1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began in November 1986 and ended with the Final Four in New Orleans on March 30, 1987.

1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	North Carolina Tar Heels
NCAA Tournament	1987
Tournament dates	March 12 – 30, 1987
National Championship	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
NCAA Champions	Indiana Hoosiers
Other champions	Southern Miss Golden Eagles (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	David Robinson, Navy Midshipmen
← 1985–86 1987–88 →

Season headlines

• All NCAA tournament teams were subject to drug testing for the first time.^[1]

Major rule changes

Beginning in 1986–87, the following rules changes were implemented:^[2]

• The three-point field goal was introduced and set at 19 feet 9 inches (6.02 m) from the center of the basket.
• A television replay could be used to prevent or rectify a scorer’s or timer’s mistake or a malfunction of the clock.

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

The top 20 from the AP Poll during the pre-season.^[3]

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 North Carolina 2 Louisville 3 Indiana 4 Purdue 5 UNLV 6 Georgia Tech 7 Oklahoma 8 Kansas 9 Navy 10 Iowa 11 Kentucky 12 Auburn 13 Alabama 14 Illinois 15 Syracuse 16 Pittsburgh 17 NC State 18 Georgetown 19 Arizona 20 Cleveland State

Conference membership changes

School	Former conference	New conference
Central Connecticut State Blue Devils	Division II independent	Division I independent
Florida A&M Rattlers	Division I independent	Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference
UMBC Retrievers	Non-Division I	Division I independent
Northern Illinois Huskies	Mid-American Conference	Division I independent
Tennessee State Tigers	Division I independent	Ohio Valley Conference
Texas–San Antonio Roadrunners	Division I independent	Trans America Athletic Conference

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference	Regular season winner[4]	Conference player of the year	Conference Coach of the Year	Conference tournament	Tournament venue (City)	Tournament winner
AMCU–8	Southwest Missouri State	Winston Garland, Southwest Missouri State	Charlie Spoonhour, Southwest Missouri State	1987 AMCU-8 men's basketball tournament	Hammons Student Center (Springfield, Missouri)	Southwest Missouri State
Atlantic 10 Conference	Temple	Nate Blackwell, Temple[5]	John Chaney, Temple	1987 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament	McGonigle Hall (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania)	Temple
Atlantic Coast Conference	North Carolina	Horace Grant, Clemson[6]	Cliff Ellis, Clemson	1987 ACC men's basketball tournament	Capital Centre (Landover, Maryland)	NC State
Big East Conference	Georgetown, Pittsburgh & Syracuse	Reggie Williams, Georgetown[7]	John Thompson, Georgetown	1987 Big East men's basketball tournament	Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)	Georgetown
Big Eight Conference	Missouri	Danny Manning, Kansas[8]	Norm Stewart, Missouri	1987 Big Eight Conference men's basketball tournament	Kemper Arena (Kansas City, Missouri) (Semifinals and Finals)	Missouri
Big Sky Conference	Montana State	Tom Domako, Montana State[9]	Bobby Dye, Boise State & Jim Boutin, Idaho State	1987 Big Sky Conference men's basketball tournament	Walkup Skydome (Flagstaff, Arizona)	Idaho State
Big South Conference	Baptist	Clarence Grier, Campbell	Billy Lee, Campbell	1987 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament	Savannah Civic Center (Savannah, Georgia)	Baptist
Big Ten Conference	Indiana & Purdue	Dennis Hopson, Ohio State	Tom Davis, Iowa	No Tournament
Colonial Athletic Association	Navy	David Robinson, Navy	John Thurston, James Madison	1987 CAA men's basketball tournament	Hampton Coliseum (Hampton, Virginia)	Navy
East Coast Conference	Bucknell	Daren Queenan, Lehigh & Ron Simpson, Rider	Charlie Woollum, Bucknell	1987 East Coast Conference men's basketball tournament	Towson Center (Towson, Maryland)	Bucknell
ECAC Metro	Marist	Rik Smits, Marist	Dave Magarity, Marist	1987 ECAC Metro men's basketball tournament	McCann Field House (Poughkeepsie, New York)	Marist
ECAC North	Northeastern	Reggie Lewis, Northeastern[10]	Karl Fogel, Northeastern	1987 ECAC North men's basketball tournament	Matthews Arena (Boston, Massachusetts)	Northeastern
Ivy League	Penn	Perry Bromwell, Penn[11]	None selected	No Tournament
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference	Saint Peter's	Kevin Houston, Army[12]	Ted Fiore, Saint Peter's	1987 MAAC men's basketball tournament	Meadowlands Arena (East Rutherford, New Jersey)	Fairfield
Metro Conference	Louisville	Herbert Crook, Louisville	Larry Finch, Memphis State	1987 Metro Conference men's basketball tournament	Freedom Hall (Louisville, Kentucky)	Memphis State
Mid-American Conference	Central Michigan	Booker James, Western Michigan[13]	Charlie Coles, Central Michigan	1987 MAC men's basketball tournament	Centennial Hall (Toledo, Ohio)	Central Michigan
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference	Howard	George Cale, North Carolina A&T	A. B. Williamson, Howard	1987 MEAC men's basketball tournament	Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, North Carolina)	North Carolina A&T
Midwestern Collegiate Conference	Evansville & Loyola (IL)	Andre Moore, Loyola (IL)[14]	Jim Crews, Evansville	1987 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball tournament	Market Square Arena (Indianapolis, Indiana)	Xavier
Missouri Valley Conference	Tulsa	Hersey Hawkins, Bradley[15]	Eddie Fogler, Wichita State	1987 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament	Tulsa Convention Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)	Wichita State
Ohio Valley Conference	Middle Tennessee State	Bob McCann, Morehead State[16]	Max Good, Eastern Kentucky	1987 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament	Murphy Center (Murfreesboro, Tennessee)	Austin Peay
Pacific-10 Conference	UCLA	José Ortiz, Oregon State[17]	Walt Hazzard, UCLA	1987 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament	Pauley Pavilion (Los Angeles, California)	UCLA
Pacific Coast Athletic Association	UNLV	Armon Gilliam, UNLV[18]	Jerry Tarkanian, UNLV	1987 Pacific Coast Athletic Association men's basketball tournament	The Forum (Inglewood, California)	UNLV
Southeastern Conference	Alabama	Derrick McKey, Alabama[19]	Wimp Sanderson, Alabama	1987 SEC men's basketball tournament	Omni Coliseum (Atlanta, Georgia)	Alabama
Southern Conference	Marshall	Gay Elmore, VMI[20]	Butch Estes, Furman	1987 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament	Asheville Civic Center (Asheville, North Carolina)	Marshall
Southland Conference	Louisiana Tech	Jerome Batiste, McNeese State[21]	Tommy Joe Eagles, Louisiana Tech	1987 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament	Thomas Assembly Center (Ruston, Louisiana)	Louisiana Tech
Southwest Conference	TCU	Carven Holcombe, TCU	Jim Killingsworth, TCU	1987 Southwest Conference men's basketball tournament	Reunion Arena (Dallas, Texas)	Texas A&M
Southwestern Athletic Conference	Grambling State	George Ivory, Mississippi Valley State & Avery Johnson, Southern[22]	Bob Hopkins, Grambling State	1987 SWAC men's basketball tournament		Southern
Sun Belt Conference	Western Kentucky	Tellis Frank, Western Kentucky[23]	Murray Arnold, Western Kentucky	1987 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball tournament	E. A. Diddle Arena (Bowling Green, Kentucky)	UAB
Trans America Athletic Conference	Arkansas–Little Rock	Brian Newton, Georgia Southern[24]	Frank Kerns, Georgia Southern	1987 TAAC men's basketball tournament	Barton Coliseum (Little Rock, Arkansas)	Georgia Southern
West Coast Athletic Conference	San Diego	Scott Thompson, San Diego[25]	Hank Egan, San Diego	1987 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament	War Memorial Gymnasium (San Francisco, California)	Santa Clara
Western Athletic Conference	UTEP	Fennis Dembo, Wyoming[26]	Don Haskins, UTEP	1987 WAC men's basketball tournament	The Pit (Albuquerque, New Mexico)	Wyoming

Conference standings

1986–87 AMCU-8 Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Southwest Missouri State † 13 – 1   .929 28 – 6   .824 Cleveland State 10 – 4   .714 25 – 8   .758 Illinois–Chicago 9 – 5   .643 17 – 15   .531 Wisconsin–Green Bay 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 Northern Iowa 7 – 7   .500 13 – 15   .464 Valparaiso 4 – 10   .286 12 – 16   .429 Eastern Illinois 3 – 11   .214 9 – 19   .321 Western Illinois 2 – 12   .143 12 – 16   .429 † 1987 AMCU-8 tournament winner	1986–87 ACC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 2 North Carolina 14 – 0   1.000 32 – 4   .889 No. 13 Clemson 10 – 4   .714 25 – 6   .806 No. 17 Duke 9 – 5   .643 24 – 9   .727 Virginia 8 – 6   .571 21 – 10   .677 Georgia Tech 7 – 7   .500 16 – 13   .552 NC State † 6 – 8   .429 20 – 14   .588 Wake Forest 2 – 12   .143 14 – 15   .483 Maryland 0 – 14   .000 9 – 17   .346 † 1987 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 8 Temple † 17 – 1   .944 32 – 4   .889 West Virginia 15 – 3   .833 23 – 8   .742 Rhode Island 12 – 6   .667 20 – 10   .667 Penn State 9 – 9   .500 15 – 12   .556 Saint Joseph's 9 – 9   .500 16 – 13   .552 Duquesne 7 – 11   .389 12 – 17   .414 UMass 7 – 11   .389 11 – 16   .407 George Washington 6 – 12   .333 10 – 19   .345 Rutgers 5 – 13   .278 8 – 20   .286 St. Bonaventure 3 – 15   .167 5 – 23   .179 † 1987 Atlantic 10 Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 Big East men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 4 Georgetown† 12 – 4   .750 29 – 5   .853 No. 12 Pittsburgh 12 – 4   .750 25 – 8   .758 No. 10 Syracuse 12 – 4   .750 31 – 7   .816 Providence 10 – 6   .625 25 – 9   .735 St. John's 10 – 6   .625 21 – 9   .700 Villanova 6 – 10   .375 15 – 16   .484 Seton Hall 4 – 12   .250 15 – 14   .517 Boston College 3 – 13   .188 11 – 18   .379 Connecticut 3 – 13   .188 9 – 19   .321 † 1987 Big East tournament winner As of March 30, 1987[27] Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Big Eight Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 14 Missouri † 11 – 3   .786 24 – 10   .706 No. 20 Kansas 9 – 5   .643 25 – 11   .694 Oklahoma 9 – 5   .643 24 – 10   .706 Kansas State 8 – 6   .571 20 – 11   .645 Nebraska 7 – 7   .500 21 – 12   .636 Iowa State 5 – 9   .357 13 – 15   .464 Oklahoma State 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Colorado 3 – 11   .214 9 – 19   .321 † 1987 Big Eight tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1986–87 Big Sky men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Montana State 12 – 2   .857 21 – 8   .724 Boise State 10 – 4   .714 22 – 8   .733 Montana 8 – 6   .571 18 – 11   .621 Nevada 7 – 7   .500 15 – 15   .500 Northern Arizona 5 – 9   .357 11 – 17   .393 Idaho 5 – 9   .357 16 – 14   .533 Idaho State † 5 – 9   .357 15 – 16   .484 Weber State 4 – 10   .286 7 – 22   .241 † Conference tournament winner
1986–87 Big South Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Baptist † 12 – 2   .857 21 – 9   .700 Campbell 10 – 4   .714 17 – 13   .567 UNC Asheville 5 – 3   .625 15 – 11   .577 Radford 7 – 7   .500 17 – 14   .548 Winthrop 1 – 7   .125 8 – 20   .286 Coastal Carolina 4 – 4   .500 12 – 16   .429 Armstrong State 2 – 6   .250 6 – 22   .214 Augusta State 3 – 11   .214 8 – 19   .296 † 1987 Big South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 3 Indiana 15 – 3   .833 30 – 4   .882 No. 7 Purdue 15 – 3   .833 25 – 5   .833 No. 6 Iowa 14 – 4   .778 30 – 5   .857 No. 11 Illinois 13 – 5   .722 23 – 8   .742 Michigan 10 – 8   .556 20 – 12   .625 Ohio State 9 – 9   .500 20 – 13   .606 Michigan State 6 – 12   .333 11 – 17   .393 Wisconsin 4 – 14   .222 14 – 17   .452 Minnesota 2 – 16   .111 9 – 19   .321 Northwestern 2 – 16   .111 7 – 21   .250 As of March 30, 1987[28] Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 CAA men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Navy † 13 – 1   .929 26 – 6   .813 UNC Wilmington 9 – 5   .643 18 – 12   .600 Richmond 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 James Madison 8 – 6   .571 20 – 10   .667 George Mason 7 – 7   .500 15 – 13   .536 American 5 – 9   .357 13 – 14   .481 East Carolina 4 – 10   .286 12 – 16   .429 William & Mary 2 – 12   .143 5 – 22   .185 † 1987 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 East Coast Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Bucknell † 11 – 3   .786 22 – 9   .710 Lafayette 10 – 4   .714 16 – 13   .552 Rider 8 – 6   .571 12 – 16   .429 Lehigh 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 Drexel 7 – 7   .500 14 – 14   .500 Towson State 5 – 9   .357 14 – 16   .467 Hofstra 4 – 10   .286 9 – 19   .321 Delaware 3 – 11   .214 12 – 16   .429 † 1987 ECC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1986–87 ECAC Metro men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Marist † 15 – 1   .938 20 – 10   .667 Fairleigh Dickinson 11 – 5   .688 19 – 10   .655 Loyola (MD) 10 – 6   .625 15 – 14   .517 Wagner 8 – 8   .500 16 – 13   .552 Robert Morris 7 – 9   .438 13 – 14   .481 St. Francis (PA) 7 – 9   .438 11 – 16   .407 Long Island 5 – 11   .313 13 – 14   .481 St. Francis (NY) 5 – 11   .313 11 – 16   .407 Monmouth 4 – 12   .250 8 – 19   .296 † 1987 ECAC Metro tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 ECAC North men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Northeastern † 17 – 1   .944 27 – 7   .794 Niagara 14 – 4   .778 21 – 10   .677 Boston University 12 – 6   .667 18 – 12   .600 Canisius 12 – 6   .667 16 – 12   .571 Siena 12 – 6   .667 17 – 12   .586 Hartford 8 – 10   .444 14 – 14   .500 Maine 6 – 12   .333 10 – 18   .357 Vermont 3 – 15   .167 5 – 23   .179 New Hampshire 3 – 15   .167 4 – 24   .143 Colgate 3 – 15   .167 4 – 23   .148 † 1987 ECAC North tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 Gulf Star Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Stephen F. Austin 10 – 0   1.000 22 – 8   .733 Sam Houston State 6 – 4   .600 16 – 12   .571 Southwest Texas State 5 – 5   .500 13 – 15   .464 Northwestern State 4 – 6   .400 15 – 13   .536 Southeastern Louisiana 4 – 6   .400 10 – 21   .323 Nicholls State 1 – 9   .100 9 – 18   .333 Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Ivy League men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Penn 10 – 4   .714 13 – 14   .481 Princeton 9 – 5   .643 16 – 9   .640 Cornell 9 – 5   .643 15 – 11   .577 Dartmouth 7 – 7   .500 15 – 11   .577 Yale 7 – 7   .500 14 – 12   .538 Columbia 6 – 8   .429 12 – 14   .462 Harvard 4 – 10   .286 9 – 17   .346 Brown 4 – 10   .286 9 – 18   .333 Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 MAAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Saint Peter's 11 – 3   .786 21 – 8   .724 La Salle 10 – 4   .714 20 – 13   .606 Army 8 – 6   .571 14 – 15   .483 Iona 8 – 6   .571 16 – 14   .533 Holy Cross 6 – 8   .429 9 – 19   .321 Fordham 6 – 8   .429 14 – 16   .467 Fairfield † 5 – 9   .357 15 – 16   .484 Manhattan 2 – 12   .143 6 – 21   .222 † 1987 MAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 Metro Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Louisville 9 – 3   .750 18 – 14   .563 Memphis State † 8 – 4   .667 26 – 8   .765 Southern Miss 6 – 6   .500 23 – 11   .676 Florida State 6 – 6   .500 19 – 11   .633 South Carolina 5 – 7   .417 15 – 14   .517 Virginia Tech 5 – 7   .417 10 – 18   .357 Cincinnati 3 – 9   .250 12 – 16   .429 † 1987 Metro Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Central Michigan† 14 – 2   .875 22 – 8   .733 Kent State 11 – 5   .688 19 – 10   .655 Bowling Green 10 – 6   .625 15 – 14   .517 Eastern Michigan 8 – 8   .500 14 – 15   .483 Miami 7 – 9   .438 14 – 14   .500 Ohio 7 – 9   .438 14 – 14   .500 Western Michigan 7 – 9   .438 12 – 16   .429 Toledo 4 – 12   .250 11 – 17   .393 Ball State 4 – 12   .250 9 – 18   .333 † Mid-American Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 MEAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Howard 13 – 1   .929 24 – 4   .857 North Carolina A&T † 12 – 2   .857 24 – 6   .800 South Carolina State 9 – 5   .643 14 – 15   .483 Coppin State 7 – 6   .538 8 – 19   .296 Bethune–Cookman 6 – 8   .429 10 – 19   .345 Morgan State 5 – 9   .357 8 – 20   .286 Delaware State 3 – 11   .214 4 – 24   .143 Maryland Eastern Shore 0 – 13   .000 2 – 24   .077 Florida A&M –   – 12 – 16   .429 † 1987 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 Midwestern Collegiate Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Evansville 8 – 4   .667 16 – 12   .571 Loyola (IL) 8 – 4   .667 16 – 13   .552 Xavier † 7 – 5   .583 19 – 13   .594 Saint Louis 7 – 5   .583 25 – 10   .714 Oral Roberts 5 – 7   .417 10 – 18   .357 Butler 2 – 10   .167 9 – 19   .321 Detroit Mercy 2 – 10   .167 7 – 21   .250 † 1987 MCC tournament winner	1986–87 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Tulsa 11 – 3   .786 22 – 8   .733 Bradley 10 – 4   .714 17 – 12   .586 Wichita State † 9 – 5   .643 22 – 11   .667 Illinois State 7 – 7   .500 19 – 13   .594 Drake 6 – 8   .429 17 – 14   .548 Southern Illinois 5 – 9   .357 12 – 17   .414 Indiana State 4 – 10   .286 9 – 20   .310 Creighton 4 – 10   .286 9 – 19   .321 † 1987 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[29]	1986–87 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Middle Tennessee 11 – 3   .786 22 – 7   .759 Akron 9 – 5   .643 21 – 9   .700 Eastern Kentucky 9 – 5   .643 19 – 11   .633 Austin Peay † 8 – 6   .571 14 – 14   .500 Morehead State 8 – 6   .571 14 – 14   .500 Murray State 6 – 8   .429 13 – 15   .464 Youngstown State 4 – 10   .286 11 – 17   .393 Tennessee Tech 1 – 13   .071 7 – 20   .259 Tennessee State - – -   – 15 – 12   .556 † 1987 OVC tournament winner Rankings from AP poll[30]
1986–87 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 15 UCLA † 14 – 4   .778 25 – 7   .781 Arizona 13 – 5   .722 18 – 12   .600 Washington 10 – 8   .556 20 – 15   .571 California 10 – 8   .556 20 – 15   .571 Oregon State 10 – 8   .556 19 – 11   .633 Stanford 9 – 9   .500 15 – 13   .536 Oregon 8 – 10   .444 16 – 14   .533 Arizona State 6 – 12   .333 11 – 17   .393 Washington State 6 – 12   .333 10 – 18   .357 USC 4 – 14   .222 9 – 19   .321 † 1987 Pacific-10 Tournament winner As of March 25, 1987[31] Rankings from AP poll	1986–87 PCAA men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 1 UNLV † 18 – 0   1.000 37 – 2   .949 UC Santa Barbara 10 – 8   .556 16 – 12   .571 San Jose State 10 – 8   .556 16 – 14   .533 Cal State Fullerton 9 – 9   .500 17 – 13   .567 New Mexico State 9 – 9   .500 15 – 15   .500 UC Irvine 9 – 9   .500 14 – 14   .500 Utah State 8 – 10   .444 15 – 16   .484 Long Beach State 7 – 11   .389 10 – 17   .370 Pacific 6 – 12   .333 10 – 17   .370 Fresno State 4 – 14   .222 9 – 20   .310 † 1987 PCAA tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1986–87 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Western Kentucky 12 – 2   .857 29 – 9   .763 Jacksonville 11 – 3   .786 19 – 11   .633 UAB † 10 – 4   .714 21 – 11   .656 Virginia Commonwealth 7 – 7   .500 17 – 14   .548 UNC Charlotte 6 – 8   .429 18 – 14   .563 South Alabama 6 – 8   .429 14 – 14   .500 South Florida 3 – 11   .214 8 – 20   .286 Old Dominion 1 – 13   .071 6 – 22   .214 † 1987 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 9 Alabama † 16 – 2   .889 28 – 5   .848 Florida 12 – 6   .667 23 – 11   .676 Georgia 10 – 8   .556 18 – 12   .600 Kentucky 10 – 8   .556 18 – 11   .621 Auburn 9 – 9   .500 18 – 13   .581 Ole Miss 8 – 10   .444 15 – 14   .517 LSU 8 – 10   .444 24 – 15   .615 Tennessee 7 – 11   .389 14 – 15   .483 Vanderbilt 7 – 11   .389 18 – 16   .529 Mississippi State 3 – 15   .167 7 – 21   .250 † 1987 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Southern Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Marshall † 15 – 1   .938 25 – 6   .806 Chattanooga 14 – 2   .875 21 – 8   .724 Davidson 12 – 4   .750 20 – 10   .667 Furman 10 – 6   .625 17 – 12   .586 The Citadel 6 – 10   .375 13 – 15   .464 VMI 5 – 11   .313 11 – 17   .393 Western Carolina 4 – 12   .250 10 – 19   .345 Appalachian State 3 – 13   .188 7 – 21   .250 East Tennessee State 3 – 13   .188 7 – 21   .250 † 1987 Southern Conference tournament winner As of April 30, 1987 Rankings from AP poll	1986–87 Southland Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Louisiana Tech † 9 – 1   .900 22 – 8   .733 Arkansas State 5 – 5   .500 21 – 13   .618 McNeese State 5 – 5   .500 14 – 14   .500 Lamar 4 – 6   .400 14 – 15   .483 North Texas State 4 – 6   .400 11 – 17   .393 Northeast Louisiana 3 – 7   .300 13 – 15   .464 UT Arlington –   – 12 – 18   .400 † 1987 Southland Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 Southwest Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 19 TCU 14 – 2   .875 24 – 7   .774 Baylor 10 – 6   .625 18 – 13   .581 Houston 9 – 7   .563 18 – 12   .600 Texas Tech 9 – 7   .563 15 – 14   .517 Arkansas 8 – 8   .500 19 – 14   .576 SMU 7 – 9   .438 16 – 13   .552 Texas 7 – 9   .438 14 – 17   .452 Texas A&M † 6 – 10   .375 17 – 14   .548 Rice 2 – 14   .125 8 – 19   .296 † 1987 SWC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 SWAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Grambling 11 – 3   .786 16 – 14   .533 Southern † 9 – 5   .643 19 – 12   .613 Mississippi Valley State 9 – 5   .643 13 – 15   .464 Jackson State 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 Alabama State 7 – 7   .500 14 – 14   .500 Texas Southern 7 – 7   .500 11 – 11   .500 Alcorn State 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 Prairie View A&M 8 – 6   .571 15 – 14   .517 † 1987 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	1986–87 Trans America Athletic Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Arkansas–Little Rock 16 – 2   .889 26 – 11   .703 Houston Baptist 13 – 5   .722 18 – 11   .621 Stetson 13 – 5   .722 18 – 13   .581 Georgia Southern † 12 – 6   .667 20 – 11   .645 Hardin–Simmons 9 – 9   .500 13 – 15   .464 Texas–San Antonio 7 – 11   .389 13 – 15   .464 Mercer 7 – 11   .389 12 – 16   .429 Georgia State 7 – 11   .389 11 – 17   .393 Centenary 5 – 13   .278 10 – 17   .370 Samford 1 – 17   .056 4 – 22   .154 † 1987 TAAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll
1986–87 West Coast Athletic Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT San Diego 13 – 1   .929 24 – 6   .800 Gonzaga 9 – 5   .643 18 – 10   .643 Saint Mary's 7 – 7   .500 17 – 13   .567 Portland 6 – 8   .429 14 – 14   .500 Santa Clara † 6 – 8   .429 18 – 14   .563 San Francisco 6 – 8   .429 16 – 12   .571 Pepperdine 5 – 9   .357 12 – 18   .400 Loyola Marymount 4 – 10   .286 12 – 16   .429 † Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	1986–87 WAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT UTEP 13 – 3   .813 25 – 7   .781 Brigham Young 12 – 4   .750 21 – 11   .656 New Mexico 11 – 5   .688 25 – 10   .714 Wyoming † 11 – 5   .688 24 – 10   .706 Utah 9 – 7   .563 17 – 13   .567 Colorado State 7 – 9   .438 13 – 16   .448 Air Force 5 – 11   .313 12 – 15   .444 Hawaii 2 – 14   .125 7 – 21   .250 San Diego State 2 – 14   .125 5 – 25   .167 † 1987 WAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll

Division I independents

A total of 17 college teams played as Division I independents. Among them, DePaul (28–3) had both the best winning percentage (.903) and the most wins.^[32]

1986–87 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 5 DePaul - – -   – 28 – 3   .903 No. 16 New Orleans - – -   – 26 – 4   .867 No. 18 Notre Dame - – -   – 24 – 8   .750 Texas–Pan American - – -   – 16 – 12   .571 Marquette - – -   – 16 – 13   .552 Miami (FL) - – -   – 15 – 16   .484 Dayton - – -   – 13 – 15   .464 Central Florida - – -   – 12 – 15   .444 UMBC - – -   – 12 – 15   .444 Chicago State - – -   – 11 – 17   .393 Southwestern Louisiana - – -   – 11 – 17   .393 U.S. International - – -   – 11 – 17   .393 Utica - – -   – 10 – 16   .385 Brooklyn - – -   – 10 – 18   .357 Northern Illinois - – -   – 9 – 19   .321 Central Connecticut State - – -   – 8 – 21   .276 Eastern Washington - – -   – 5 – 23   .179 Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference	Regular season winner	Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5	Temple	Nate Blackwell, Temple

Temple finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

Statistical leaders

Points per game				Rebounds per game				Assists per game				Steals per game
Player	School	PPG		Player	School	RPG		Player	School	APG		Player	School	SPG
Kevin Houston	Army	32.9		Jerome Lane	Pittsburgh	13.5		Avery Johnson	Southern	10.7		Tony Fairley	Baptist	4.1
Dennis Hopson	Ohio St.	29.0		Chris Dudley	Yale	13.3		Mark Wade	UNLV	10.7		Doug Usitalo	Boise St.	3.5
David Robinson	Navy	28.2		Andre Moore	Loyola (IL)	12.4		Tony Fairley	Baptist	9.6		Joe Jeter	Delaware St.	3.4
Terrance Bailey	Wagner	28.1		David Robinson	Navy	11.8		Tyrone Bogues	Wake Forest	9.5		Roderick Ford	UT Arlington	3.4
Hersey Hawkins	Bradley	27.2		Brian Rowsom	UNC Wilmington	11.5		Andre Van Drost	Wagner	9.3		Duane Washington	Middle Tenn. St.	3.2

Blocked shots per game				Field goal percentage				Three-point field goal percentage				Free throw percentage
Player	School	BPG		Player	School	FG%		Player	School	3FG%		Player	School	FT%
David Robinson	Navy	4.5		Alan Williams	Princeton	70.3		Reginald Jones	Prairie View	57.1		Kevin Houston	Army	91.2
Derrick Lewis	Maryland	4.4		Tyrone Howard	E. Kentucky	67.8		Eric Rhodes	SF Austin	54.7		Daryl Johnson	Michigan St.	91.0
Lester Fonville	Jackson St.	3.9		Horace Grant	Clemson	65.6		Anthony Davis	George Mason	53.6		Scott Haffner	Evansville	90.9
Dallas Comegys	DePaul	3.5		Robert Godbolt	Louisiana Tech	64.7		Scott Dimak	SF Austin	53.5		Nate Blackwell	Temple	90.4
Tim Perry	Temple	3.2		Claude Williams	NC A&T	63.7		Steve Alford	Indiana	53.0		Michael Smith	BYU	90.4

^[33]

Postseason tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main article: 1987 NCAA Division I men's basketball tournament

Final Four - Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

	National semifinals					National championship game
	E2	Syracuse	77
	S6	Providence	63
						E2	Syracuse	73
						M1	Indiana	74
	M1	Indiana	97
	W1	UNLV	93

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 1987 National Invitation Tournament

NIT Semifinals and Final

	Semifinals (March 24)					Finals (March 26)
	La Salle		92
	Arkansas–Little Rock		73
						La Salle		80
						Southern Miss		84
	Southern Miss		82
	Nebraska		75

	Third place game
	Arkansas–Little Rock		67
	Nebraska		76

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 1987 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Steve Alford	G	Senior	Indiana
Danny Manning	F	Junior	Kansas
David Robinson	C	Senior	Navy
Kenny Smith	G	Senior	North Carolina
Reggie Williams	F	Senior	Georgetown

Consensus Second Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Armon Gilliam	F	Senior	UNLV
Horace Grant	F/C	Senior	Clemson
Dennis Hopson	G	Senior	Ohio State
Mark Jackson	G	Senior	St. John's
Ken Norman	F	Senior	Illinois

Major player of the year awards

• Wooden Award: David Robinson, Navy
• Naismith Award: David Robinson, Navy
• Associated Press Player of the Year: David Robinson, Navy
• UPI Player of the Year: David Robinson, Navy
• NABC Player of the Year: David Robinson, Navy
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): David Robinson, Navy
• Adolph Rupp Trophy: David Robinson, Navy
• Sporting News Player of the Year: David Robinson, Navy

Major coach of the year awards

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: Tom Davis, Iowa
• UPI Coach of the Year: John Thompson, Georgetown
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): John Chaney, Temple
• NABC Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino, Providence
• Naismith College Coach of the Year: Bob Knight, Indiana
• CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Joey Meyer, DePaul
• Sporting News Coach of the Year: Rick Pitino, Providence

Other major awards

• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Muggsy Bogues, Wake Forest
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Nate Blackwell, Temple
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in NYC): Mark Jackson, St. John's and Kevin Houston, Army

Coaching changes

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

Team	Former Coach	Interim Coach	New Coach	Reason
Canisius	Nick Macarchuk		Marty Marbach
George Mason	Joe Harrington		Rick Barnes
Long Beach State	Ron Palmer		Joe Harrington
Monmouth	Ron Kornegay		Ron Krayl	Kornegay resigned on December 19, 1986. Krayl served as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
Monmouth	Ron Krayl		Wayne Szoke	Krayl's tenure as interim head coach ended with the end of the season. Szoke took over as permanent head coach for the following season.
Providence	Rick Pitino		Gordon Chiesa	Following a season in which he led Providence to the Final Four, Pitino accepted the head coaching position for the New York Knicks.[34] He was replaced with top assistant Chiesa.