2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season

The 2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season began on November 10, 2002, progressed through the regular season and conference tournaments, and concluded with the 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament Championship Game on April 7, 2003, at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana. The Syracuse Orangemen and coach Jim Boeheim won their first NCAA national championship with an 81–78 victory over the Kansas Jayhawks.

2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball season
Preseason AP No. 1	Arizona Wildcats
Regular season	November 10, 2002– March 16, 2003
NCAA Tournament	2003
Tournament dates	March 17 – April 7, 2003
National Championship	Louisiana Superdome New Orleans, Louisiana
NCAA Champions	Syracuse Orangemen
Other champions	St. John's Red Storm (NIT)
Player of the Year (Naismith, Wooden)	T. J. Ford, Texas Longhorns
← 2001–02 2003–04 →

Season headlines

• The preseason AP All-American team was named on November 12. David West of Xavier was the leading vote-getter (43 of 72 votes). The rest of the team included Luke Walton (42 votes) and Jason Gardner (39) of Arizona, Kirk Hinrich of Kansas (35) and Erwin Dudley of Alabama (32).^[1]
• The National Invitation Tournament (NIT) held its last third-place game between the teams which lost in the semifinals. The tournament included a third-place game from 1938 through 1981 and again from 1984 through 2003.

Major rule changes

Beginning in 2002–03, the following rules changes were implemented:^[2]

• Two free-throw lane spaces closest to the free-thrower would remain unoccupied.
• No free throws were awarded to the offended team in bonus for personal fouls committed by a team while in team control or in possession of the ball during a throw-in (team-control foul).

Season outlook

Pre-season polls

The top 25 from the AP and ESPN/USA Today Coaches Polls November 13, 2002.^[3]

Associated Press Ranking Team 1 Arizona (50) 2 Kansas (14) 3 Oklahoma (6) 4 Texas 5 Pittsburgh (1) 6 Duke 7 Florida 8 Alabama 9 Michigan State 10 Xavier 11 Oregon 12 Mississippi State (1) 13 Maryland 14 UCLA 15 Connecticut 16 Georgia 17 Kentucky 18 Marquette 19 Missouri 20 Western Kentucky 21 Indiana 22 Gonzaga 23 Cincinnati 24 Minnesota 25 Tulsa

ESPN/USA Today Coaches Ranking Team 1 Arizona (27) 2 Kansas (3) 3 Oklahoma (1) 4 Pittsburgh 5 Texas 6 Duke 7 Florida 8 Alabama 9 Oregon 10 Michigan State 11 Xavier 12 UCLA 13 Mississippi State 14 Connecticut 15 Maryland 16 Georgia 17 Kentucky 18 Missouri 19 Marquette 20 Cincinnati 21 Indiana 22 Gonzaga 23 Western Kentucky 24 Minnesota 25 Illinois

Conference membership changes

These schools joined new conferences for the 2002–03 season.

School	Former conference	New conference
Gardner–Webb Runnin' Bulldogs	NCAA Division II	Atlantic Sun Conference
Lipscomb Bisons	NAIA	NCAA Division I independent
Savannah State Tigers	NCAA Division II	NCAA Division I independent
Texas A&M–Corpus Christi Islanders	NCAA Division III	NCAA Division I independent

Regular season

Conferences

Conference winners and tournaments

Conference	Regular season winner[4]	Conference player of the year	Conference tournament	Tournament venue (City)	Tournament winner
America East Conference	Boston University	Taylor Coppenrath, Vermont[5]	2003 America East men's basketball tournament	Walter Brown Arena (Boston, Massachusetts) (Except Finals)	Vermont[6]
Atlantic 10 Conference	St. Joseph's (East) Xavier (West)	David West, Xavier[7]	2003 Atlantic 10 men's basketball tournament	University of Dayton Arena (Dayton, Ohio)	Dayton[8]
Atlantic Coast Conference	Wake Forest	Josh Howard, Wake Forest[9]	2003 ACC men's basketball tournament	Greensboro Coliseum (Greensboro, North Carolina)	Duke[10]
Atlantic Sun Conference	Troy & Mercer	Adam Sonn, Belmont[11]	2003 Atlantic Sun men's basketball tournament	GSU Sports Arena (Atlanta, Georgia)	Troy[11]
Big 12 Conference	Kansas	Nick Collison, Kansas[12]	2003 Big 12 men's basketball tournament	American Airlines Center (Dallas, Texas)	Oklahoma[13]
Big East Conference	Connecticut & Boston College (East) Syracuse & Pittsburgh (West)	Troy Bell, Boston College[14]	2003 Big East men's basketball tournament	Madison Square Garden (New York City, New York)	Pittsburgh[14]
Big Sky Conference	Weber State	Jermaine Boyette, Weber State[15]	2003 Big Sky men's basketball tournament	Dee Events Center (Ogden, Utah) (Semifinals and Finals)	Weber State[16]
Big South Conference	Winthrop	Torrey Butler, Coastal Carolina[17]	2003 Big South Conference men's basketball tournament	Vines Center (Lynchburg, Virginia) (Semifinals and Finals)	UNC Asheville[17]
Big Ten Conference	Wisconsin	Brian Cook, Illinois[18]	2003 Big Ten Conference men's basketball tournament	United Center (Chicago, Illinois)	Illinois[18]
Big West Conference	UC Santa Barbara	Branduinn Fullove, UC Santa Barbara[19]	2003 Big West Conference men's basketball tournament	Anaheim Convention Center (Anaheim, California)	Utah State[19]
Colonial Athletic Association	UNC Wilmington	Brett Blizzard, UNC Wilmington[20]	2003 CAA men's basketball tournament	Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, Virginia)	UNC Wilmington[20]
Conference USA	Marquette	Dwyane Wade, Marquette[21]	2003 Conference USA men's basketball tournament	Freedom Hall (Louisville, Kentucky)	Louisville[22]
Horizon League	Butler	Willie Green, Detroit[23]	2003 Horizon League men's basketball tournament	U.S. Cellular Arena (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) (Except First Round)	Wisconsin-Milwaukee[23]
Ivy League	Penn	Ugonna Onyekwe, Penn[24]	No Tournament
Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference	Manhattan	Luis Flores, Manhattan[25]	2003 MAAC men's basketball tournament	Sovereign Bank Arena (Trenton, New Jersey)	Manhattan[26]
Mid-American Conference	Kent State (East) Central Michigan (West)	Chris Kaman, Central Michigan[27]	2003 MAC men's basketball tournament	Gund Arena (Cleveland, Ohio)	Central Michigan[27]
Mid-Continent Conference	Valparaiso	Mike Helms, Oakland[28]	2003 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball tournament	Kemper Arena (Kansas City, Missouri)	IUPUI[29]
Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference	South Carolina State	Ron Williamson, Howard[30]	2003 Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament	Richmond Coliseum (Richmond, Virginia)	South Carolina State[31]
Missouri Valley Conference	Southern Illinois	Kyle Korver, Creighton[32]	2003 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball tournament	Savvis Center (St. Louis, Missouri)	Creighton[33]
Mountain West Conference	Utah & BYU	Ruben Douglas, New Mexico[34]	2003 MWC men's basketball tournament	Thomas & Mack Center (Paradise, Nevada)	Colorado State[35]
Northeast Conference	Wagner	Jermaine Hall, Wagner[36]	2003 Northeast Conference men's basketball tournament	Campus Sites	Wagner[37]
Ohio Valley Conference	Austin Peay & Morehead State	Ricky Minard, Morehead State[38]	2003 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball tournament	Gaylord Entertainment Center (Nashville, Tennessee) (Semifinals and Finals)	Austin Peay[38]
Pacific-10 Conference	Arizona	Luke Ridnour, Oregon[39]	2003 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball tournament	Staples Center (Los Angeles, California)	Oregon[40]
Patriot League	Holy Cross	Patrick Whearty, Holy Cross[41]	2003 Patriot League men's basketball tournament	Campus Sites	Holy Cross[42]
Southeastern Conference	Kentucky (East) Mississippi State (West)	Keith Bogans, Kentucky (Coaches)[43] Ron Slay, Tennessee (AP)[44]	2003 SEC men's basketball tournament	Louisiana Superdome (New Orleans, Louisiana)	Kentucky[45]
Southern Conference	East Tennessee State, Appalachian State & Davidson (North) Charleston (South)	Troy Wheless, Charleston[46]	2003 Southern Conference men's basketball tournament	North Charleston Coliseum (North Charleston, South Carolina)	East Tennessee State[47]
Southland Conference	Sam Houston State	Donald Cole, Sam Houston State[48]	2003 Southland Conference men's basketball tournament	Bernard Johnson Coliseum (Huntsville, Texas) (Finals)	Sam Houston State[48]
Southwestern Athletic Conference	Prairie View A&M	Gregory Burks, Prairie View A&M[49]	2003 Southwestern Athletic Conference men's basketball tournament	Fair Park Arena (Birmingham, Alabama)	Texas Southern[50]
Sun Belt Conference	Western Kentucky (East) Louisiana–Lafayette (West)	James Moore, New Mexico State[51]	2003 Sun Belt men's basketball tournament	E. A. Diddle Arena (Bowling Green, Kentucky)	Western Kentucky[52]
West Coast Conference	Gonzaga	Blake Stepp, Gonzaga[53]	2003 West Coast Conference men's basketball tournament	Jenny Craig Pavilion (San Diego, California)	San Diego[54]
Western Athletic Conference	Fresno State	Quinton Ross, Southern Methodist[55]	2003 WAC men's basketball tournament	Reynolds Center (Tulsa, Oklahoma)	Tulsa[55]

Conference standings

2002–03 America East Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Boston University 13 – 3   .813 20 – 11   .645 Vermont † 11 – 5   .688 21 – 12   .636 Hartford 10 – 6   .625 16 – 13   .552 Binghamton 9 – 7   .563 14 – 13   .519 Maine 8 – 8   .500 14 – 16   .467 Northeastern 8 – 8   .500 16 – 15   .516 Stony Brook 7 – 9   .438 13 – 15   .464 Albany 3 – 13   .188 7 – 21   .250 New Hampshire 3 – 13   .188 5 – 23   .179 † 2003 America East tournament winner	2002–03 ACC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 8 Wake Forest 13 – 3   .813 25 – 6   .806 No. 17 Maryland 11 – 5   .688 21 – 10   .677 No. 7 Duke† 11 – 5   .688 26 – 7   .788 NC State 9 – 7   .563 18 – 13   .581 Georgia Tech 7 – 9   .438 16 – 15   .516 Virginia 6 – 10   .375 16 – 16   .500 North Carolina 6 – 10   .375 19 – 16   .543 Clemson 5 – 11   .313 15 – 13   .536 Florida State 4 – 12   .250 14 – 15   .483 † 2003 ACC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	2002–03 Atlantic 10 men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT East Saint Joseph's 12 – 4   .750 23 – 7   .767 Rhode Island 10 – 6   .625 19 – 12   .613 Temple 10 – 6   .625 18 – 16   .529 UMass 6 – 10   .375 11 – 18   .379 Fordham 3 – 13   .188 2 – 26   .071 St. Bonaventure 1 – 15   .063 13 – 14   .481 West No. 12 Xavier 15 – 1   .938 26 – 6   .813 No. 16 Dayton † 14 – 2   .875 24 – 6   .800 Richmond 10 – 6   .625 15 – 14   .517 La Salle 6 – 10   .375 12 – 17   .414 George Washington 5 – 11   .313 12 – 17   .414 Duquesne 4 – 13   .235 9 – 21   .300 † Atlantic 10 Tournament winner As of February 5, 2016 Rankings from Coaches' Poll[56]
2002–03 Atlantic Sun men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT North Belmont 12 – 4   .750 17 – 12   .586 Jacksonville State 10 – 6   .625 20 – 10   .667 Samford 9 – 7   .563 13 – 15   .464 Georgia State 8 – 8   .500 14 – 15   .483 Gardner–Webb 2 – 14   .125 5 – 24   .172 Campbell 1 – 15   .063 5 – 22   .185 South Troy State † 14 – 2   .875 26 – 6   .813 Mercer 14 – 2   .875 23 – 6   .793 UCF 11 – 5   .688 21 – 11   .656 Jacksonville 8 – 8   .500 13 – 16   .448 Stetson 4 – 12   .250 7 – 20   .259 Florida Atlantic 3 – 13   .188 7 – 21   .250 † 2003 Atlantic Sun Tournament winner As of March 4, 2003 Rankings from AP Poll	2002–03 Big 12 men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 6 Kansas 14 – 2   .875 30 – 8   .789 No. 5 Texas 13 – 3   .813 26 – 7   .788 No. 3 Oklahoma † 12 – 4   .750 27 – 7   .794 Oklahoma State 10 – 6   .625 22 – 10   .688 No. 24 Missouri 9 – 7   .563 22 – 11   .667 Colorado 9 – 7   .563 20 – 12   .625 Texas Tech 6 – 10   .375 22 – 13   .629 Texas A&M 6 – 10   .375 14 – 14   .500 Iowa State 5 – 11   .313 17 – 14   .548 Baylor 5 – 11   .313 14 – 14   .500 Kansas State 4 – 12   .250 13 – 17   .433 Nebraska 3 – 13   .188 11 – 19   .367 † 2003 Big 12 Tournament winner Rankings from AP poll [57]	2002–03 Big East men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT East Boston College 10 – 6   .625 19 – 12   .613 No. 23 Connecticut 10 – 6   .625 23 – 10   .697 Providence 8 – 8   .500 18 – 14   .563 Villanova 8 – 8   .500 15 – 16   .484 St. John's# 7 – 9   .438 1 – 13   .071 Miami 4 – 12   .250 11 – 17   .393 Virginia Tech* 4 – 12   .250 11 – 18   .379 West No. 13 Syracuse 13 – 3   .813 30 – 5   .857 No. 4 Pittsburgh† 13 – 3   .813 28 – 5   .848 Seton Hall 10 – 6   .625 17 – 13   .567 No. 22 Notre Dame 10 – 6   .625 24 – 10   .706 Georgetown 6 – 10   .375 19 – 15   .559 West Virginia 5 – 11   .313 14 – 15   .483 Rutgers* 4 – 12   .250 12 – 16   .429 † 2003 Big East tournament winner As of March 31, 2003[58] Rankings from AP Poll #St. John's had 20 regular-season games vacated due to sanctions against the program; the school′s disputed record was 7–9, 21–13. *Did not qualify for 2003 Big East tournament.
2002–03 Big Sky men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Weber State † 14 – 0   1.000 26 – 6   .813 Eastern Washington 9 – 5   .643 18 – 13   .581 Idaho State 7 – 7   .500 15 – 14   .517 Montana 7 – 7   .500 13 – 17   .433 Northern Arizona 6 – 8   .429 15 – 13   .536 Sacramento State 5 – 9   .357 12 – 17   .414 Montana State 5 – 9   .357 11 – 16   .407 Portland State 3 – 11   .214 5 – 22   .185 † 2003 Big Sky tournament winner	2002–03 Big South Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Winthrop 11 – 3   .786 20 – 10   .667 Charleston Southern 8 – 6   .571 14 – 14   .500 Liberty 8 – 6   .571 14 – 15   .483 Elon 8 – 6   .571 12 – 15   .444 UNC Asheville † 7 – 7   .500 15 – 17   .469 Radford 6 – 8   .429 10 – 20   .333 Coastal Carolina 5 – 9   .357 13 – 15   .464 High Point 3 – 11   .214 7 – 20   .259 † 2003 Big South tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	2002–03 Big Ten Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 21 Wisconsin 12 – 4   .750 24 – 8   .750 No. 11 Illinois † 11 – 5   .688 25 – 7   .781 Purdue 10 – 6   .625 19 – 11   .633 Michigan State 10 – 6   .625 22 – 13   .629 Michigan 10 – 6   .625 18 – 12   .600 Indiana 8 – 8   .500 21 – 13   .618 Minnesota 8 – 8   .500 19 – 14   .576 Iowa 7 – 9   .438 17 – 14   .548 Ohio State 7 – 9   .438 17 – 15   .531 Northwestern 3 – 13   .188 12 – 17   .414 Penn State 2 – 14   .125 7 – 21   .250 † 2003 Big Ten tournament winner Rankings from AP poll
2002–03 Big West men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT UC Santa Barbara 14 – 4   .778 18 – 14   .563 UC Irvine 13 – 5   .722 20 – 9   .690 Utah State† 12 – 6   .667 24 – 9   .727 Cal Poly 10 – 8   .556 16 – 14   .533 Idaho 9 – 9   .500 13 – 15   .464 Cal State Fullerton 8 – 10   .444 10 – 19   .345 Cal State Northridge 8 – 10   .444 14 – 15   .483 Pacific 7 – 11   .389 12 – 16   .429 UC Riverside 5 – 13   .278 6 – 18   .250 Long Beach State 4 – 14   .222 5 – 22   .185 † 2003 Big West tournament winner As of April 10, 2003[59] Rankings from AP poll	2002–03 CAA men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT UNC Wilmington † 15 – 3   .833 24 – 7   .774 VCU 12 – 6   .667 18 – 10   .643 Drexel 12 – 6   .667 19 – 12   .613 George Mason 11 – 7   .611 16 – 12   .571 Delaware 9 – 9   .500 15 – 14   .517 Old Dominion 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444 James Madison 8 – 10   .444 13 – 17   .433 William & Mary 7 – 11   .389 12 – 16   .429 Hofstra 6 – 12   .333 8 – 21   .276 Towson 1 – 17   .056 4 – 24   .143 † 2003 CAA tournament winner Rankings from AP poll	2002–03 Conference USA men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT American No. 9 Marquette 14 – 2   .875 27 – 6   .818 No. 14 Louisville † 11 – 5   .688 25 – 7   .781 Cincinnati 9 – 7   .563 17 – 12   .586 Saint Louis 9 – 7   .563 16 – 14   .533 DePaul 8 – 8   .500 16 – 13   .552 Charlotte 8 – 8   .500 13 – 16   .448 East Carolina 3 – 13   .188 12 – 15   .444 National No. 19 Memphis 13 – 3   .813 23 – 7   .767 UAB 8 – 8   .500 21 – 13   .618 Tulane 8 – 8   .500 16 – 15   .516 South Florida 7 – 9   .438 15 – 14   .517 Houston 6 – 10   .375 8 – 20   .286 Southern Miss 5 – 11   .313 13 – 16   .448 TCU 3 – 13   .188 9 – 19   .321 † 2003 Conference USA Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[60]
2002–03 Horizon League men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Butler 14 – 2   .875 27 – 6   .818 Milwaukee † 13 – 3   .813 24 – 8   .750 Illinois-Chicago 12 – 4   .750 21 – 9   .700 Loyola Chicago 9 – 7   .563 15 – 16   .484 Detroit Mercy 9 – 7   .563 18 – 12   .600 Green Bay 4 – 12   .250 10 – 20   .333 Youngstown State 4 – 12   .250 9 – 20   .310 Wright State 4 – 12   .250 10 – 18   .357 Cleveland State 3 – 13   .188 8 – 22   .267 † 2003 Horizon League Tournament winner	2002–03 Ivy League men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Penn 14 – 0   1.000 22 – 6   .786 Brown 12 – 2   .857 17 – 12   .586 Princeton 10 – 4   .714 16 – 11   .593 Yale 8 – 6   .571 14 – 13   .519 Harvard 4 – 10   .286 12 – 15   .444 Cornell 4 – 10   .286 9 – 18   .333 Dartmouth 4 – 10   .286 8 – 19   .296 Columbia 0 – 14   .000 2 – 25   .074 Rankings from AP Poll[61]	2002–03 MAAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Manhattan † 14 – 4   .778 23 – 7   .767 Fairfield 13 – 5   .722 19 – 12   .613 Siena 12 – 6   .667 21 – 11   .656 Niagara 12 – 6   .667 17 – 12   .586 Iona 11 – 7   .611 17 – 12   .586 Marist 8 – 10   .444 13 – 16   .448 Rider 7 – 11   .389 12 – 16   .429 Saint Peter's 6 – 12   .333 10 – 19   .345 Canisius 6 – 12   .333 10 – 18   .357 Loyola (MD) 1 – 17   .056 4 – 24   .143 † 2003 MAAC tournament winner
2002–03 Mid-American Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT East Kent State 12 – 6   .667 21 – 10   .677 Miami (OH) 11 – 7   .611 13 – 15   .464 Akron 9 – 9   .500 14 – 14   .500 Marshall 9 – 9   .500 14 – 15   .483 Ohio 8 – 10   .444 14 – 16   .467 Buffalo 2 – 16   .111 5 – 23   .179 West Central Michigan † 14 – 4   .778 25 – 7   .781 Northern Illinois 11 – 7   .611 17 – 14   .548 Western Michigan 10 – 8   .556 20 – 11   .645 Eastern Michigan 8 – 10   .444 14 – 14   .500 Bowling Green 8 – 10   .444 13 – 16   .448 Ball State 8 – 10   .444 13 – 17   .433 Toledo 7 – 11   .389 14 – 15   .483 † 2003 MAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	2002–03 Mid-Continent Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Valparaiso 12 – 2   .857 20 – 11   .645 IUPUI † 10 – 4   .714 20 – 14   .588 Oakland 10 – 4   .714 17 – 11   .607 Oral Roberts 9 – 5   .643 18 – 10   .643 UMKC 7 – 7   .500 9 – 20   .310 Southern Utah 5 – 9   .357 11 – 17   .393 Western Illinois 3 – 11   .214 7 – 21   .250 Chicago State 0 – 14   .000 3 – 27   .100 † 2003 Mid-Con Tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[62]	2002–03 MEAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT South Carolina State † 15 – 3   .833 20 – 11   .645 Hampton 13 – 5   .722 19 – 11   .633 Delaware State 13 – 5   .722 15 – 12   .556 Florida A&M 11 – 7   .611 17 – 12   .586 Coppin State 11 – 7   .611 11 – 17   .393 Norfolk State 10 – 8   .556 14 – 15   .483 Howard 9 – 9   .500 13 – 17   .433 Morgan State 6 – 12   .333 7 – 22   .241 Bethune–Cookman 5 – 13   .278 8 – 22   .267 Maryland Eastern Shore 5 – 13   .278 5 – 23   .179 North Carolina A&T 1 – 17   .056 1 – 26   .037 † 2003 MEAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[63]
2002–03 Missouri Valley Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Southern Illinois 16 – 2   .889 24 – 7   .774 No. 15 Creighton † 15 – 3   .833 29 – 5   .853 Wichita State 12 – 6   .667 18 – 12   .600 Southwest Missouri State 12 – 6   .667 17 – 12   .586 Evansville 8 – 10   .444 12 – 16   .429 Bradley 8 – 10   .444 12 – 18   .400 Northern Iowa 7 – 11   .389 11 – 17   .393 Drake 5 – 13   .278 10 – 20   .333 Illinois State 5 – 13   .278 8 – 21   .276 Indiana State 2 – 16   .111 7 – 24   .226 † 2003 MVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[64]	2002–03 Mountain West Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Utah 11 – 3   .786 25 – 8   .758 BYU 11 – 3   .786 23 – 9   .719 Wyoming 8 – 6   .571 21 – 11   .656 UNLV 8 – 6   .571 21 – 11   .656 San Diego State 6 – 8   .429 16 – 14   .533 Colorado State † 5 – 9   .357 19 – 14   .576 New Mexico 4 – 10   .286 10 – 18   .357 Air Force 3 – 11   .214 12 – 16   .429 † 2003 Mountain West tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[65]	2002–03 Northeast Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Wagner † 14 – 4   .778 21 – 11   .656 Monmouth 13 – 5   .722 15 – 13   .536 Central Connecticut 12 – 6   .667 15 – 13   .536 Quinnipiac 10 – 8   .556 17 – 12   .586 Saint Francis (PA) 10 – 8   .556 14 – 14   .500 St. Francis (NY) 9 – 9   .500 14 – 16   .467 Fairleigh Dickinson 9 – 9   .500 15 – 14   .517 Long Island 7 – 11   .389 9 – 19   .321 Robert Morris 7 – 11   .389 10 – 17   .370 Mount St. Mary's 6 – 12   .333 11 – 16   .407 Sacred Heart 6 – 12   .333 8 – 21   .276 UMBC 5 – 13   .278 7 – 20   .259 † 2003 NEC tournament winner
2002–03 Ohio Valley Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Austin Peay † 13 – 3   .813 23 – 8   .742 Morehead State 13 – 3   .813 20 – 9   .690 Tennessee Tech 11 – 5   .688 20 – 12   .625 Murray State 9 – 7   .563 17 – 12   .586 Eastern Illinois 9 – 7   .563 14 – 15   .483 UT Martin 7 – 9   .438 14 – 14   .500 Southeast Missouri State 5 – 11   .313 11 – 19   .367 Eastern Kentucky 5 – 11   .313 11 – 17   .393 Tennessee State 0 – 16   .000 2 – 25   .074 † 2003 OVC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll	2002–03 Pacific-10 Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT No. 5 Arizona 17 – 1   .944 28 – 4   .875 No. 20 Stanford 14 – 4   .778 24 – 9   .727 California 13 – 5   .722 22 – 9   .710 Arizona State 11 – 7   .611 20 – 12   .625 Oregon † 10 – 8   .556 23 – 10   .697 Oregon State 6 – 12   .333 13 – 15   .464 USC 6 – 12   .333 13 – 17   .433 UCLA 6 – 12   .333 10 – 19   .345 Washington 5 – 13   .278 10 – 17   .370 Washington State 2 – 16   .111 7 – 20   .259 † 2003 Pac-10 tournament winner As of July 10, 2011[66] Rankings from Coaches Poll[67]	2002–03 Patriot League men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Holy Cross † 13 – 1   .929 26 – 5   .839 American 9 – 5   .643 16 – 14   .533 Colgate 9 – 5   .643 14 – 14   .500 Lehigh 8 – 6   .571 16 – 12   .571 Bucknell 7 – 7   .500 14 – 15   .483 Lafayette 6 – 8   .429 13 – 16   .448 Navy 4 – 10   .286 8 – 20   .286 Army 0 – 14   .000 5 – 22   .185 † 2003 Patriot League tournament winner
2002–03 Southeastern Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT East No. 1 Kentucky † 16 – 0   1.000 32 – 4   .889 No. 10 Florida 12 – 4   .750 25 – 8   .758 No. 25 Georgia 11 – 5   .688 19 – 8   .704 Tennessee 9 – 7   .563 17 – 12   .586 South Carolina 5 – 11   .313 12 – 16   .429 Vanderbilt 3 – 13   .188 11 – 18   .379 West No. 20 Mississippi State 9 – 7   .563 21 – 10   .677 Auburn 8 – 8   .500 22 – 12   .647 LSU 8 – 8   .500 21 – 11   .656 Alabama 7 – 9   .438 17 – 12   .586 Ole Miss 4 – 12   .250 14 – 15   .483 Arkansas 4 – 12   .250 9 – 19   .321 † 2003 SEC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[68]	2002–03 Southern Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT North Davidson 11 – 5   .688 17 – 10   .630 East Tennessee State † 11 – 5   .688 20 – 11   .645 Appalachian State 11 – 5   .688 19 – 10   .655 Western Carolina 6 – 10   .375 9 – 19   .321 VMI 3 – 13   .188 10 – 20   .333 UNC Greensboro 3 – 13   .188 7 – 22   .241 South College of Charleston 13 – 3   .813 25 – 8   .758 Chattanooga 11 – 5   .688 21 – 9   .700 Georgia Southern 8 – 8   .500 16 – 13   .552 Wofford 8 – 8   .500 14 – 15   .483 Furman 8 – 8   .500 14 – 17   .452 The Citadel 3 – 13   .188 8 – 20   .286 † SoCon Tournament winner As of April 30, 2003 Rankings from AP poll	2002–03 Southland Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Sam Houston State † 17 – 3   .850 23 – 7   .767 Stephen F. Austin 16 – 4   .800 21 – 8   .724 Texas–Arlington 13 – 7   .650 16 – 13   .552 Southwest Texas State 11 – 9   .550 17 – 12   .586 McNeese State 10 – 10   .500 15 – 14   .517 Lamar 10 – 10   .500 13 – 14   .481 Louisiana-Monroe 10 – 10   .500 12 – 16   .429 Southeastern Louisiana 9 – 11   .450 11 – 16   .407 UTSA 7 – 13   .350 10 – 17   .370 Northwestern State 6 – 14   .300 6 – 21   .222 Nicholls State 1 – 19   .050 3 – 25   .107 † 2003 Southland tournament winner Rankings from AP poll
2002–03 SWAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Prairie View A&M 14 – 4   .778 17 – 12   .586 Mississippi Valley State 13 – 5   .722 15 – 14   .517 Texas Southern † 11 – 7   .611 18 – 13   .581 Alabama State 11 – 7   .611 14 – 15   .483 Alcorn State 10 – 8   .556 14 – 19   .424 Grambling 9 – 9   .500 12 – 18   .400 Jackson State 9 – 9   .500 10 – 18   .357 Southern 5 – 13   .278 9 – 20   .310 Alabama A&M 4 – 14   .222 8 – 19   .296 Arkansas–Pine Bluff 4 – 14   .222 4 – 24   .143 † 2003 SWAC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[69]	2002–03 Sun Belt Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT East Western Kentucky † 12 – 2   .857 24 – 9   .727 Middle Tennessee 9 – 5   .643 16 – 14   .533 Arkansas-Little Rock 8 – 6   .571 18 – 12   .600 Arkansas State 6 – 8   .429 13 – 15   .464 Florida International 1 – 13   .071 8 – 21   .276 West Louisiana–Lafayette 12 – 3   .800 20 – 10   .667 New Mexico State 9 – 6   .600 20 – 9   .690 South Alabama 7 – 8   .467 14 – 14   .500 New Orleans 7 – 8   .467 15 – 14   .517 Denver 7 – 8   .467 17 – 15   .531 North Texas 2 – 13   .133 7 – 21   .250 † 2003 Sun Belt Conference tournament winner Rankings from AP poll
2002–03 West Coast Conference men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Gonzaga 12 – 2   .857 24 – 9   .727 San Diego † 10 – 4   .714 18 – 12   .600 San Francisco 9 – 5   .643 15 – 14   .517 Pepperdine 7 – 7   .500 15 – 13   .536 Saint Mary's 6 – 8   .429 15 – 15   .500 Portland 4 – 10   .286 11 – 17   .393 Loyola Marymount 4 – 10   .286 11 – 20   .355 Santa Clara 4 – 10   .286 13 – 15   .464 † 2003 WCC tournament winner Rankings from AP Poll[70]	2002–03 WAC men's basketball standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Fresno State 13 – 5   .722 20 – 8   .714 Tulsa † 12 – 6   .667 23 – 10   .697 SMU 11 – 7   .611 17 – 13   .567 Nevada 11 – 7   .611 18 – 14   .563 Rice 11 – 7   .611 19 – 10   .655 Hawaii 9 – 9   .500 19 – 12   .613 Louisiana Tech 9 – 9   .500 12 – 15   .444 Boise State 7 – 11   .389 13 – 16   .448 San Jose State 4 – 14   .222 7 – 21   .250 UTEP 3 – 15   .167 6 – 24   .200 † 2003 WAC tournament winner

Division I independents

Six schools played as Division I independents.^[71] Lipscomb (8–20), an independent in transition from the NAIA to Division I during the season, was not considered a full Division I school during the 2002–03 season.^[71]

2002–03 NCAA Division I men's basketball independents standings v t e Conf. Overall Team W   L   PCT W   L   PCT Centenary - – -   – 14 – 14   .500 Texas A&M–Corpus Christi - – -   – 14 – 15   .483 Texas–Pan American - – -   – 10 – 20   .333 IPFW - – -   – 9 – 21   .300 Morris Brown - – -   – 8 – 20   .286 Savannah State - – -   – 3 – 24   .111 Rankings from AP Poll

Informal championships

Conference	Regular season winner	Most Valuable Player
Philadelphia Big 5	Saint Joseph's	Jameer Nelson, Saint Joseph's

Saint Joseph's finished with a 4–0 record in head-to-head competition among the Philadelphia Big 5.

Statistical leaders

Source for additional stats categories

Points per game				Rebounds per game				Assists per game				Steals per game
Player	School	PPG		Player	School	RPG		Player	School	APG		Player	School	SPG
Ruben Douglas	New Mexico	28.0		Brandon Hunter	Ohio	12.6		Martell Bailey	Illinois-Chicago	8.1		Alexis McMillan	Stetson	4.0
Henry Domercant	E. Illinois	27.9		Amien Hicks	Morris Brown	12.4		Marques Green	St. Bonaventure	8.0		Zakee Wadood	E. Tennessee St.	3.2
Mike Helms	Oakland	26.9		Adam Sonn	Belmont	12.1		T. J. Ford	Texas	7.7		Jay Heard	Jacksonville St.	3.2
Michael Watson	UMKC	25.5		Chris Kaman	C. Michigan	12.0		Elliott Prasse-Freeman	Harvard	7.7		Eric Bush	UAB	3.1
Troy Bell	Boston College	25.2		David West	Xavier	11.8		Antawn Dobie	LIU	7.4		Marcus Hatten	St. John's	2.9

Blocked shots per game				Field goal percentage				Three-point FG percentage				Free throw percentage
Player	School	BPG		Player	School	FG%		Player	School	3FG%		Player	School	FT%
Emeka Okafor	UConn	4.7		Adam Mark	Belmont	67.0		Jeff Schiffner	Penn	49.3		Steve Drabyn	Belmont	95.1
Nick Billings	Binghamton	4.3		Rickey White	Maine	66.2		Kyle Korver	Creighton	48.0		Matt Logie	Lehigh	94.8
Justin Rowe	Maine	4.2		Matt Nelson	Colorado St.	64.3		Terrence Woods	Florida A&M	45.7		Hollis Price	Oklahoma	92.9
Deng Gai	Fairfield	3.8		Armond Williams	Illinois-Chicago	63.9		Chez Marks	Morehead St.	45.6		Brian Dux	Canisius	92.0
Robert Battle	Drexel	3.7		Michael Harris	Rice	62.3		Tyson Dorsey	Samford	45.5		JJ Redick	Duke	91.9

Postseason tournaments

NCAA tournament

Main article: 2003 NCAA Men's Division I Basketball Tournament

Final Four – Louisiana Superdome, New Orleans, Louisiana

The Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans, Louisiana, hosted the NCAA men's Final Four.

	National semifinals					National championship game
	E3	Syracuse	95
	S1	Texas	84
						E3	Syracuse	81
						W2	Kansas	78
	M3	Marquette	61
	W2	Kansas	94

National Invitation tournament

Main article: 2003 National Invitation Tournament

Semifinals & finals

	Semifinals				Finals
	Georgetown	88
	Minnesota	74
					Georgetown	67
					St. John's	70
	Texas Tech	63
	St. John's	64			Third place
					Minnesota	61
					Texas Tech	71

Award winners

Consensus All-American teams

Main article: 2003 NCAA Men's Basketball All-Americans

Consensus First Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
David West	F	Senior	Xavier
T. J. Ford	G	Sophomore	Texas
Josh Howard	F/G	Senior	Wake Forest
Nick Collison	F	Senior	Kansas
Dwyane Wade	G	Junior	Marquette

Consensus Second Team

Player	Position	Class	Team
Hollis Price	G	Senior	Oklahoma
Carmelo Anthony	F/G	Freshman	Syracuse
Kyle Korver	F	Senior	Creighton
Troy Bell	G	Senior	Boston College
Jason Gardner	G	Senior	Arizona

Major player of the year awards

• Wooden Award: T. J. Ford, Texas
• Naismith Award: T. J. Ford, Texas
• Associated Press Player of the Year: David West, Xavier
• NABC Player of the Year: Nick Collison, Kansas
• Oscar Robertson Trophy (USBWA): David West, Xavier
• Adolph Rupp Trophy: David West, Xavier
• Sporting News Player of the Year: T. J. Ford, Texas

Major freshman of the year awards

• USBWA Freshman of the Year: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse
• Sporting News Freshman of the Year: Carmelo Anthony, Syracuse

Major coach of the year awards

• Associated Press Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky
• Henry Iba Award (USBWA): Tubby Smith, Kentucky
• NABC Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky
• Naismith College Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky
• CBS/Chevrolet Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky
• Sporting News Coach of the Year: Tubby Smith, Kentucky

Other major awards

• Pete Newell Big Man Award (Best big man): David West, Xavier
• NABC Defensive Player of the Year: Emeka Okafor, Connecticut
• Frances Pomeroy Naismith Award (Best player under 6'0): Jason Gardner, Arizona
• Lowe's Senior CLASS Award (top senior): David West, Xavier
• Robert V. Geasey Trophy (Top player in Philadelphia Big 5): Jameer Nelson, St. Joseph's
• NIT/Haggerty Award (Top player in New York City metro area): Luis Flores, Manhattan
• Chip Hilton Player of the Year Award (Strong personal character): Brandon Miller, Butler

Coaching changes

A number of teams changed coaches throughout the season and after the season ended.^[72]

Team	Former Coach	Interim Coach	New Coach	Reason
Alcorn State	Davey Whitney		Samuel West
Arkansas-Little Rock	Porter Moser		Steve Shields
Cal State Fullerton	Donny Daniels		Bob Burton
Campbell	Billy Lee		Robbie Laing
Chicago State	Bo Ellis		Kevin Jones
Clemson	Larry Shyatt		Oliver Purnell
Cleveland State	Rollie Massimino		Mike Garland
Columbia	Armond Hill		Joe Jones
Dayton	Oliver Purnell		Brian Gregory
Drake	Kurt Kanaskie		Tom Davis
East Tennessee State	Ed DeChellis		Murry Bartow
Elon	Mark Simons		Ernie Nestor
Fordham	Bob Hill		Dereck Whittenburg
Georgia	Jim Harrick		Dennis Felton
Georgia State	Lefty Driesell		Michael Perry
High Point	Jerry Steele		Bart Lundy
Illinois	Bill Self		Bruce Weber
Illinois State	Tom Richardson		Porter Moser
Iowa State	Larry Eustachy		Wayne Morgan	Eustachy quit following the release of pictures of him at a party near the campus of the University of Missouri.[73]
Jackson State	Andy Stoglin		Tevester Anderson
Kansas	Roy Williams		Bill Self	After turning down the North Carolina job previously, Williams accepted the position at his alma mater.
Marshall	Greg White		Ron Jirsa
Mount St. Mary's	Jim Phelan		Milan Brown	Phelan retired after 49 years and 830 victories.
Murray State	Tevester Anderson		Mick Cronin
North Carolina	Matt Doherty		Roy Williams	Doherty resigned after rumors of player unrest.[74] UNC alum Williams is hired away from Kansas.
North Carolina A&T	Curtis Hunter		Jerry Eaves
Penn State	Jerry Dunn		Ed DeChellis
Pittsburgh	Ben Howland		Jamie Dixon
St. Bonaventure	Jan van Breda Kolff		Anthony Solomon
South Carolina State	Cy Alexander		Ben Betts
South Florida	Seth Greenberg		Robert McCullum
Southern	Ben Jobe		Michael Grant
Southern Illinois	Bruce Weber		Matt Painter
Tennessee State	Nolan Richardson III	Hosea Lewis	Cy Alexander	Richardson III was suspended and ultimately resigned after allegedly threatening an assistant coach with a gun.[75]
UCLA	Steve Lavin		Ben Howland	Lavin was fired following a 10–19 season.
Virginia Tech	Ricky Stokes		Seth Greenberg
Wagner	Dereck Whittenburg		Mike Deane
Washington State	Paul Graham		Dick Bennett
Western Illinois	Jim Kerwin		Derek Thomas
Western Kentucky	Dennis Felton		Darrin Horn
Western Michigan	Robert McCullum		Steve Hawkins
William & Mary	Rick Boyages		Tony Shaver
Wright State	Ed Schilling		Paul Biancardi