlanta, Georgia	North Carolina
Big East Conference	Georgetown	Charles Smith, Georgetown	P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall	1989 Big East men's basketball tournament	Madison Square Garden New York, New York	Georgetown
Big Eight Conference	Oklahoma	Stacey King, Oklahoma	Billy Tubbs, Oklahoma	1989 Big Eight Conference men's basketball tournament	Kemper Arena Kansas City, Missouri	Missouri
Big Sky Conference	Boise State & Idaho	Chris Childs, Idaho	Kermit Davis Jr., Idaho	1989 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament	BSU Pavilion Boise, Idaho	Idaho
Big South Conference	Coastal Carolina	Henry Wilson, Campbell	Russ Bergman, Coastal Carolina	1989 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament	Winthrop Coliseum Rock Hill, South Carolina	UNC Asheville
Big Ten Conference	Indiana	Jay Edwards, Indiana Glen Rice, Michigan	Bob Knight, Indiana	No Tournament
Big West Conference	UNLV	Stacey Augmon, UNLV	Neil McCarthy, New Mexico State	1989 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament	Long Beach Arena Long Beach, California	UNLV
Colonial Athletic Association	Richmond	Blue Edwards, East Carolina	Dick Tarrant, Richmond	1989 CAA men's basketball tournament	Hampton Coliseum Hampton, Virginia	George Mason
East Coast Conference	Bucknell	Kurk Lee, Towson State		1989 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournament	Towson Center Towson, Maryland	Bucknell
Ivy League	Princeton	Bob Scrabis, Princeton	Not named	No Tournament
Metro Conference	Florida State	George McCloud, Florida State	Larry Finch, Memphis State	1989 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament	Carolina Coliseum Columbia, South Carolina	Louisville
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference	La Salle	Lionel Simmons, La Salle	Ted Fiore, Saint Peter's, & Speedy Morris, La Salle	1989 MAAC men's basketball tournament	Meadowlands Arena East Rutherford, New Jersey	La Salle
Mid-American Conference	Ball State	Paul Graham, Ohio	Rick Majerus, Ball State	1989 MAC men's basketball tournament	John F. Savage Hall Toledo, Ohio	Ball State
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference	South Carolina State	Tom Davis, Delaware State	Cy McClairen, Bethune-Cookman	1989 MEAC men's basketball tournament	Greensboro Coliseum Greensboro, North Carolina	South Carolina State
Midwestern Collegiate Conference	Evansville	Scott Haffner, Evansville	Jim Crews, Evansville	1989 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament	UD Arena Dayton, Ohio	Xavier
Missouri Valley Conference	Creighton	Anthony Manuel, Bradley	Tony Barone, Creighton	1989 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament	Levitt Arena Wichita, Kansas	Creighton
North Atlantic Conference	Siena	Jeff Robinson, Siena	Mike Deane, Siena	1989 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball tournament	Hartford Civic Center Hartford, Connecticut	Siena
Northeast Conference	Robert Morris	Vaughn Luton, Robert Morris	Jarrett Durham, Robert Morris	1989 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament	Charles L. Sewall Center Moon Township, Pennsylvania	Robert Morris
Ohio Valley Conference	Middle Tennessee & Murray State	Jeff Martin, Murray State	Bruce Stewart, Middle Tennessee	1989 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament	Nashville Municipal Auditorium Nashville, Tennessee	Middle Tennessee
Pacific-10 Conference	Arizona	Sean Elliott, Arizona	Lute Olson, Arizona, & Ralph Miller, Oregon State	1989 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament	Great Western Forum Inglewood, California	Arizona
Southeastern Conference	Florida	Chris Jackson, LSU	Wimp Sanderson, Alabama	1989 SEC men's basketball tournament	Thompson–Boling Arena Knoxville, Tennessee	Alabama
Southern Conference	Chattanooga	John Taft, Marshall	Randy Nesbit, The Citadel	1989 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament	Asheville Civic Center Asheville, North Carolina	East Tennessee State
Southland Conference	North Texas State	Deon Hunter, North Texas State	Jimmy Gales, North Texas State	1989 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament	Super Pit Denton, Texas	McNeese State
Southwest Conference	Arkansas	Travis Mays, Texas	Nolan Richardson, Arkansas	1989 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament	Reunion Arena Dallas, Texas	Arkansas
Southwestern Athletic Conference	Grambling State, Southern, & Texas Southern	Terry Brooks, Alabama State		1989 SWAC men's basketball tournament	F. G. Clark Center Baton Rouge, Louisiana	Southern
Sun Belt Conference	South Alabama	Jeff Hodge, South Alabama	Ronnie Arrow, South Alabama	1989 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament	Charlotte Coliseum Charlotte, North Carolina	South Alabama
Trans America Athletic Conference	Georgia Southern	Jeff Sanders, Georgia Southern	Mike Newell, Arkansas–Little Rock	1989 TAAC men's basketball tournament	Barton Coliseum Little Rock, Arkansas	Arkansas–Little Rock
West Coast Athletic Conference	Saint Mary's	Hank Gathers, Loyola Marymount	Lynn Nance, Saint Mary's	1989 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament	War Memorial Gymnasium (San Francisco, CA)	Loyola Marymount
Western Athletic Conference	Colorado State	Tim Hardaway, UTEP	Riley Wallace, Hawaii	1989 WAC men's basketball tournament	Jon M. Huntsman Center (Salt Lake City, UT)	UTEP

Conference standings

1988–89 American South Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT New Orleans 7 – 3   .700 19 – 11   .633 Louisiana Tech † 6 – 4   .600 23 – 9   .719 Arkansas State 6 – 4   .600 20 – 10   .667 Southwestern Louisiana 4 – 6   .400 17 – 12   .586 Pan American 4 – 6   .400 15 – 13   .536 Lamar 3 – 7   .300 12 – 16   .429 † 1989 American South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Southwest Missouri State † 10 – 2   .833 21 – 10   .677 Northern Iowa 8 – 4   .667 19 – 9   .679 Eastern Illinois 7 – 5   .583 16 – 16   .500 Green Bay 6 – 6   .500 14 – 14   .500 Valparaiso 4 – 8   .333 10 – 19   .345 Western Illinois 4 – 8   .333 9 – 19   .321 UIC 3 – 9   .250 13 – 17   .433 Cleveland State 0 – 0   – 16 – 12   .571 † 1989 AMCU-8 tournament winner	1988–89 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 17 West Virginia 17 – 1   .944 26 – 5   .839 Temple 15 – 3   .833 18 – 12   .600 Rutgers † 13 – 5   .722 18 – 13   .581 Penn State 12 – 6   .667 20 – 12   .625 Rhode Island 9 – 9   .500 13 – 15   .464 St. Bonaventure 7 – 11   .389 13 – 15   .464 Duquesne 7 – 11   .389 13 – 16   .448 UMass 5 – 13   .278 10 – 18   .357 Saint Joseph's 4 – 14   .222 8 – 21   .276 George Washington 1 – 17   .056 1 – 27   .036 † 1989 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1988–89 ACC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 19 NC State 10 – 4   .714 22 – 9   .710 No. 9 Duke 9 – 5   .643 28 – 8   .778 Virginia 9 – 5   .643 22 – 11   .667 No. 5 North Carolina † 9 – 5   .643 29 – 8   .784 Georgia Tech 8 – 6   .571 20 – 12   .625 Clemson 7 – 7   .500 19 – 11   .633 Wake Forest 3 – 11   .214 13 – 15   .464 Maryland 1 – 13   .071 9 – 20   .310 † 1989 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Big East men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 2 Georgetown † 13 – 3   .813 29 – 5   .853 No. 11 Seton Hall 11 – 5   .688 31 – 7   .816 No. 7 Syracuse 10 – 6   .625 30 – 8   .789 Pittsburgh 9 – 7   .563 17 – 13   .567 Villanova 7 – 9   .438 18 – 16   .529 Providence 7 – 9   .438 18 – 11   .621 Connecticut 6 – 10   .375 18 – 13   .581 St. John's 6 – 10   .375 20 – 13   .606 Boston College 3 – 13   .188 12 – 17   .414 † 1989 Big East tournament winner As of April 3, 1989 Rankings from AP poll	1988–89 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 4 Oklahoma 12 – 2   .857 30 – 6   .833 No. 6 Missouri † 10 – 4   .714 29 – 8   .784 Kansas State 8 – 6   .571 19 – 11   .633 Oklahoma State 7 – 7   .500 17 – 13   .567 Iowa State 7 – 7   .500 17 – 12   .586 Kansas 6 – 8   .429 19 – 12   .613 Nebraska 4 – 10   .286 17 – 16   .515 Colorado 2 – 12   .143 7 – 21   .250 † 1989 Big Eight tournament winner As of March 3, 2012 Rankings from AP poll
1988–89 Big Sky men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Boise State 13 – 3   .813 23 – 7   .767 Idaho † 13 – 3   .813 25 – 6   .806 Montana 11 – 5   .688 20 – 11   .645 Nevada 10 – 6   .625 16 – 12   .571 Weber State 9 – 7   .563 17 – 11   .607 Montana State 6 – 10   .375 15 – 16   .484 Eastern Washington 5 – 11   .313 8 – 22   .267 Idaho State 4 – 12   .250 9 – 18   .333 Northern Arizona 1 – 15   .063 2 – 25   .074 † Conference tournament winner	1988–89 Big South Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Coastal Carolina 9 – 3   .750 14 – 14   .500 Campbell 8 – 4   .667 18 – 12   .600 Baptist 6 – 6   .500 12 – 16   .429 UNC Asheville † 6 – 6   .500 16 – 14   .533 Radford 5 – 7   .417 15 – 13   .536 Winthrop 5 – 7   .417 16 – 13   .552 Augusta State 3 – 9   .250 5 – 23   .179 † 1989 Big South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 8 Indiana 15 – 3   .833 27 – 8   .771 No. 3 Illinois 14 – 4   .778 31 – 5   .861 No. 10 Michigan 12 – 6   .667 30 – 7   .811 No. 14 Iowa 10 – 8   .556 23 – 10   .697 Minnesota 9 – 9   .500 19 – 12   .613 Wisconsin 8 – 10   .444 18 – 12   .600 Purdue 8 – 10   .444 15 – 16   .484 Ohio State 6 – 12   .333 19 – 15   .559 Michigan State 6 – 12   .333 18 – 15   .545 Northwestern 2 – 16   .111 9 – 19   .321 Rankings from AP Poll
1988–89 Big West men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 15 UNLV † 16 – 2   .889 29 – 8   .784 New Mexico State 12 – 6   .667 21 – 11   .656 UC Santa Barbara 11 – 7   .611 21 – 9   .700 Cal State Fullerton 10 – 8   .556 16 – 13   .552 Long Beach State 10 – 8   .556 13 – 15   .464 Utah State 10 – 8   .556 12 – 16   .429 Fresno State 9 – 9   .500 15 – 14   .517 UC Irvine 8 – 10   .444 12 – 17   .414 Pacific 3 – 15   .167 7 – 21   .250 San Jose State 1 – 17   .056 5 – 23   .179 † 1989 Big West tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1988-89 CAA men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Richmond 13 – 1   .929 21 – 10   .677 George Mason † 10 – 4   .714 20 – 11   .645 American 9 – 5   .643 17 – 11   .607 UNC Wilmington 9 – 5   .643 16 – 14   .533 James Madison 6 – 8   .429 16 – 14   .533 East Carolina 6 – 8   .429 15 – 14   .517 William & Mary 2 – 12   .143 5 – 23   .179 Navy 1 – 13   .071 6 – 22   .214 † 1989 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 East Coast Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Bucknell † 11 – 3   .786 23 – 8   .742 Towson State 10 – 4   .714 19 – 10   .655 Lafayette 8 – 6   .571 20 – 10   .667 Hofstra 7 – 7   .500 14 – 15   .483 Drexel 7 – 7   .500 12 – 16   .429 Delaware 6 – 8   .429 14 – 14   .500 Lehigh 5 – 9   .357 10 – 18   .357 Rider 2 – 12   .143 5 – 23   .179 † 1989 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll
1988–89 North Atlantic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Siena † 16 – 1   .941 25 – 5   .833 Boston University 14 – 4   .778 21 – 9   .700 Northeastern 12 – 5   .706 17 – 11   .607 Canisius 11 – 7   .611 13 – 15   .464 Hartford 10 – 7   .588 15 – 13   .536 Maine 7 – 11   .389 9 – 19   .321 Niagara 6 – 12   .333 9 – 19   .321 Colgate 5 – 13   .278 6 – 22   .214 Vermont 4 – 14   .222 6 – 21   .222 New Hampshire 3 – 14   .176 4 – 22   .154 † 1989 NAC tournament winner	1988-89 Ivy League men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Princeton 11 – 3   .786 19 – 8   .704 Dartmouth 10 – 4   .714 17 – 9   .654 Penn 9 – 5   .643 13 – 13   .500 Harvard 7 – 7   .500 11 – 15   .423 Cornell 7 – 7   .500 10 – 16   .385 Yale 6 – 8   .429 11 – 17   .393 Columbia 4 – 10   .286 8 – 18   .308 Brown 2 – 12   .143 7 – 19   .269 Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Metro Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 16 Florida State 9 – 3   .750 22 – 8   .733 No. 12 Louisville † 8 – 4   .667 24 – 9   .727 Memphis State 8 – 4   .667 21 – 11   .656 South Carolina 8 – 4   .667 19 – 11   .633 Cincinnati 5 – 7   .417 15 – 12   .556 Virginia Tech 2 – 10   .167 11 – 17   .393 Southern Miss 2 – 10   .167 10 – 17   .370 † 1989 Metro Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll
1988–89 MAAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT La Salle † 13 – 1   .929 26 – 6   .813 Saint Peter's 11 – 3   .786 22 – 9   .710 Iona 8 – 6   .571 15 – 16   .484 Fordham 8 – 6   .571 14 – 15   .483 Army 6 – 8   .429 12 – 16   .429 Holy Cross 5 – 9   .357 13 – 15   .464 Manhattan 3 – 11   .214 7 – 21   .250 Fairfield 2 – 12   .143 7 – 21   .250 † 1989 MAAC tournament winner	1988–89 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 18 Ball State † 14 – 2   .875 29 – 3   .906 Kent State 12 – 4   .750 21 – 10   .677 Toledo 11 – 5   .688 18 – 13   .581 Eastern Michigan 8 – 8   .500 17 – 12   .586 Central Michigan 7 – 9   .438 13 – 15   .464 Bowling Green 7 – 9   .438 13 – 15   .464 Western Michigan 6 – 10   .375 12 – 16   .429 Ohio 6 – 10   .375 13 – 16   .448 Miami (OH) 1 – 15   .063 5 – 23   .179 † 1989 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1988–89 MEAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT South Carolina State † 14 – 2   .875 25 – 8   .758 Florida A&M 12 – 4   .750 20 – 10   .667 Coppin State 11 – 5   .688 18 – 11   .621 Morgan State 9 – 7   .563 16 – 13   .552 Bethune–Cookman 8 – 8   .500 12 – 16   .429 Delaware State 6 – 10   .375 11 – 17   .393 North Carolina A&T 6 – 10   .375 9 – 18   .333 Howard 5 – 11   .313 9 – 19   .321 Maryland Eastern Shore 1 – 15   .063 1 – 26   .037 † 1989 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1988–89 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Evansville 10 – 2   .833 25 – 6   .806 Saint Louis 8 – 4   .667 27 – 10   .730 Xavier † 7 – 5   .583 21 – 12   .636 Dayton 6 – 6   .500 12 – 17   .414 Detroit Mercy 4 – 8   .333 7 – 21   .250 Loyola (IL) 4 – 8   .333 11 – 17   .393 Butler 3 – 9   .250 11 – 17   .393 † 1989 MCC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Creighton † 11 – 3   .786 20 – 11   .645 Wichita State 10 – 4   .714 19 – 11   .633 Tulsa 10 – 4   .714 18 – 13   .581 Bradley 7 – 7   .500 13 – 14   .481 Drake 6 – 8   .429 12 – 17   .414 Southern Illinois 6 – 8   .429 20 – 14   .588 Illinois State 6 – 8   .429 13 – 17   .433 Indiana State 0 – 14   .000 4 – 24   .143 † 1989 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Robert Morris† 12 – 4   .750 21 – 9   .700 Fairleigh Dickinson 11 – 5   .688 17 – 12   .586 Marist* 9 – 7   .563 13 – 15   .464 Monmouth 9 – 7   .563 15 – 13   .536 Long Island 7 – 9   .438 9 – 19   .321 Loyola (MD) 7 – 9   .438 10 – 18   .357 Saint Francis (PA) 6 – 10   .375 13 – 16   .448 Wagner 6 – 10   .375 11 – 16   .407 St. Francis (NY) 5 – 11   .313 11 – 16   .407 † 1989 NEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll *Ineligible for conference tournament
1988–89 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Middle Tennessee † 10 – 2   .833 23 – 8   .742 Murray State 10 – 2   .833 19 – 11   .633 Austin Peay 8 – 4   .667 18 – 12   .600 Morehead State 5 – 7   .417 15 – 16   .484 Eastern Kentucky 4 – 8   .333 7 – 22   .241 Tennessee Tech 3 – 9   .250 10 – 20   .333 Tennessee State 2 – 10   .167 4 – 24   .143 † 1989 OVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 1 Arizona † 17 – 1   .944 29 – 4   .879 No. 13 Stanford 15 – 3   .833 26 – 7   .788 UCLA 13 – 5   .722 21 – 10   .677 Oregon State 13 – 5   .722 22 – 8   .733 California 10 – 8   .556 20 – 13   .606 Washington 8 – 10   .444 12 – 16   .429 Arizona State 5 – 13   .278 12 – 16   .429 Washington State 4 – 14   .222 10 – 19   .345 Oregon 3 – 15   .167 8 – 21   .276 USC 2 – 16   .111 10 – 22   .313 † Conference tournament winner As of April 15, 1989 Rankings from AP poll	1988–89 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Florida 13 – 5   .722 21 – 13   .618 No. 20 Alabama † 12 – 6   .667 23 – 8   .742 Vanderbilt 12 – 6   .667 19 – 14   .576 LSU 11 – 7   .611 20 – 12   .625 Tennessee 11 – 7   .611 19 – 11   .633 Kentucky 8 – 10   .444 13 – 19   .406 Ole Miss 8 – 10   .444 15 – 15   .500 Mississippi State 7 – 11   .389 13 – 15   .464 Georgia 6 – 12   .333 15 – 16   .484 Auburn 2 – 16   .111 9 – 19   .321 † 1989 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll
1988–89 Southern Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Chattanooga 10 – 4   .714 18 – 12   .600 Furman 9 – 5   .643 17 – 12   .586 Appalachian State 8 – 6   .571 20 – 8   .714 East Tennessee State † 7 – 7   .500 20 – 11   .645 The Citadel 7 – 7   .500 16 – 12   .571 Marshall 6 – 8   .429 15 – 15   .500 VMI 5 – 9   .357 11 – 17   .393 Western Carolina 4 – 10   .286 12 – 16   .429 † 1989 SoCon Tournament winner As of April 30, 1988 Rankings from AP poll	1988–89 Southland Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT North Texas State 10 – 4   .714 14 – 15   .483 NE Louisiana 9 – 5   .643 17 – 12   .586 McNeese State † 9 – 5   .643 16 – 14   .533 Sam Houston State 8 – 6   .571 12 – 16   .429 Northwestern State 7 – 7   .500 13 – 16   .448 Texas State 6 – 8   .429 13 – 17   .433 UT Arlington 4 – 10   .286 7 – 21   .250 Stephen F. Austin 3 – 11   .214 10 – 18   .357 † 1989 Southland Conference tournament winner	1988–89 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Arkansas † 13 – 3   .813 25 – 7   .781 Texas 12 – 4   .750 25 – 9   .735 TCU 9 – 7   .563 17 – 13   .567 Houston 8 – 8   .500 17 – 14   .548 Texas A&M 8 – 8   .500 16 – 14   .533 Texas Tech 8 – 8   .500 13 – 15   .464 SMU 7 – 9   .438 13 – 16   .448 Rice 6 – 10   .375 12 – 16   .429 Baylor 1 – 15   .063 5 – 22   .185 † 1989 SWC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1988–89 SWAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Southern † 10 – 4   .714 20 – 11   .645 Texas Southern 10 – 4   .714 17 – 13   .567 Grambling State 10 – 4   .714 15 – 14   .517 Jackson State 7 – 7   .500 15 – 13   .536 Alabama State 7 – 7   .500 13 – 16   .448 Prairie View A&M 5 – 9   .357 11 – 16   .407 Alcorn State 4 – 10   .286 5 – 23   .179 Mississippi Valley State 3 – 11   .214 8 – 20   .286 † 1989 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT South Alabama † 11 – 3   .786 23 – 9   .719 UNC Charlotte 10 – 4   .714 17 – 12   .586 VCU 9 – 5   .643 13 – 15   .464 UAB 8 – 6   .571 22 – 12   .647 Old Dominion 7 – 7   .500 15 – 13   .536 Jacksonville 5 – 9   .357 14 – 16   .467 Western Kentucky 4 – 10   .286 14 – 15   .483 South Florida 2 – 12   .143 7 – 21   .250 † 1989 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1988–89 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Georgia Southern 16 – 2   .889 23 – 6   .793 Arkansas–Little Rock † 14 – 4   .778 23 – 8   .742 Stetson 10 – 8   .556 17 – 12   .586 Centenary (LA) 9 – 9   .500 16 – 14   .533 Georgia State 9 – 9   .500 14 – 14   .500 Mercer 9 – 9   .500 14 – 14   .500 UTSA 8 – 10   .444 15 – 13   .536 Houston Baptist 6 – 12   .333 9 – 20   .310 Samford 5 – 13   .278 8 – 19   .296 Hardin-Simmons 4 – 14   .222 8 – 19   .296 † 1989 TAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1988–89 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Saint Mary's 12 – 2   .857 25 – 5   .833 Pepperdine 10 – 4   .714 20 – 13   .606 Loyola Marymount † 10 – 4   .714 20 – 11   .645 San Francisco 8 – 6   .571 16 – 12   .571 Santa Clara 7 – 7   .500 20 – 11   .645 Gonzaga 5 – 9   .357 14 – 14   .500 San Diego 2 – 12   .143 8 – 20   .286 Portland 2 – 12   .143 2 – 26   .071 † Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1988–89 WAC men's basketball standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Colorado State 12 – 4   .750 23 – 10   .697 UTEP † 11 – 5   .688 26 – 7   .788 New Mexico 11 – 5   .688 22 – 11   .667 Hawaii 9 – 7   .563 17 – 13   .567 BYU 7 – 9   .438 14 – 15   .483 Air Force 6 – 10   .375 14 – 14   .500 Wyoming 6 – 10   .375 14 – 17   .452 Utah 6 – 10   .375 16 – 17   .485 San Diego State 4 – 12   .250 12 – 17   .414 † 1989 WAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Division I independents

A total of 22 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, Akron (21–8) had the best winning percentage (.724) and Akron, Notre Dame (21–9), and DePaul (21–12) finished with the most wins.

1988–89 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings Conf Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Akron - – -   – 21 – 8   .724 Notre Dame - – -   – 21 – 9   .700 DePaul - – -   – 21 – 12   .636 Miami (Fla.) - – -   – 19 – 12   .613 UMBC - – -   – 17 – 11   .607 Wright State - – -   – 17 – 11   .607 Marquette - – -   – 13 – 15   .464 Mount St. Mary's - – -   – 12 – 15   .444 Chicago State - – -   – 12 – 16   .429 Nicholls State - – -   – 12 – 16   .429 Northern Illinois - – -   – 11 – 17   .393 U.S. International - – -   – 11 – 17   .393 Liberty - – -   – 10 – 17   .370 Central Connecticut State - – -   – 10 – 18   .357 Florida International - – -   – 10 – 18   .357 Southern Utah - – -   – 10 – 18   .357 Oral Roberts - – -   – 8 – 20   .286 Central Florida - – -   – 7 – 20   .259 Davidson - – -   – 7 – 24   .226 Youngstown State - – -   – 5 – 23   .179 Brooklyn - – -   – 4 – 23   .148 Southeastern Louisiana - – -   – 3 – 24   .111 Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference	Regular season winner	Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5	La Salle & Temple	Lionel Simmons, La Salle

La Salle and Temple both finished with 3–1 records in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

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
Hank Gathers	Loyola Marymount	32.7		Hank Gathers	Loyola Marymount	13.7		Glenn Williams	Holy Cross	9.9		Alonzo Mourning	Georgetown	5.0
Chris Jackson	LSU	30.2		Carl Herrera	Jacksonville	13.2		Chris Corchiani	NC State	8.8		Duane Causwell	Temple	4.1
Lionel Simmons	La Salle	28.4		Tyrone Hill	Xavier	12.2		Sherman Douglas	Syracuse	8.6		Alan Ogg	UAB	3.8
Gerald Glass	Ole Miss	28.0		Ron Draper	American	12.0		Gary Payton	Oregon State	8.1		Derrick Coleman	Syracuse	3.4
Blue Edwards	East Carolina	26.7		Daryl Battles	Southern	11.6		Anthony Manuel	Bradley	8.0		Eric Murdock	Providence	3.3

Postseason tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main article: 1989 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Final Four - Kingdome, Seattle, Washington

The Kingdome in Seattle, Washington, hosted the NCAA men's Final Four.

	National semifinals					National championship game
	E2	Duke	78
	W3	Seton Hall	95
						W3	Seton Hall	79*
						S3	Michigan	80
	S3	Michigan	83
	M1	Illinois	81

(* – Denotes Overtime)

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1989 National Invitation Tournament

NIT Semifinals and Final

	Semifinals					Finals
	UAB		65
	St. John's		76
						St. John's		73
						Saint Louis		65
	Michigan State		64
	Saint Louis		74

	Third place game
	UAB		78
	Michigan State		76

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1989 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Sean Elliott	F	Senior	Arizona
Pervis Ellison	C	Senior	Louisville
Danny Ferry	F	Senior	Duke
Chris Jackson	G	Freshman	Louisiana State
Stacey King	C	Senior	Oklahoma

Consensus Second Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Mookie Blaylock	G	Senior	Oklahoma
Sherman Douglas	G	Senior	Syracuse
Jay Edwards	G	Sophomore	Indiana
Todd Lichti	G	Senior	Stanford
Glen Rice	F	Senior	Michigan
Lionel Simmons	F	Junior	La Salle

Major player of the year awards

• Wooden Award: Sean Elliott, Arizona
• Naismith Award: Danny Ferry, Duke
• Associated Press Player of the Year: Sean Elliott, Arizona
• UPI Player of the Year: Danny Ferry, Duke
• NABC Player of the Year: Sean Elliott, Arizona
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): Danny Ferry, Duke
• Adolph Rupp Trophy: Sean Elliott, Arizona
• Sporting News Player of the Year: Stacey King, Oklahoma

Major freshman of the year awards

• USBWA National Freshman of the Year: Chris Jackson, LSU

Major coach of the year awards

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
• UPI Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Bob Knight, Indiana
• NABC Coach of the Year: P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall
• Naismith College Coach of the Year: Mike Krzyzewski, Duke
• CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Lute Olson, Arizona
• Sporting News Coach of the Year: P. J. Carlesimo, Seton Hall

Other major awards

• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Tim Hardaway, UTEP
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Lionel Simmons, La Salle
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): John Morton, Seton Hall

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches during the season and after it ended.

Team	Former Coach	Interim Coach	New Coach	Reason
Akron	Bob Huggins		Coleman Crawford
Arizona State	Steve Patterson	Bob Schermerhorn	Bill Frieder	Patterson resigned on February 4 under pressure and assistant Schermerhorn completed the season as interim. Michigan coach Frieder took the job at the conclusion of the season.
BYU	LaDell Andersen		Roger Reid
Cincinnati	Tony Yates		Bob Huggins
Kentucky	Eddie Sutton		Rick Pitino
Marshall	Rick Huckabay		Dana Altman
Maryland	Bob Wade		Gary Williams
Michigan	Bill Frieder	Steve Fisher		Frieder announced he would take the Arizona State job before the 1989 NCAA Tournament but was immediately fired by Michigan AD Bo Schembechler, saying he wanted a “Michigan man” to lead the team. Assistant Fisher then led the team to the national title as interim and was made full-time coach after.
Ohio State	Gary Williams		Randy Ayers
Oregon State	Ralph Miller		Jim Anderson